Question 1

29. What kind of volunteering can I do?

Accepted Answer

We have volunteers in many varied roles across our hospitals, our retail stores, and at our fundraising events. Please visit our volunteering opportunities page to see what roles we’re currently recruiting for or visit this page to watch our videos where our volunteers can tell you more about what it’s like to volunteer at Leeds Hospitals Charity!

Question 2

28. Can I volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering. We have lots of ways for you to get involved! From roles in the hospitals, to helping out in our shops or at our fundraising events, we’re always looking for people to join our vibrant and passionate volunteering team.

We have regular shifts available as well as ad-hoc opportunities. To find out more about the benefits of volunteering and the vacancies we have available, please visit: Volunteer with Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Main article: Volunteer FAQs.

Question 3

27. Can I arrange a collection? How do I do this? How long does this take?

Accepted Answer

Yes absolutely, if you have a large donation to make, our volunteers and charity van collect it directly from you!

To arrange for your items to be collected please visit: Arrange a donation collection

A member of our team will then contact you to arrange a collection date and time.

Question 4

26. What can I donate?

Accepted Answer

We’re always looking for good quality donations for our stores. We accept most items and in particular, are always in need of: clothes shoes, toys, books, art, homeware, small items of furniture and bric-a-brac. Donations can be dropped off in our stores, in one of our collection bins at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, or collected using our collection service.

Read more: Our Charity Shops

Question 5

25. Where is my local charity shop located?

Accepted Answer

We currently have three charity shops, all raising money to support our hospitals. They are in Leeds City Centre (Merrion Shopping Centre), Crossgates Shopping Centre and in Leeds Cancer Centre, the Bexley Wing of St James’s University Hospital.

Main article: Our Charity Shops

Question 6

24. Can my department fundraise for something specific?

Accepted Answer

Yes absolutely. If you have a great idea, or you know a patient or family member wants to fund a specific project, please come to us and we’ll support you in in developing a fundraising plan. Once a project has been approved, we really encourage you and your colleagues to fundraise for it. Every penny we raise together means we can do more for our hospitals.

Question 7

23. Is there funding available for just my department?

Accepted Answer

We’re always keen to hear about ideas you have for your ward or department. Please let us know about any projects you might want funding for, and we can let you know the best way to access funding.

Question 8

22. When’s the next funding call?

Accepted Answer

We’re excited to be launching four funding opportunities that will be available throughout 2025/26. These opportunities will be open to all staff across all hospitals. Find out more on our website and sign up to our funding newsletter to receive the latest information about funding calls as soon as they become available.

Sign up here: LTHT Staff Update Newsletter

Question 9

21. How do you decide which applications to fund?

Accepted Answer

We work really closely with Leeds Teaching Hospitals, and a group of independent specialist advisors, to decide which projects we’re going to fund. We look at which projects will have the biggest impact, and which are the most important to the hospital right now.

For anything under £10,000, the final decision is made by the charity CEO and internal team. For larger projects, over £10,000 a final decision is made by the Board of Trustees.

Read more: How we are governed as a charity

Question 10

20. How do I apply for funding?

Accepted Answer

Anyone working at Leeds Teaching Hospitals can apply for funding from the charity. We have regular funding calls throughout the year for themed projects, and opportunities to apply for smaller projects at any time.

The easiest way to apply is via our website: Funding Opportunities

You can also speak to us about your application on the phone, or just chat to us if you have a great idea you’d like to discuss: 0113 539 7091.

If you know of a patient or family member who wants to give to your specific ward or department, please talk to our fundraising team who can support you in the best way to do this: email fundraising@leedshospitalscharity.org.uk or call 0113 539 7020.

Question 11

19. What's happening with the new Children’s Hospital?

Accepted Answer

The Hospitals of the Future Project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design and build a new hospital on the site of Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) which will include a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, a new adults’ hospital and one of the largest centralised maternity centres in the UK.

Leeds is part of the government’s new hospital programme, where funding was allocated to building 40 new hospitals across the UK. Following the general election in July 2024, we’re now awaiting a review to be conducted by the new labour government before we can proceed with the programme.

