Spring Focus

IMPERIAL HEALTH CHARITY’S MAGAZINE

SPRING 2026

H E L P I N G O U R H O S P I TA L S D O M O R E

INSIDE: We celebrate the opening of our charity-funded Rainbow Clinic (page 7)

OUT OF RETIREMENT Trust staff rejoin the team, now as volunteers!

COMPASSION REVISITED One couple share their experience of loss, 45 years on.

EXPLORING GRIEF THROUGH SOUND Meet Abbas, our new Artist in Residence.

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CHARING CROSS • HAMMERSMITH • QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S & CHELSEA • ST MARY’S • WESTERN

BELOW: Volunteer Vicky (right) with Fred, her therapy dog, and Trust staff

Welcome to Focus, your quarterly magazine from Imperial Health Charity.

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s spring brings with it a sense of energy and optimism across our hospitals and communities, we’re proud to share some of the inspiring ways your support continues to make a difference for patients, families and NHS staff.

One particularly significant moment we're proud to share with you this issue is the opening of our new Rainbow Clinic – a pioneering service made possible through charitable funding, designed to provide care to prospective parents when they need it most. It is a powerful example of what can be achieved thanks to the generosity of supporters like you.

In this issue, we also celebrate Volunteers’ Week and the remarkable contribution of the many hundreds of volunteers who give their time, kindness and commitment across our hospitals every day.

You can also read about the relaunch of our Compassionate Communities grants programme for 2026, supporting local organisations and projects that are helping people from our community tackle some of the biggest health challenges facing our society today.

We’re delighted to feature artist-inresidence Abbas Zahedi’s moving project, which explores end-of-life experiences and bereavement through sound, conversation and creativity.

As ever, our work is only possible because of supporters like you. If you’re able to support our latest appeal to improve the Western Eye Hospital, you can read more about how to get involved at the back of this magazine.

Gail Scott-Spicer Chief Executive, Imperial Health Charity

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ABOVE: #TEAMIMPERIAL at this year's Hackney Half after taking on the challenge

Going the distance for our hospitals I t’s been one big race to the finish line at Imperial Health Charity, with a record number of people taking part in races and other fundraising events to support our hospitals.

The Hackney Half Marathon, which took place in May, saw 11 runners take part for our charity.

Together, they raised over £6,500.

After the race, several runners joined our fundraising team for a picnic in the sunshine to celebrate.

During April, several runners tackled the London Landmarks Half Marathon, raising more than £8,000 for our hospitals.

Then on 26 April, we had the famous London Marathon, for which a number of brave people put one foot in front of the other for 42km to give back to our

hospitals. Together they raised more than £50,000 to help our hospitals do more. This included over £16,000 for our Ovarian Care Fund, raised by Trust staff member Katherine and fundraiser Donal.

With more than £63,000 raised from these three races alone, we cannot thank enough the amazing people who take part to support our hospitals, and the heartwarming generosity of the people who donate. The money raised will directly go towards enhanced hospital spaces, improved patient care and much, much more.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in these events and for

your commitment to your training and fundraising efforts. We’d also like to acknowledge all the people who supported these runners on the day by cheering them on from the sidelines!

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Supporting bereaved families with art Imperial Health Charity has funded the refurbishment of the mortuary viewing room, waiting area and associated spaces at St Mary’s Hospital, creating a more welcoming and accessible environment for families experiencing bereavement.

The project includes redecoration, new flooring, improved seating and new artwork. These enhancements go beyond essential estate work, helping to provide comfort, privacy and dignity for families at a difficult time.

The new artwork – by artist Kate Lovegrove – has been carefully chosen to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere within the space, supporting reflection and quiet moments for visitors.

Siobhan Jordan, Director of Nursing, said: “The whole project is just wonderful, a real partnership between charities and the Trust, focused on the patients and their families.”

The refurbishment reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the facilities are welcoming, respectful and fit for the needs of families visiting loved ones who have passed away.

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From ICU patient to ICU Volunteer

How we're helping patients facing financial hardship

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ur Patient Hardship grants provide emergency support for patients experiencing financial difficulties while receiving treatment at one of our hospitals.

