Local people with Parkinson’s disease, those undergoing kidney dialysis, and those recovering from neurological injury will benefit from a £144,776 grant award from the Big Lottery Fund to St George’s Hospital Charity, announced today.

The 4-year grant award to St George’s Hospital Charity is to expand services that the charity currently provides – and with the newly won support of the Big Lottery Fund the goal is for even more patients to develop improved confidence, mobility and social interaction by taking part in tailored activities.

St George’s Hospital Charity currently provides support to patients who are in hospital for long periods, or spend a long time on a dialysis machine. This can feel like unproductive time and patients have given feedback that they would like to do something to expand their knowledge, social confidence, and increase their capability to cope with their conditions. The charity is now able to extend sessions to cover weekends as a result of the award.

The service for those learning to live with the numerous symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is especially valuable. A Parkinson’s patient described how going out in public can be difficult as the condition causes her to ‘freeze’ or stop moving. The techniques that the team at St George’s  provide will build confidence through learning techniques to ensure that going out in public –something we take for granted – does not become a barrier to leaving the house. The patient is referred to here as Iris:-

“Iris would be able to manage negotiating her way around a supermarket when she goes with her daughter, so she feels in control of her own choices and her independence. She would like to be able to manage to move around people without freezing or fear of falling especially when it is busy, as well as have the stamina to keep moving for at least an hour of being out.”

The funded programme will build on existing work that the charity provides with dance and movement programmes for people with progressive Parkinson’s disease and their carers by learning, for example, to use words and rhythms to help overcome ‘freezing’ and to reduce the risk of falling.

Renal patients will be supported by the new funding through an expanded programme offering creative activities and focussed learning during the long hours of hospital dialysis. When patients receive dialysis in hospital they do not have their home comforts around them so are keen to utilise the time productively, and the scheme will allow the charity to employ language teachers for patients to learn a new language whilst they are receiving treatment.

Neuro rehabilitation patients who remain in hospital at weekends currently enjoy “Saturday Socials” which help them with their recuperation through activities like chair-based movement activities, quiz nights, and a means to create a productive and supportive atmosphere during weekends when the wards can be quieter. Increased rehabilitation and stimulation opportunities all support recovery and the chance to continue and expand the delivery of Saturday Socials is another benefit of the Big Lottery Fund support.

Martyn Willis, Chief Executive of the hospital charity said: “so much of the excellent work by the medical teams at St George’s and Queen Mary’s hospitals helps people get back on their feet, and the work of the charity is about adding to the patient experience and producing real quality of life benefits that support people in their daily lives. The support of the Big Lottery Fund means we can help even more people build skills and confidence beyond the hospital walls. We are absolutely delighted to expand our programme thanks to the Big Lottery Fund.”

The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. They are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery for good causes and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

Since June 2004 the Big Lottery Fund have awarded over £8 billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.

Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £33 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.

    • The expanded programme will take effect from July 1st 2016
    • St George’s Hospital Charity aims to ‘enhance the patient experience’ by supporting patients and staff at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton and community services across south west London by giving support for new equipment, new support services in the community, new facilities in the hospitals, and to support staff training and development.
    • The expanded programme will take effect from July 1st 2016 and covers three programmes:
    • RENAL (OPEN DOORS) –Kidney patients will now be able to contribute to their wellbeing through self-development whilst they are dialysing. They have requested activities that are creative and will help them learn whilst being able to participate.
    • PARKINSON’S (MOVE) –We will now be able to hold engaging dance and movement classes for people with progressive Parkinson’s disease and their carers.  This social hour will emphasise music, rhythm and movement, giving participants the opportunity to exercise with other people living with the same condition.  Our workshops will focus on movement and encourage partner work (with carers) to aid their balance.  The class will help to improve self-care and interaction with others as well as helping to maintain overall good mental and physical wellbeing.
    • NEURO REHABILITATION (SATURDAY SOCIALS) – We will be able to provide popular activities include chair-based movement activities to leisure activities such as quiz nights at Queen Mary’s Hospital and St George’s Hospital.  This is essential as people want to enjoy activities at weekends that are focused on achieving goals.
  • St George’s Hospital Charity receives donations and actively fundraises to enhance the hospitals and the experience of patients. The application to the Big Lottery Fund is one example of how fundraising by the hospital charity team creates a real benefit to local patients.
  • The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. They are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
  • Since June 2004 they have awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people. Every year we fund 13,000 small local projects tackling big social problems like poor mental health and homelessness.
  • Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.
  • Noel Cramer, Director of Fundraising and Marketing for St George’s Hospital Charity is the charity’s spokesman and is available on 07826 908848 or noel.cramer@stgeorges.nhs.uk
  • The charity’s website is www.stgeorgeshospitalcharity.org.uk