In this issue:
- Bringing sight saving screening closer to home
- Transforming an unloved hospital courtyard
- Recliner chairs bring comfort to chemo patients
- Large Grants awarded 2025
- Small Grant update: Autumn 2025
- Micro Grants update: Autumn 2025
- Our supporter and donation stories
- Message from our Charity Director
- Support us
Bringing sight saving screening closer to home
Diabetic eye screening is a screening tool to check for damage to the small vessels in the retina and is used to catch abnormalities before changes start to cause sight loss.
A recent donation by Fife Health Charity has brought a new OCT scanner to the Diabetes Centre at Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy which will help to prevent severe vision loss and blindness by enabling early detection and treatment.
Transforming an unloved hospital courtyard
By their very nature, the admissions areas of the Victoria Hospital are high-paced, busy, often windowless environments, with little opportunity for staff to be able to take time to step outside to get some fresh air.
Carol Potter (Chief Executive, NHS Fife cuts the tape that officially opens the Admissions Unit garden.
Recliner chairs bring comfort to Ward 34 chemotherapy patients
Did you realise that patients undergoing chemotherapy are often attached to the equipment for many hours a day, sometimes even a whole day at a time? As you’d imagine, this situation is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to tolerate for many.
Our grants programme | Update
Large Grants awarded 2025
In addition to the grants outlined above, during 2025/26, the Fife Health Charity approved 5 large grants which are substantial awards over £10,000. These have been awarded for The Balanced System in the Speech and Language Department, for cuddle beds for the hospice and for values-based reflective practice programme funding. We’ve also committed to three-year funding for ‘Held in our Hearts’ an initiative to help those suffering with baby loss, and we’ve agreed to funding research for Pre-MISS – Optimising skin-to-skin duration and monitoring for premature babies.
We will bring you updates on how these large grants are making a difference for people, communities and NHS Fife staff across the kingdom in future newsletters.
Community Grants
We are delighted to share that we have funded a range of exciting projects across Fife supporting children and young people through the first year of our Community Grants programme.
Local charities can apply for grants of up to £6,000. Applications are now closed for this year's grant funding but note that the third-year programme will open again from 1st September 2026.
We will be pleased to share details of our second-year projects with you in forthcoming newsletters.
Small Grant update: Autumn 2025
As with our larger grant awards, our small grants are used to improve the physical and mental health of the people of Fife. These funds can be used to fund discrete projects such as a training and development grant for an individual, or for ongoing funding of evergreen projects such as the upkeep of a garden area or the Music in Hospitals programme.
Micro Grants update: Autumn 2025
Awards given under this programme have a value of up to £999 but in reality, most awards are much smaller. We’re constantly impressed with the impact that funding from these relatively small amounts can have and this quarter, improving patient experience came out top on the targeted spend category as outlined in our strategy.
Our supporters | Donation stories
There are many reasons why people decide to support Fife Health Charity. We are incredibly grateful for each and every donation we receive and are constantly inspired by the stories behind each gift.
Many of our donations come through monetary donations from the relatives of loved ones who’ve received outstanding care in hospital. We also benefit from donations from and the fundraising efforts of NHS staff who are well placed to see the difference made by the grants the charity awards and witness how these benefit patients and communities across Fife.
Letham Ward Summer Fete
We’d like to thank everyone who attended Cameron Hospital on Saturday 9 August for the Letham Ward Summer Fete. From arts and crafts to motorbikes, delicious food, live music, and games - it was a fantastic afternoon full of fun, community spirit, and fundraising.
Money raised will benefit people being supported through their rehabilitation following a stroke. The fete was supported by the Levenmouth Rotary Club and raised an amazing £702.00 for Fife Health Charity.
Superhero week donation from Baby Sensory West Fife
We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Leah Dickman, alternatively known as Baby Sensory West Fife. Leah kindly ran a fundraiser for the Neonatal Unit in Kirkcaldy, a place that she recognises is close to the hearts of many, not least some of the parents of her little learners.
During Superhero week back in June, Leah donated all proceeds from Baby Sensory classes running at her usual venues. She managed to raise an impressive £975 for Fife Health Charity aided by the generous support of the venues themselves who waived rent charges that week to support her further. Well done Leah!
Kiltwalk corner
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Dundee starting point
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Carol, NHS Fife Chief Executive
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Alice Fife Health Charity fundraiser
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Elaine Garman, Fife Health Charity supporter
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Team Admin Trio (Pharmacy) take on the Big Stroll
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Flags flying for Fife Health Charity
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Mighty striders Jack and David brave rain
Dundee
This year we had two walkers who raised an impressive £1,242.50 for Fife Health Charity after taking part in the 20 mile Mighty Stride. Fife local, Elaine Garman, completed the challenge in 6 hours and our very own Trustee (and NHS Fife Chief Executive) Carol Potter, took on the Mighty Stride once again. Both smashed it!
Edinburgh
Hot on the heels of the Dundee Kiltwalk came the Edinburgh Kiltwalk. With more supporters choosing to walk the Edinburgh event, we had 7 walkers completing the course. Hurrah!
The sun shone for our Dundee walkers, whilst our Edinburgh walkers battled a typical Scottish day of mixed conditions, with many starting in the sunshine and finishing in the rain. This didn’t dampen their spirits however with Edinburgh raising an amazing £3,500.00 for Fife Health Charity.
A massive thank you to all our incredible Kiltwalkers.
