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About us
Who we are
The Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a voluntary organisation and registered charity founded in 1993 and based in one of the UK’s leading NHS hospitals, which supports the work of the hospital for the benefit of patients, their families and staff.
Our services include the Friends Library and Library Trolley, Shop Trolley, Staff Lunch Trolley, and Friends Shop. We run fundraising Book and Bric à Brac sales, a Grants Scheme for hospital staff, and a Hair Salon which is open to staff, patients and the public. We also licence small commercial traders to operate in the hospital.
We have a particular interest in helping to improve the hospital experience for patients at the end of life and their loved ones. From 2016-2022 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. The Friends redecorate these side rooms to provide additional comfort and a peaceful environment for patients and their families. So far we have completed 13 Butterfly Rooms (seven at Chelsea & Westminster and six at West Middlesex). In October 2023, following a request from the Trust’s Volunteering Department, our Trustees agreed to fund the salary of a Butterfly Volunteer Manager for one year. The Manager oversees and recruits the Trust’s Butterfly Volunteer team, who are trained to assist patients at the end of life and their families.
