Frequently Asked Questions

Support can be shown in many ways including from a fundraising event or challenge, individual fundraising, single and regular donations, in memory donations, and or leaving us a gift in your Will.

If you are making an online one-off donation or setting up a regular donation, you can select the ward, Appeal, healthcare area or department you’d like to give to on the online form under ‘choose where your donation goes’.

If you are making a BACS payment, or cash or cheque payment, please get in touch with us to let us know where you would like the donation to be allocated to. You can read more about the Appeal and Healthcare Areas here.

We use Charitable Funds to specifically enhance and improve the patient environment and experience. These funds are instrumental in funding various projects, medical equipment and contributing to the continuous development of our dedicated staff members. It is essential to note that Charitable Funds cannot be allocated towards addressing budget deficits, filling funding gaps, or fulfilling personal needs of individuals. Our commitment lies in making a tangible difference through strategic investment in our patients’ well-being and the enhancement of our services.

The allocation of funds at Dorset County Hospital Charity is a thoughtful and thorough process aimed at enhancing healthcare services for our community. The Corporate Trustee carefully considers the organisation’s main activities and objectives to ensure that funds are utilised effectively.

From providing medical equipment to enhancing staff education, every decision prioritizes the welfare of both staff and patients. Applications go through a meticulous review to ensure they align with our charitable objectives and legal requirements. The Charity Funds Committee, comprising Charity staff, key members from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and directors, collectively make decisions on fund allocation. Rest assured, every step is taken to ensure that the needs of the beneficiaries are at the forefront of our decision-making process.

Funds raised have come from a variety of sources, including patients, donors, fundraising events, grants and corporate support to name a few.

NHS Charitable Funds is the term used to cover the money that is not received as a normal part of NHS business but is rather money donated or left to the Trust, to pay for additional items that might not be purchased in the normal course of business.

The definition employed by the Charity Commission to identify an NHS charity is that:

• the charity is established for charitable purposes relating to the NHS;
• its trustee arrangements have been established by the Secretary of State for Health under NHS legislation; and
• the individuals responsible for ensuring that trustee duties are fulfilled are appointed by the NHS by one means or another

If you would like to make a gift in kind to the hospital please get in touch via email charity@dchft.nhs.uk to arrange delivery. Alternatively, you can drop anything off in main reception, North Wing, Level 1. Please note that there are health and safety and infection control rules around donated items, so it might not always be possible for us to accept them. Therefore, it’s always best to contact us first.

We recommend using JustGiving for all your fundraising as this will link directly to DCH Charity to transfer the money when you have completed your fundraising.

Please use this guide: Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Successful Fundraising Page | JustGiving to create your fundraising page, and if you have any questions, get in touch with us.

Please note that if you have set up a JustGiving page but your friends and family decide to give you cash or cheques, you can add this using the ‘offline donation’ option so it will count towards your total. Please give the cash and cheques to us directly.

We can provide promotional material as appropriate such as banners and posters for your event, contactless machine and we provide collection buckets – these will all need to be returned for someone else to make good use of. If you are taking part in a running or walking organised event, we will provide a branded t-shirt at no cost to you.

At DCH Charity, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care and support for our community. Making a personal pledge to leave a gift in your Will is a powerful way to express gratitude and ensure a lasting impact on the lives of those in our care for generations to come. To facilitate this process, we have established a Free Will service in partnership with Kitson & Trotman solicitors in Dorset. You can easily access information on how to make this meaningful commitment on our website. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare together. You can find out how to do this here.

At Dorset County Hospital Charity, we understand the importance of honouring the memory of your loved ones. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one, perhaps to give something back for the care they received at Dorset County Hospital, there are a few ways to do this. You can make a donation at the funeral or memorial service or set up a regular gift to commemorate special dates such as birthdays. If you have collection money to donate, you can do this via our ‘Donate’ button online, make a BACS transfer or send a cheque. If you are making a BACS payment, cash or cheque payment, please get in touch with us to arrange payment.

We provide the opportunity for you to make a significant impact by setting up a regular monthly donation to support a specific area within our hospital that holds a special place in your heart. Making a regular donation is simple and can be done by completing our donation form  here and selecting ‘Monthly’ or ‘Annual’ donation under ‘how often would you like to donate’. You can select the suggested amount or enter the amount you’d like to give. Alternatively, if you’d like to set up a monthly donation over the phone, just get in touch and we will be happy to help.

Technical issues can happen and if you’re feeling concerned about whether your online donation has been set up, please contact us to put your mind at rest.

The most common issue when entering card details is that the postcode you’re using doesn’t match the address the card is registered to, so please ensure they are the same to avoid issues.

At DCH Charity we prioritise the security and confidentiality of your personal details. Once you’ve donated, rest assured that your information will be handled with the utmost care and in compliance with all privacy regulations. Your personal details are securely stored and used only for the intended purposes of processing your donation and if you give consent, keeping you informed about our work. We are committed to maintaining your trust and safeguarding your privacy throughout the donation process. Our Privacy Policy can be found here

Thank you for showing interest in volunteering with us. Currently we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist us at various local events, contribute within the hospital premises, and support our community fundraisers. To kickstart your volunteering experience with us, please complete the contact form on our volunteering page here. We look forward to welcoming you onboard our team of compassionate individuals dedicated to enhancing healthcare at DCH.

Bank Transfers:

We receive our bank statement once a week, so if your donation has been sent after this it may be another week until we see it. Once allocated we send out a letter of thanks/acknowledgement within 10 working days. At certain times of the year there can be a delay in posting letters, so please  get in touch if you have any concerns.

Please note we do not have do not have access to NHS databases, so we are unable to find any of your details via your NHS number or name. If you have not provided a means of us getting in touch with or prior to your donation, we will be unable to send you an acknowledgement.

If you would like to donate via BACS payment please get in touch with us to let us know where you would like the donation to be allocated to. You can read more about the Appeal and Healthcare Areas here.

Cheques:

Once a cheque has been received in the post it will be processed in our team within 5 working days. Please ensure cheques are always made out to DCH Charity and include a note or letter that states which fund you wish the donation to be allocated too, there can be delays if this is not included on the cheque.

Once we have processed your cheque we send out a letter of thanks/acknowledgement within 10 working days. At certain times of the year there can be a delay in posting letters, so please  get in touch if you have any concerns.

Currently there are delays in cheques being banked due to closures of local branches, however we are working on new processes to improve the time it takes for your cheque to be banked. 

Cash:

Cash may take longer than most other means due to legal procedure around handling cash. If you wish to donate with cash please get in touch so we are aware and can inform you of the expected time it may take.