Welcome Letter

The Chief Finance Officer is a pivotal role within this small and energetic Charity.  Over the past seven years, our fundraised income has grown by nearly 900% and our property portfolio has also more than doubled in revenue.  We work with an amazing asset – Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals have world class reputations as specialist hospitals treating complex heart and lung conditions from new-borns to grandparents. 

 

Endowment from our property portfolio and investments support the work of the Charity and pioneering research in our hospitals.  Funds are also put back into the property to ensure it is maintained to a high standard.  As I write, we are about to debate a significant programme of work within the portfolio and the CIO will be playing a vital role in being part of the considerations not just this autumn but in the future. 

 

Our Trustee Board is engaged and supportive and our governance system is thorough.  Specific appeals and campaigns (all of which are urgent of course!)  are put forward by the Foundation Trust and the Charity team decide which will be best to be put before our donors.  The Charity will be represented on the project board for the appeal and will be involved in all stages towards delivery.  We have a loyal database of around 8,000 supporters which we steward with invitations to events, such as a drinks reception on board HQS Wellington which we are holding in September, and regular e newsletters and social media.  Our supporters receive a paper newsletter twice a year which is full of news and thanks for the support given to our appeals.  We are very excited about our up and coming Carol Concert at St Luke’s in December where we will have Joanna Lumley as our reader and Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood has tentatively said he will come to the event too. 

 

Our donor base is almost exclusively driven by personal knowledge of our two hospitals, whether that is via patients themselves, or friends, family, colleagues, and fellow pupils.  The stories which are given to us as to why people want to support our two hospitals make every day different and inspiring. 

 

I am particularly excited about the appointment of a new Chief Finance Officer – I see them as being such a vital part of the senior team working alongside me as a Charity ambassador and a leader.  Although I am confident that the Charity is achieving great results for our two hospitals, I am sure there is always more we can do and I look to this appointment being part of the ambition and drive to do all we can to support our hospitals, our NHS colleagues and our patients. 

 

Gill Raikes MBE.

Chief Executive