Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Founded in 1993, we are a voluntary organisation and registered charity (UK charity no. 1016883), which supports the work of the hospital for the benefit of patients, their families and staff. We are committed to creating a more comfortable environment for patients and visitors by supplementing and enhancing the services provided by the hospital. With the help of our staff and a team of around 25 volunteers, we provide the following services: Friends Shop and Shop Trolley Patient & Staff Library and Library Trolley Staff Lunch Trolley Hospital Hair Salon Fundraising Book and Bric à Brac Sales The Friends runs a Grants Scheme for projects to improve services for patients and staff. For full details and how to apply, please visit our website. We also licence commercial traders to sell their products within the hospital. For a list of upcoming traders please visit the events page of our website. Between 2012 and 2022 the Friends’ fundraising focus was on expanding the number of ‘Butterfly Rooms’ within the hospital as part of the Trust’s programme of improving its palliative care. These rooms are dedicated to those patients near the end of life, so that friends and family can spend more time with their loved ones in their last days. We have funded 13 Butterfly Rooms in total (7 at Chelsea & Westminster and 6 at West Middlesex). For more information on this project click here. In 2023 we donated £50,000 to the Trust's 'Best For You' child and adolescent mental health project. We are currently funding the Trust's Butterfly Volunteer Manager, who recruits and oversees the team of volunteers working with patients at the end of life and their families. For full details of all of the Friends' activities, and how you can support us, please visit www.cwfriends.org.uk.