Read more: Leeds Children's Hospital Capital Appeal

Question 12

18. Is the Rob Burrow Centre for MND now open?

Accepted Answer

The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease was officially opened on Monday 3rd November 2025. Building work has been completed less than 18 months after Rob died, by a wide team of dedicated contractors and project leads.

Key Dates:

Final designs for the centre were published in February 2024.
In June 2024, the first spades went into the ground - just one day after Rob's death was announced.
In December 2024, the £6.8m fundraising target was reached.
On Monday 3rd November, the centre was officially opened BBC Breakfast with a ribbon cutting by Rob's six-year-old son Jackson and consultant neurologist Dr Agam Jung.

The new centre stands as a testament to courage and community, having been made possible thanks to a £6.8 million fundraising campaign, led by Leeds Hospitals Charity and supported heavily by Kevin Sinfield and the wider Leeds Rhinos and Leeds communities. More than 17,000 donors have contributed so far, and the charity is continuing to fundraise as part of ongoing efforts to transform lives for people living with MND and to support their loved ones.

Main Article: Rob Burrow Centre for MND Appeal FAQs

Question 13

17. Can I donate at the hospital?

Accepted Answer

Yes there are collection boxes based in most reception areas and on wards across the hospital. You can also donate easily by scanning any charity QR code and you can also use our ‘tap to donate’ machines, located in:

Gledhow Wing entrance
Bexley Wing shop
Bexley Wing patient hotel
Clarendon Wing entrance
Radiotherapy department at St James’s University Hospital
St James’s Faith Centre

Question 14

16.	How can I find out about giving in my will?

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest in leaving a gift to the charity in your will.

Gifts in Wills help Leeds Hospitals Charity fund pioneering research into rare and life-limiting conditions like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Our new TV campaign, airing on ITV from 1st October, shares Austin’s story to show how legacy giving brings hope to families and drives innovation in care.

Find out more: Leave a gift in your Will

Or call Sue Baulk our Gifts in Wills Manager on 0113 539 8198

Question 15

15.	How does my support make a difference?

Accepted Answer

Donations to Leeds Hospitals Charity helps to transform lives here at our hospitals. Over the last few years, our supporters have:

helped to fund equipment that has saved the lives of poorly children
funded hardship grants to help NHS staff experiencing financial difficulty
supported cancer patients going through treatment
paid for innovative research projects, helping to find a cure for rare diseases
helped us start building a brand new care centre for patients with MND

To hear more about how your donations make a difference, sign up to our newsletter or visit: The difference donations make

Question 16

14.	How can I support you through a one off or regular gift?

Accepted Answer

Our ‘Become a Friend’ programme allows you to support the hospitals by giving a monthly donation, via direct debit, to the charity. This is a great, easy way to give, that provides lasting support to our hospitals.

By signing up to become a friend, you’ll also get regular updates from us and thank you cards.

Sign up here: Give a Regular Gift

Question 17

13.	How can I get involved and fundraise?

Accepted Answer

There are lots of ways to support Leeds Teaching Hospitals! You can donate directly to the charity, fundraise through an event or sponsored activity, join our charity lottery or give your time through volunteering! You can also think about leaving a gift to the charity in your will.

Read more: Get involved

Question 18

12.	Can you organise a cheque presentation?

Accepted Answer

We’d love to thank you for your fundraising!

To chat to us about the best way to present your donation to the hospitals, please call our hospital fundraising team on 0113 539 7020 or email fundraising@leedshospitalscharity.org.uk

Question 19

11.	Can you share my fundraising on social media?

Accepted Answer

We’d be happy to chat to you about sharing your stories or fundraising events on our channels.

Please email us at communications@leedshospitalscharity.org.uk or reach out through social media.

Question 20

10.	Can I have a plaque to recognise my fundraising?

Accepted Answer

There are lots of ways we can thank you for your support, from certificates to thank you cards.

Due to Leeds Teaching Hospitals being a very busy NHS site, we’re only able to offer donation plaques in rare circumstances and when the donation made is over £10,000.