In the last year, we awarded more than £65,000 to 133 patients and their families to cover essentials, accommodation, food, transport, and, if sadly required, funeral costs.

Carla Capoluongo, a member of staff from the Macmillan Cancer Support team at Charing Cross Hospital has applied for many grants on behalf of patients with cancer who are on reduced or low income.

She said: “Many patients struggle with appetite and the physical ability to eat during and post-treatment or surgery (depending on their cancer).

However, patients are constantly encouraged to eat healthily and keep themselves hydrated to support their recovery and maintain a good weight.

"Having this extra support for patients allows them to purchase FOCUS • SPRING 2026

food and drink they wouldn't usually think to buy, which is often more expensive.

"The hardship grant has been a lifeboat to so many of my patients. I would encourage staff to talk to the charity and apply for a grant if applicable."

If you’re a member of staff at our hospitals, you can apply for up to £1,500 per patient to help provide vital support when it’s needed most.

For more information or to apply, search ‘Funding to support a patient’ on our website.

Our new ICU Visitor Host volunteers are helping to create a more welcoming and supportive experience for patients, families and visitors during some of their most difficult moments.

The volunteers are now based in intensive care waiting areas, where they provide reassurance and a friendly face, helping visitors feel more comfortable and informed, all the while working closely with hospital staff to understand where they are needed.

Teresa, an ICU Visitor Host Volunteer, said: “I spent two months in the ICU, so I know how difficult it can be. I want to give people a ray of hope… I feel so much love and gratitude, and I want to pass that hope on to others.”

The new role aims to reduce anxiety, ease isolation and provide compassionate support when it matters most.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please see our current opportunities on our website.

Please support our ICU today Your donation today could help transform St Mary’s ICU into a more welcoming and comfortable environment for families visiting loved ones, as well as our hardworking staff.

A donation of just £10 will help us fund two calm, dedicated family spaces, improve the

reception area and give staff an oncall room to rest in during long and tiring shifts. Please consider giving to our ICU Appeal today.

Helping volunteers see dementia differently We’ve been helping our volunteers to better support people with dementia. We're working with Training 2 Care to provide an interactive training experience that aims to give participants an idea of what living with dementia can feel like.

The training takes place on a mobile dementia simulator, in which participants carry out basic tasks while the environment affects their senses – sight, touch, hearing – with the aim of helping those taking part to understand what it can be like to live with dementia.

Supporting people living with dementia is a huge challenge within healthcare, and is something that affects so many people.

Through this training, we hope to grow empathy for and understanding of those affected.

Oksana, one of our volunteers who completed the training, told us: “I feel I understand dementia much better after this training. It very much puts you in the shoes of someone experiencing dementia, and I hope I can now help these patients with a lot more confidence”.

Thank you to Training 2 Care for helping us better support people living with dementia.

Above: Trust staff with the dementia bus team

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ABOVE: Rufina and Romulo during their volunteer shift at St Mary's Hospital

Retired Trust staff return to help patients – as volunteers!

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arried couple Rufina and Romulo worked a combined 35 years at St Mary’s and the Western Eye hospital. In retirement, the dynamic duo has returned to support patients as volunteers.

Rufina spent 45 years as a nurse, and 18 years working for the NHS as a sister in the gynaecology department at St Mary’s Hospital.

After retiring, Rufina decided to apply to be a volunteer, keen to support patients in a different way.

She started as a Patient Activities Volunteer on John Humphrey ward and then moved to gynaecology outpatients.

She said: “I came back to continue my career and do a bit more for patients, because I saw the needs of everyone, especially in the gynae department.

“Sometimes I can see myself in patients. I will reach an age where I will be hanging around the hospital. It might not be now, but soon. No one is exempted.”

In September 2025, her husband Romulo joined as a volunteer after 17 years working as a porter and receptionist at the Western Eye Hospital.

Romulo also started in John Humphrey ward serving meals,

but after a few shifts asked to be moved to the main reception in Hammersmith Hospital.

He said: “I realised in this hospital, it's very difficult to find some of the areas. Most of the patients lose their sense of direction.

“Maybe they’re tense or worried about their appointments. So at least I can help them in a small way.”

