Since 1997 Breath of Life has funded research and provided equipment and facilities to help in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients in hospital, in clinics and at home, where statutory funding was not available. North Staffordshire has amongst the highest rates of lung disease in the UK. Even though the area no longer relies on the traditional mining and manufacturing industries that may have contributed to lung disease in the past, the incidence of respiratory disease is still rising. We help people with all lung diseases: asthma, lung cancer, COPD (the umbrella term for conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema), Cystic Fibrosis, TB, Sleep Apnoea and many other less common respiratory conditions.
Research
Breath of Life funds research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, cures and treatments of respiratory diseases, also providing equipment for use in research and by patients, whether in hospitals, clinics, GP’s surgeries or at home.
Our support for asthma patients has included part-funding the local arm of a piece of international research which pinpointed one of the genes that causes asthma. More recently we have supplied one of the first of a new generation of machines to the Royal Stoke University Hospital to improve diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the area.
Children and young adults
We help children with lung disease and have raised funds so that youngsters with Cystic Fibrosis can have a more comfortable and homely stay in hospital when they have to remain in isolation for some time. We have also provided funding so that babies and children can have the breathing monitors and equipment that they need to safeguard them at home.
Equipment donations
Patients have benefited from a number of pieces of equipment we have provided to the Royal Stoke University Hospital to help patients who have respiratory conditions. We have also produced a series of information leaflets for patients with COPD and lung cancer.
Respiratory equipment does not always cost a huge amount of money and some of the equipment that makes a big difference can cost as little as £250.
Eligibility
Who We Are Able to Support
This programme is able to consider applications from:
- Constituted community groups
- Constituted voluntary groups
- Registered Charities
- Social Enterprises
- Statutory Agencies
Organisations must be working with people with breathing difficulties
Who We Are Not Able to Support
This programme is not able to offer funding to:
- Non-constituted community groups
- Non-constituted voluntary groups
- Organisations that have been established less than 12 months
- Organisations that do not have a proven track record of service delivery
- Limited companies, sole traders or partnerships without charitable aims
Projects We Can Support
Your project must meet one of the following aims;
- Increase or enhance your services to those with breathing difficulties
- Make your organisation more efficient, more sustainable or more resilient
- Be used to improve facilities for your service users
- Be used to provide projects that alleviate or ease the symptoms that your service users may be suffering from
Eligible Costs
- Core costs
- Equipment costs
- Capital costs
- Training costs
- Event costs
Ineligible Costs
- Funding towards religious projects or projects that promote religion, (although religious organisations can be funded for non-religious projects)
- Party political activities, (where one particular political party is promoted above another)
Application Process
Grants Available
Grants of up to £2000 are available
Grants from this programme are available to organisations based in North Staffordshire, (defined as covering the local authority areas of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands), who are supporting people with breathing difficulties. Organisations who are helping to combat or research breathing difficulties may also be eligible to apply.
- Applications can be submitted at any time.
- There will be two panel meetings each year to make decisions on applications, one held in May and one in November.
- Applications must be submitted by the end of April to be considered at the May meeting.
- Applications must be submitted by the end of October to be considered at the November meeting.
Documents You Need to Send Us
The following documents must be provided with your application form. If you fail to provide these documents your application will not be considered for funding. All documents should be submitted at the time of application.
- A copy of your governing document, (constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association)
- A copy of your most recent accounts, (audited or independently examined)
- A recent bank statement, (dated within the last three months clearly showing account number and sort code)
- A copy of your safeguarding policy
- At least three quotes for any capital items
Submission Dates
Programme is currently closed for applications.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit an application via the link below.
You can attach your supporting documents to the application or e-mail them to programmes@staffordshire.foundation
If you need any support with your application, please contact us using our email address or by calling our team on 01785 339540