If you'd like to sign up for one of next year's Kiltwalks and to walk on behalf of Fife Health Charity, dates are out now. Find out more on our dedicated Kiltwalk information page.
All the money I raise goes to support the Fife Health Charity. This cause is incredibly close to my heart, as it plays a vital role in improving our health and supporting our communities.
Fundraising | Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
These are just a few donation stories from recent months of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for Fife Health Charity to benefit people across the Kingdom.
Perhaps you too could help us by organising a fundraising event in aid of Fife Health Charity? Don't have time to plan? Then maybe an organised event would work for you. Why not sign up for one of the running events taking place over the next few months?
Calling all runners
Whether you want a full on fitness challenge or simply to help our charity, we’d love to hear from all runners who’d like to raise for the Fife Health Charity cause. Simply choose the event that best fits your location, fitness and preference. Contact Fife.healthcharity@nhs.scot and we’ll do the rest.
Events
Not up for a full marathon but fancy more than a 10K? Then the Kilomathon might be for you.
Kilomathon, Sun 29th March 2026, Edinburgh Run between 2.62km to 13.1km
Want to get in training?
Supernova Kelpies Fri- Sat 13 & 14 March 2026, Falkirk, 5km
How about a race for everyone?
Edinburgh Marathon Festival, Sat-Sun 23 & 24th May 2026, Edinburgh, 26.2miles Two day event which includes kids races, 5K, 10K, Hairy Haggis Relay and Full and Half Marathons
Scottish Half Marathon and 10K, Sun 16th August 2026, East Lothian, 13.1miles
If you would like to discuss making a donation you can also contact us at fife.healthcharity@nhs.scot or simply donate by visiting our Justgiving page.
Supporting our supporters
Kelpies Half Marathon
We’re keen to send positive thoughts to Lynne Johnston as she takes on the Kelpies Half Marathon this September. Lynne, who is a service manager in women’s services at NHS Fife, is running in support of Fife Health Charity. She'll be helping raise funds to make a difference for patients and staff across Fife. We’re proud to have Lynne representing us and we are wishing her all the best for the race.
Skydive for Sir George Sharp Unit
We're also shouting out to Elana Murray, 23-year-old mental health nurse who is bravely taking on a skydive in October 2025 to raise £1,000 for Fife Health Charity. All proceeds will go to the Sir George Sharp Unit, the place that helped her rebuild her life when she suddenly contracted Guillain-Barré Syndrome—a rare neurological disorder in 2024. Brave doesn't touch it Elana!
It feels like we are racing through 2025 at quite a pace. It’s hard to believe that we are in autumn now with winter just around the corner. As much as I don’t like to talk about the ‘C’ word too early in the year it won’t be long before our thoughts turn towards Christmas – more on that below!
This year the charity has been making more progress towards the goals we set ourselves in our strategy. We continue to see high demand for support and have already awarded more grants compared with the same period last year.
We have launched our second Community Grants programme which closes for applications on 30 September and we have seen high demand for our new Staff Training & Development grants programme which will re-open for applications in October.
For us though it’s not simply about giving out grants but seeing the difference these actually make in the lives of people, communities and NHS staff across the Kingdom of Fife. I really hope you have enjoyed reading some of the stories in this newsletter which help demonstrate the difference our funding makes. You will find many more examples across our website as well!
Our charity can only make a difference due to the kindness and generosity of our supporters. I’m delighted that we are able to share in this newsletter and across our social media throughout the year, some of the stories behind the donations and the reasons why people across Fife are choosing to fundraise for our charity. It is always humbling and inspiring to hear these stories.
Sticking with fundraising and coming back to Christmas, we are very soon going to be turning our attention to how the charity helps benefit the people in Fife who will unfortunately spend their Christmas in hospital as well as the NHS staff who support them. Every year our charity provides grants to enable patients in hospital over Christmas to receive a gift and to enjoy some festive spirit through decorations and Christmas fayre in wards. 2025 will be no different. Very soon we will be launching our annual Christmas fundraising campaign. Keep an eye on our website and social media in the coming weeks to find out more on how your generosity can help provide a moment of joy for our loved ones in hospital in Fife this Christmas.
Thank you to everyone who supports our charity and works together with us to help build a brighter, healthier future for the people of Fife. I look forward to sharing more stories on the difference we are making together in our next newsletter.
Mark McGeachie, Charity Director
Christmas 2025
Take a peek at our 2025 Christmas campaign...
This Christmas, you can help bring comfort and joy to those spending the festive season in hospital.
With your support, Fife Health Charity can make sure no one feels forgotten. Your donation will help us give every patient a small gift on Christmas Day, a gesture that brings comfort, connection.
Support us | Money donated in Fife stays in Fife
Every donation to Fife Health Charity stays in Fife, helping us enhance lives across our communities. From funding vital equipment to supporting local health initiatives, the generosity of our wonderful supporters directly improves the wellbeing of those we care about most.
There are many ways that people can support our charity! You can donate directly with a one-off donation on our Justgiving page where you can also set up a monthly donation. You can also get involved by organising a fundraising event in aid of Fife Health Charity; or by taking part in an event, such as one of the organised local running events to raise funds; or nominating Fife Health Charity as ‘charity of the year’ in a local business. If you would like to discuss making a donation you can also contact us at fife.healthcharity@nhs.scot – we’d be delighted to hear from you!