While volunteering, Rufina (above) has encouraged her friends and their children to apply to volunteer to develop their language skills or grow in confidence.

She said: “There's no limit on age. As long as you're willing, they can put you somewhere, even once a month, once a week.

It's entirely up to you.”

“We're so happy. We'll keep recruiting and we hope to volunteer for as long as we can.”

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CHARITY-FUNDED RAINBOW CLINIC SUPPORTING PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS

ABOVE: From L-R, Dr Jasmine Tay, Shannon and her baby, and Dr Sana Usman

Our new Rainbow Clinic opens its doors

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n May we held a special opening for the new Rainbow Clinic room at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, a dedicated space for families to receive treatment during a rainbow pregnancy.

A rainbow pregnancy is one that follows baby loss. Due to an increased risk of complications, these pregnancies often need closer monitoring, and families often need more emotional support.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we raised more than £48,000 to support families experiencing a rainbow pregnancy, which funded a private space for appointments and counselling, including a specialist ultrasound machine, examination couch and specially curated artwork.

With the addition of the new room, the clinic has been recognised as an official Rainbow Clinic by Tommy’s, the baby loss charity. This will strengthen collaboration with other centres across the country, expand referral pathways and make specialist care available to local women and families.

Consultant obstetricians Dr Jasmine Tay and Dr Sana Usman spearheaded the opening of the Rainbow Clinic at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea after seeing FOCUS • SPRING 2026

the benefits of similar clinics across the country.

Sana shared how the new room has impacted patients’ experience of the clinic: “Previously, consultations were often delayed while waiting for clinical machines to become available, and patients were sometimes seen in rooms separated only by dividers for intimate examinations, which could increase distress and anxiety.

“The new space is located away from the area where pregnancy loss may have been diagnosed, making the experience less triggering and more sensitive for women and their families.”

Local mother Shannon gave a speech at the opening, describing her experience following the loss of her first son at 28 weeks and her subsequent rainbow pregnancy, which inspired her to support the Rainbow Clinic Appeal.

She said: “When I discovered I was pregnant again in 2024 with my second son, I was torn between excitement and overwhelming fear. I just didn’t know if I could go through it all again. Returning to Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea was difficult because of all the memories and the pain, having to come back through the ultrasounds, the

antenatal appointments. It was really hard. But when I met Sana, it definitely changed.

“From the beginning, Sana guided me. She showed me compassion, she gave me reassurance, and also understanding. At a time when I felt lost and afraid, she gave me something that I desperately needed, which was hope.

“Her support throughout my pregnancy made an immeasurable difference to both my emotional wellbeing, and my confidence moving forward.

In August 2024, I welcomed my second son, Eziah, into the world.

It was the happiest moment of my life, and I truly believe I could not have reached that point without Sana’s care.

“My experience is a powerful reminder of why the rainbow clinic is so important. For families navigating pregnancy after a loss, having specialist support, continuity of care and compassionate professionals can make all the difference during an incredibly vulnerable time.”

Through Poppy's Fund we are able to directly support maternity services across our hospitals. If you would like to find out more or donate, please visit the Poppy’s Fund page on our website.

ABOVE & BELOW: Eveline and Andrew 45 years after their initial treatment at Charing Cross Hospital

One couple’s emotional return to Charing Cross Hospital, 45 years after a lifechanging diagnosis

In 1981, Eveline and Andrew's lives were changed forever by the devastating revelation of a molar pregnancy. 45 years later they returned to Charing Cross Hospital to share their powerful story of resilience.

Trigger warning – this story contains references to baby loss.

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n March, we invited former patient Eveline and her husband Andrew to visit Charing Cross Hospital for the first time in 45 years.

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Rewind back to 1981, and Andrew and Eveline were expecting a baby and getting ready to celebrate their two-year wedding anniversary.

But their whole lives were turned upside down when seemingly normal morning sickness took a turn for the worse, and Eveline developed severe abdominal pain.

Eveline was rushed to her local hospital in Aberdeenshire, where she was diagnosed with a molar pregnancy and received the heart-breaking news that her pregnancy had ended.

