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Royal Berks Charity receives £50,000 to boost staff wellbeing

Royal Berks Charity has been awarded £50,000 to help improve the health and wellbeing of NHS staff across the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, thanks to new funding from NHS Charities Together and NHS England.

The grant is part of an £11 million national programme, designed to help the NHS workforce “get well and stay well.” The funding will enable the charity to launch a Preventative Health Programme, focused on supporting staff to manage stress and reduce their risk of diabetes — two of the biggest factors affecting staff wellbeing and retention.

As NHS services continue to face record levels of demand this winter, the initiative comes at a crucial time. Research from NHS Charities Together found that nearly half of NHS staff (47%) say their work negatively affects their mental health, while 41% report an impact on their physical health.

The new Preventative Health Programme will:

  • Improve access for staff to the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)

  • Address health inequalities among staff at higher risk of diabetes, particularly within Black and Asian communities

  • Create evidence-based workshops and tools to help staff manage and reduce workplace stress

Matthew Green, Staff Health and Wellbeing Lead at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together and NHS England for this funding. By investing in prevention, we can improve the wellbeing of our workforce, which in turn helps us deliver the best possible care for our patients.”

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, added:

“Many NHS staff feel theirs is the best job in the world, but these roles come with tremendous responsibility and pressure. This funding means NHS charities like Royal Berks Charity can help ensure staff prioritise their own health and wellbeing with the same care they give to patients.”

The Preventative Health Programme is one of 29 projects across England to receive funding this autumn. Together, these initiatives will help strengthen support for NHS staff at a time when they need it most.