To talk to us about donation plaques, please call our hospital fundraising team on 0113 539 7020 or email fundraising@leedshospitalscharity.org.uk

Question 21

09. How can I pay in cash I’ve collected?

Accepted Answer

The best way to pay in any cash to us is by visiting our office at Trust HQ, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, LS9 7TF.

Please note that if you would like to make your donation in person, we need to know in advance - please email hello@leedshospitalscharity.org.uk or call 0113 539 7020 to arrange a visit.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH IN THE POST.

Read more: Donate by Cheque or Cash

Question 22

08.	How do I donate in memory?

Accepted Answer

There are several ways you can donate in memory of a loved one who has died. You can create a page on our memorial site, MuchLoved.

Visit muchloved: muchloved.org

You can also make a donation for a special plaque on our memory path at St James’s University Hospital.

Find out more: Donate in Memory of a Loved One

Question 23

07.	How do I organise a funeral collection?

Accepted Answer

To organise a collection for the funeral or memorial service of a loved one, please contact us on 0113 539 7020. We can help to provide collection boxes and envelopes and provide online funeral notices.

Read more: Organising a funeral collection

Question 24

06.	Can I donate to a specific area of the hospital?

Accepted Answer

When you donate to us, you can be reassured that your money will go directly to where it’s needed most. However, you can also donate to a specific project or area if we have a live fundraising appeal or there’s an ongoing project in that department.

Whenever someone gives us a donation, we’ll take into account their wishes. We often have projects or appeals that we’re fundraising for, and all of these can be found on the Areas We Support page. If you know that a specific ward or department is fundraising for something, please let us know when you make your donation.

We support every area of the hospital and can provide examples of specific projects we’ve supported, for example at Leeds Children’s Hospital or Leeds Cancer Centre.

Read more: Areas We Support

Question 25

05.	Why does the NHS need charities?

Accepted Answer

Although publicly funded by the government through taxation, the NHS only has a set budget to work with every year. The UK has an ageing population and people are often living with several long-term conditions, which puts our health services under even more pressure. NHS Charities across the country give an average of a million pounds a day to help our NHS services.

Charities have always existed to help health services do more, and deliver even better care, for patients and their families. The first hospital here in Leeds, dating back to 1767, was set up thanks to donations from local businesses.

Nowadays, we exist to champion our NHS and give thanks for the great care it provides. We help our NHS staff do more and pay for the ‘added extras’ that the NHS wouldn’t usually fund.

Question 26

04.	What does the charity do? How do you make a difference?

Accepted Answer

We are a grant giving charity, rather than providing direct services in the hospital. This means we award grants to fund projects across the hospitals.

This might be purchasing a new surgical robot, or equipment for the wards, investing in innovative research or funding a new specialist staff member. We also fund smaller projects that can make a big difference to patients and families, things like comfort care packs for families and care bags for patients with learning disabilities.

Read more: The difference donations make

Question 27

03.	How much of the money raised actually goes to supporting the hospitals?

Accepted Answer

In the last five years we have awarded grants of £33.7m to Leeds Teaching Hospitals. This equates to 95% of the total income raised in that same period.

We recognise that when people give to the charity, they want to see that money making a real difference to Leeds Teaching Hospitals, so we do everything we can to keep costs low, so there is more money available to award through our grant funding programme.

Question 28

02.	What do you use donations and fundraising for?

Accepted Answer

Money that is donated directly to the charity, or fundraised through events and sponsorship, goes directly to supporting NHS staff at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the patients and families they care for.

We award millions of pounds in grants every year, funding everything from new pieces of equipment to ward renovations and new specialist staff positions.

Everything we fund fits into three impact areas: Tackling health inequalities, driving innovation in healthcare using new technologies and enhancing treatments for rare conditions.

Read more: Our funding priorities across Leeds Hospitals

Question 29

01.	What areas of the hospital do you support?

Accepted Answer

Leeds Hospitals Charity is the partner charity for all of the hospitals and clinics run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This includes Leeds General Infirmary, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds Children’s Hospital, Leeds Cancer Centre, Wharfedale Hospital, Seacroft Hospital, Chapel Allerton Hospital and the Leeds Dental Institute.