Molar pregnancy falls under Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), a rare disease where the baby and placenta don’t develop how they should after conception. Sadly, this

means the baby cannot survive, resulting in a miscarriage or requiring a procedure to remove the pregnancy.

Eveline was taken to Charing Cross Hospital, the only hospital specialising in the treatment of molar pregnancy at the time, where she started chemotherapy.

For the next few months, 9 West ward at Charing Cross Hospital became a second home for Eveline, as she travelled between London and Scotland for treatment.

Eveline described the sense of camaraderie shared by the women on the ward, who quickly became close friends, drawing strength from one other during the hardest moments of their treatment. The women wrote

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Manager Caroline Lewis, who explained how the GTD service has changed and developed over the past few decades.

“We were delighted to find out the progress made in terms of treatment and patient support provided at Charing Cross Hospital,” shared the couple, who were inspired to donate following their visit.

"It was so incredibly moving returning after so long.

We both had tears in our eyes."

The service celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and while much has changed in that time, it was clear that the exceptional care given to women and their families has remained the same.

The GTD team at Charing Cross Hospital are world leaders in the investigation and treatment of these rare conditions. Today, the service holds the largest database of GTD patients in the world, holding records of over 35,000 women with the condition. The hospital is still one of only two in the UK that treats GTD. ABOVE: Mole In The Hole - a poem created by Eveline and the women on 9 West.

a poem together about their experience, which Eveline has kept with her ever since: Eveline made a full recovery following treatment and returned home to Aberdeen where she pursued a 33-year career in local government.

When the couple retired, they decided it was time to pay a visit to the hospital that had saved Eveline’s life.

She shared: “Returning to Charing Cross after all these

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years was a bittersweet experience. It was a reminder of some happy times and friendships made during a very dark time.”

Andrew also said: “It was incredibly moving to return after so long. We both had tears in our eyes.”

During their return visit, Eveline and Andrew met with GTD Clinical Nurse Specialists Debbie Damon and Amber Goldsmith, alongside Business Support

ABOVE: Eveline and Andrew earlier in their lives

ABOVE: A group of Nubian Life Resource Centre attendees enjoying an arts workshop

African and Caribbean elders celebrated for their artwork

ABOVE: Artist Birungi Kawooya

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ver a five-month period, our Arts team worked with artist Birungi Kawooya to facilitate weekly art workshops at Nubian Life Resource Centre, a day care centre that supports African and Caribbean elders across north west London.

During these sessions, participants experimented with a variety of art forms to promote wellbeing, connection, and joy.

Hospital staff also attended some of these sessions to connect with participants and share health advice.

The project culminated in a series of artworks titled ‘We All Need to Take Care of Each Other’ now displayed at Charing Cross Hospital. The exhibit includes an embroidered work on bark cloth by Birungi, inspired by her participants' pieces, as well as original artworks, and photographs taken at the workshops.

The project held special meaning for artist Birungi 10

because of her own journey of healing from trauma and burnout. She said: “There is a part of my work that is restorative and healing for myself.

“If I can teach elders how to play, relax, and try new things at any age – some of them are over a hundred years old – then I’m also teaching myself that it’s okay to play, relax, create, keep evolving and keep renewing.”

Birungi’s final artwork was inspired by participants’ drawings and paintings and incorporates their stitched likenesses into bark cloth from a Ugandan tree.

Birungi shared: “I’m obsessed with this material because it comes from a tree that repairs and heals itself… Once the bark is

Creative Walking Group strides for success Our Community Arts Manager, Eve, (featured in the above article), recently spoke at the CW+ Nature and Biophilia in Hospitals Symposium 2026, sharing insights from our Creative Walking Group

removed, the tree is wrapped in banana leaves and regenerates.

“I engage with natural fibres because nature reminds us that we need to work together and support each other.”

This is our third Community Group in Residence project, which uses art to build bridges between our hospitals and the communities they serve.

Eve, our Community Arts Engagement Manager, shared: “We wanted to create a legacy for the participants and their family members and share the message that creativity has no age limit.

“We’re so proud that this artwork is now on permanent display at Charing Cross, and we hope that it brings lots of joy to the wider community.”

alongside artist and facilitator Eva Jonas. The event brought together NHS leaders, designers and creatives to explore how nature and biophilic design (the integration of nature and natural themes into built spaces) can improve patient care, staff wellbeing and community connection.

