The Free Hospital Trust Fund (FHTF) for Children & Young People - Early Help Assessment (EHA) and Non EHA applications - Clothing and Shoes

 

 Background and History: 

The Free Hospital Trust Fund has been in existence since 1947 and originates from the creation of a free hospital for sick children from poor families in 1866. Below is a brief history of the hospital and the creation of the Trust Fund

In 1866 a free hospital for children of the poor was established next to St. Lucy's Home of Charity between Kingsholm and Longford. The home, a converted villa east of the Tewkesbury Road, was occupied by the sisters of St. Lucy, an Anglican community founded in 1864 by Thomas Gambier Parry of Highnam to train nurses and tend the sick in their homes. By 1866 the sisters, who were sent to many parts of the country, nursed some patients in the home.

Gambier Parry also conceived the idea for the children's hospital in connexion with the home and paid much of the building costs. The hospital, a brick building designed by William Jacques, opened in 1867 with 22 beds. Children of the poor from any distance were admitted and out-patients were treated at a house in Bell Lane. The hospital was supported by subscriptions and donations.

In 1872 the sisters of St. John the Baptist from Clewer (Berks.) took over the work of the sisters of St. Lucy.

In 1876 Gambier Parry moved the home to a large house at the corner of Hare Lane and Pitt Street. The new home included a ward for fee-paying incurables from 1885 and adjoined the hospitals out-patient department, (which occupied the building known as College Gardens) from 1873 to 1905, when a new dispensary opened in the hospital's grounds. In 1921 the sisters gave up their work at the hospital and the management committee made new arrangements, introducing payments for patients' keep according to means.

Further changes in management came in 1928 when the Clewer sisters resumed their work, and from 1929 children sent by the Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary were admitted. The Clewer sisters were succeeded at the hospital in 1939 by the nursing sisters of St. John the Divine from Deptford (Kent).

In 1941 accommodation was increased but in 1947 the hospital was closed and sold to the city corporation. The proceeds of the sale supported a fund for the relief of sick children.

 

CHARITY OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES:

The Free Hospital Fund for Children provides grants for the benefit of sick and suffering children who reside in Gloucestershire.  The grants include: 

  1. Clothing and shoes and if applicable, bedding grants for individual children and their siblings (who are aged 18 years and under at the time of the funding allocation)
  2. Block grants to other organisations/charities for relevant projects (see link at the bottom of the page for further information)

 

Any of the following criteria must be met to be eligible: 

  1. Families where children have significant health problems
  2. Families where the parents have significant health problems
  3. Families who live in poor housing and/or domestic violence issues are present
  4. Families where the children have physical, emotional, or social problems

 

Who can access the Fund?

Any Practitioner engaged in Social & Health and Education services working with children and young people can submit a claim form direct to the Gloucester Early Help and Targeted Support Team on behalf of a child, young person or their siblings.

 

What funding is available?

Clothing and Shoes

0-4 Years  -  £60.00

5-10 Years - £75.00

11-18 Years -  £150.00

Bedding grant for a child who has incontinence problems (only for that child and not the siblings)

£40.00 (towards the purchase of mattress protectors or waterproof blankets)

The FHTF will only pay the maximum grant available to a child/young person in any 12 month period following the date of the first claim.

 

How to make an application:

Early Help Assessment applications (EHA) – these can be submitted at anytime

For children and young people with an Early Help Assessment (e.g. My Plan/MyPlan+) in place, please complete the 'Free Hospital Trust Funding Application form (FHTF) for the correct locality which can be found here.

Email the completed application form to the address located on page 1 of the form.   You will be contacted when your application is being processed.

Applications without an Early Help Assessment (Non-EHA) – submitted at the Trustees Quarterly Meetings

All other applications, without an Early Help Assessment, must be made and authorised by a Practitioner on behalf of a child, young person or their family on this form. 

For a non-EHA application form - Lead Practitioner to login to their Glosfamilies account and access the Practitioner Information section below.

Following the meeting with the Trustees the Practitioner will be contacted and informed of the decision made.   

Date of Trustees Meetings in 2024:                  

  • 19th January
  • 12th April
  • 28th June
  • 4th October

Applications without an Early Help Assessment (Non-EHA) must be received a minimum of ten working days before the next scheduled Trustees meeting.

Send by email to BHLP@gloucestershire.gov.uk or by post to:

The Administrator

Early Help and Targeted Support Service

Gloucestershire County Council

Shire Hall

Westgate Street

Gloucester GL1 2TG

 

Shop Receipts for Clothing, Shoes and Bedding

For all applications, following the purchase of clothes, shoes and bedding (if applicable), you will need to send copies of all shop receipts to FAO Administrator at the above address.

 

Block Application Grants

Further details for The Free Hospital Trust Fund (FHTF) for Children & Young People - Block Application Grant can be found HERE

Who to contact

Contact Name
Admin
E-mail
bhlp@gloucestershire.gov.uk

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