Well done, team!

If you’re interested in joining our creative walking group, you can find out more on our website.

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Thanking our volunteers!

During the first week of June, we celebrated Volunteers’ Week, a UK-wide initiative dedicated to recognising volunteers and thanking them for all that they do. Volunteers support our hospitals through a range of tasks, including delivering patient meals, therapy dog visits, helping with wayfinding, and so much more.

This year, we sent each of our volunteers bespoke thank you cards with information on how our volunteering programme has supported our hospitals over the last year. Between April 2025 and March 2026, more than 1,100 volunteers donated more than 40,000 hours of their time, completing over 14,000 shifts to support patients over 207,000 times.

Our volunteering team also visited wards across the Trust to deliver thank you cards to staff for supporting our volunteers and making them feel valued and welcome.

Finally, we held our thank you event, which is our chance to recognise the difference volunteers make to our patients, staff and visitors.

We celebrated volunteers by giving out length of service and make a difference awards, recognising the incredible impact they have in supporting our hospitals.

Our hospitals wouldn’t be the same without you!

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ABOVE: Shifaá Ali, Psychotherapist and Programme Manager at Shifaá Healing Hearts

Funding culturally informed therapy for Queen’s Park residents

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e’re putting the heart back into our local communities, by funding free counselling for people in the Queen’s Park area.

Through our Compassionate Communities grant programme, we funded Queen’s Park Community Council’s ‘Intercultural Therapy Project’.

This two-year pilot project is delivered by Shifaá Healing Hearts, a local organisation which offers counselling in a range of languages including English, Arabic, Bengali, Pashto, and Urdu.

Programme manager Shifaá Ali said: “We offer free culturally informed counselling for people who may not otherwise engage with mainstream services.

“They have felt that their culture or their faith backgrounds were not really held within the therapeutic space. To meet this gap, we set up Shifaá Healing Hearts that offers a culturally informed space, as well as some core languages that feel familiar to our service users.”

The service is based in Brunel Estate’s Happy Hub and supports people who may not be able to access mental health support.

One service user shared: “It was like talking to a friend, someone who had known me for years. I

found they were very professional and very knowledgeable and experienced. It was nice to have someone who understood you for a change.”

Adam Farah, one of the counsellors at Shifaá Healing Hearts shared how access to therapy has been transformative for local people.

He shared: “[You see] someone going from being depressed, being down, being sad, isolated, to being someone that’s part of a community again. Someone that is open, someone that is aware of their feelings and taking care of themselves a lot better.

“It’s very inclusive, and you really meet people, and give therapy to people that usually you wouldn’t really see in a therapy room.”

The project has been running since February 2025 and in its first year has delivered over 485 one-to-one therapy sessions.

Applications for 2026/27 Compassionate Communities funding are open until 3 September 2026.

If you know an organisation based in north west London that may benefit from this funding, please encourage them to visit our website.

Comfort when it counts Thanks to the generous support of The P F Charitable Trust, our friends at Bottomline, and many others, families visiting Marjory Warren Ward at Charing Cross Hospital now have a calm and welcoming family room to rest and recuperate in while they deal with some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The ward provides essential care for patients with severe respiratory issues and those recovering from stroke. Before our intervention, the family room was in desperate need of renovation, and had a tired, clinical feel, which can be difficult for families needing a space to regroup.

The transformed space now features soft furnishings, warm lighting and soothing colours, creating a calmer, more welcoming environment where families can rest, reflect, and receive important updates about their loved ones.

Teodora Maris, Nurse on Marjory Warren Ward, said: “The new family room is such a peaceful space now. It’s lovely to be able to tell a family they have somewhere private to go – an oasis where they can just take a breath when everything feels like it’s too much.”

We are so grateful to The P F Charitable Trust, Bottomline and others for helping create this space for families when they need it most.

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ABOVE: Artist Abbas Zahedi leading a workshop for Dying Matters Week.

Meet our new Artist in Residence

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major new artist residency curated by Imperial Health Charity is set to bring creativity, conversation and connection to hospitals and hospices across north west London.

Over the next year, artist Abbas Zahedi will work with patients, staff, visitors and local communities as part of SONIC SUPPORT: ECO (The Extracorporeal Orchestra), a project exploring experiences of grief, loss and care through sound.

Delivered through Imperial Health Charity's Artist in Residence Programme in partnership with Studio Voltaire and supported by Arts Council England, the residency will include workshops, performances, grief circles and broadcasts at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals, as well as Maggie's West London and Royal Trinity Hospice.

A former medic with training in psychiatry, Abbas is interested in how creativity can support wellbeing and help people navigate difficult emotions.

Through listening, shared experiences and creative activities, the project aims to create welcoming spaces for reflection and open conversation.

The residency will culminate in 2027 with a permanent sound installation in the Sanctuary Garden at Charing Cross Hospital.

Designed as a place of calm and contemplation, the garden is already used by patients, visitors and staff seeking a quiet moment away from the bustle of hospital life. The installation will build on this, creating a lasting space for reflection, connection and care.

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A walk through winter

Dates for your diary WE HAVE LOTS OF EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN! TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT’S COMING UP AND HOW TO TAKE PART.

ABOVE: Alison (centre) with pals Debbie (left) and Justine (right).

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Going for a walk doesn't sound like much of a challenge, however after the events of this summer, it definitely was for me!”

For our fundraising spotlight, we’d like to recognise Alison Reeves, who took on the London Winter Walk earlier this year to raise money for the Major Trauma Ward at St Mary's Hospital.

Alison was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital after a delivery driver lost control and crashed into the front of her house. Alison received multiple major injuries and was rushed to the Major Trauma Ward, where she spent the next six weeks recovering.

While this was a huge challenge for Alison, both physically and mentally, she was amazed not only by the fantastic care she received, but also by the simple acts of kindness from all the staff she encountered at the hospital.

Six months on, Alison’s physical recovery was complete, and she was keen to do something to thank the wonderful team who looked after her, as well as celebrate her regained mobility.

The London Winter Walk, which offers routes from 5km to a full length marathon, was the perfect option for Alison to raise money in their honour.

She chose the longest and toughest route available and took on the 42km walk, along with her partner Graeme and FOCUS • SPRING 2026

two of her oldest school friends, Justine and Debbie. The route started and finished at the Oval Cricket Ground, and provided the walkers with a picturesque tour of London along the Thames. The group even managed to walk a little further than the set route after getting slightly lost during the challenge!

Alison managed to raise over £1,800 for the team at the Major Trauma Ward to thank them for supporting her recovery, as well as all the other people who are

BATTERSEA BUNGEE JUMP DATE: 11 October 2026 For the true thrill seekers, this 160ft bungee jump will give you a stunning view of London and an unforgettable adrenaline rush in the process.

It’s more than a thrill. It’s a moment that makes a difference.

THAMES PATH CHALLENGE DATE: 12 September 2026 The iconic London skyline provides a fantastic backdrop for an epic walk by the Thames.

Taking place in September with a range of distances to choose from, you can take your pick and find a challenge that suits you.

HACKNEY HALF DATE: 16 May 2027 The 2026 Hackney Half Marathon took place in May, which saw loads of runners fundraising for our hospitals. For next year’s race, we have a whopping 40 places available to run for our charity, the most we’ve ever had for a race!

treated for serious and complex injuries and receive impeccable care from all the staff there.

“Nothing I can say or do will ever repay the care they gave me, however raising funds to help them help more people like me is the least I could do.”

A huge thank you to Alison, as well as her friends and family, for raising this money and for supporting the St Mary’s Hospital Major Trauma Ward.

The race takes participants through a stunning route around Hackney, with people cheering on the runners all the way to the finish line.

For more information on how to get involved visit imperialcharity.org.uk/ supportus A fantastic way to help our hospitals is to make a regular gift.

You can set up a monthly donation via direct debit. Head to imperialcharity.org.uk/donate to find out more.

"As an art historian, my sight is my entire identity, career, raison d’être; everything is about seeing and being able to look at images and art. So the idea that I had this lingering condition that could send me blind overnight was terrifying."

- Carrie Scott Western Eye Hospital patient

ABOVE AND BELOW: Carrie Scott (above) and Bertha Chibanqula, both Western Eye Hospital patients

Western Eye Hospital needs your help

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lease help us raise £1 million to create a calm, reassuring and more accessible environment for the thousands of people who rely on the Western Eye Hospital each year by supporting our appeal.

As one of only two specialist eye hospitals in London, the Western Eye provides expert care, treating serious and complex eye conditions from across the capital and beyond. The hospital serves as a lifeline for many who experience fear and uncertainty about sight loss.

But while the care provided is exceptional, many parts of the hospital no longer meet the needs of the patients who depend on it. For people already struggling with their vision, navigating busy, outdated and 14

difficult-to-access spaces can feel overwhelming and distressing at an already anxious time.

With your support, we aim to raise £1 million to transform the hospital’s entrance, emergency department, and outpatient areas, helping patients access urgent eye care more quickly, independently, and with greater confidence.

Improving the emergency department will mean we can treat more patients who pass through our doors, allowing staff to focus more on medical

emergencies. A more accessible reception area will make it easier for people to find the right care quickly, and updated outpatient facilities will support a less stressful experience for patients attending follow-up care.

The appeal will also fund new artwork throughout the hospital, chosen by a focus group of those who use the Western Eye, helping people with visual impairments feel connected with artwork in a healthcare setting.

How can I make a donation?

Can I support you by taking part in a fundraising event?

1. Fill in a donation form Complete the form on page 15 of this magazine, tear it off and post it back to us at the following address: Imperial Health Charity 10th Floor 5 Merchant Square London, W2 1AY 2. Donate online To make a donation online, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/donate 3. Give us a call To discuss your donation in confidence, call our fundraising team on 020 3640 7766

Please give generously today.

Yes, absolutely! You can take part in one of our fundraising events or organise one of your own.

1. Take part in one of our fundraising events We organise lots of fundraising events throughout the year. You can take a look at our latest events at imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events 2. Organise your own event Got an idea in mind already? We can help ensure your event is successful with support, promotional materials and tips to help you on your way.

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Make a donation today and help our hospitals do more.

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Gift Aid For every £1 you donate, Gift Aid allows us to claim 25p from HM Revenue & Customs, increasing the value of your donation at no extra cost to you. Please tick the box below: Yes, I would like Imperial Health Charity to claim Gift Aid on any donations I make in the future or have made in the past four years. I am a UK taxpayer and I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

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Please make sure all the fields above are completed and return this form to: Imperial Health Charity, 10th Floor, 5 Merchant Square, London, W2 1AY A registered charity, no. 1166084

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Working in partnership with

How to support our work

About us

Make a donation

Imperial Health Charity helps our hospitals do more through grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising.

We rely on your support to continue our important work. To make a donation, please visit imperialcharity.org.uk/donate or call 020 3640 7766.

Fundraise

We fund major redevelopments, research and medical equipment as well as helping patients and their families at times of extreme financial difficulty.

Other ways to get involved

Supporting the arts in healthcare, we manage an Arts Council accredited hospital art collection and run an arts engagement programme for patients and NHS staff. We also manage volunteering across all five hospitals, adding value to the work of staff and helping to improve the hospital experience for patients. Fundraising through major appeals and community events enables us to continue our important work.

Volunteer

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Do you have an idea for a sporting challenge or a sponsored event? Fundraise for Imperial Health Charity and we’ll support you every step of the way.

For upcoming events and fundraising ideas, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/fundraising-events or call 020 3640 7766.

Volunteers play an important role in helping our hospitals. To find out more about our latest volunteering opportunities, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/volunteer or call 020 3005 6391.

Apply for funding

Find us online to keep up to date with all our latest news across grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising. @ImperialCharity @charityimperial @ImperialCharity

Are you a member of staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust? You may be eligible to apply for funding. To find out more, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/grants or call 020 3006 5328.

Imperial Health Charity 10th Floor, 5 Merchant Square London, W2 1AY imperialcharity.org.uk T: 020 3640 7766 E: info@imperialcharity.org.uk

A registered charity, no. 1166084