How to apply for funding
Information on how to apply for funding.
Who we are
Rockinghorse Children’s Charity support sick and disabled children across Sussex. We support babies, children and young people, along with their families, at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and The Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton and all of the specialist children’s wards and baby units throughout Sussex.
Originally set up in 1967 by Dr Trevor Mann, we are the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital including the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. Since then, we have supported nearly a million children with lifesaving medical equipment, support for parents and families, environments and spaces for children and additional staff.
The projects we fund
Working in partnership with local hospitals, respite centres and specialist services, we fund projects which focus on improving children’s physical and emotional well-being, while providing additional support services for parents and carers.
The projects we fund all fit into one of six categories:
- Toys – Toys can really help to pass the time, distract from a painful procedure or help with diagnosis.
- Equipment – From large bit of medical kit to smaller equipment to help with everyday care.
- Spaces – Revamping or creating new, therapeutic spaces in hospitals and the local community.
- Research – Cutting edge research to help move children’s healthcare into the future.
- Activities – Special events and activities to help children and young people manage wellbeing.
- People – Specially trained additional staff to help support patients, families and NHS departments.
What we aren’t able to help with
While we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of children across Sussex, there are some areas we are unable to fund.
If you believe your project falls outside the scope of the categories above, we encourage you to get in touch with us. We are always happy to discuss new ideas and explore how we might be able to support your project in other ways.
Please contact our Projects Manager Fran for a chat at fran@rockighorse.org.uk or call 01273 330044.
Who can apply for funding
Our project application process is open to all those working in children’s healthcare settings across Sussex.
We also collaborate closely with our Rockinghorse Champions, who play a crucial role in connecting clinical staff within NHS settings to our services and funding opportunities.
These dedicated individuals act as key points of contact within their departments, ensuring that staff across the Trust are informed about upcoming events, available funding, and initiatives that could benefit children, young people, and their families.
If you would like more information about Rockinghorse Champions click here.
The application process
Anytime Applications:
You can apply for funding at any time by completing our project application form. This form is available online (see below) or can be downloaded as a printable version here. There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for using this method.
Review Process:
- All applications are reviewed at our internal projects meetings, held every 6-8 weeks.
- Projects requesting under £2500 can be authorised at these meetings.
- Projects over £2500 are approved by the internal team and require sign-off at a quarterly trustee meeting.
- Applications for funding over £5000 will need to submitted alongside a business for approval by the board of trustees.
- We will let you know when you will be notified of the outcome of your application on receipt of your application.
Project days
In addition to anytime applications, we hold two Projects Days each year to consider projects up to £5000.
These events, typically held at The Royal Alexandra Children’s hospital, provide an opportunity for staff to meet the Rockinghorse team and discuss their projects in person.
To apply, use the Projects Day application form, available online here or as a printable version here.
Projects Day Details
The 2025 Projects Days are scheduled for:
- Tuesday 1 April
- Tuesday 14 October
Applications for these days open six weeks before the event:
- 18 February for the 1 April event
- 2 September for the 14 October event
All submitted applications will be shortlisted, and successful applicants will be invited to present their projects at the event. We aim to contact all applicants with the outcome within seven days of the Projects Day.
What happens next?
Successful applications
If your application is successful, we will contact you to inform you of the decision and outline the next steps. You will receive an approval letter via email, which will detail the terms and conditions of the funding. We will also discuss how the funds will be managed and the purchasing process at this stage.
As part of the funding process, we require all recipients to complete monitoring and evaluation at various points during the funding period. An example evaluation form is available (here). We will discuss the specific evaluation requirements for your project once the funding is confirmed.
Unsuccessful applications
If your application is not successful, we will notify you of the outcome and provide feedback on the decision. If you’d like, we can arrange a time to discuss this further. You are welcome to reapply for funding at any time, but please note that there is no guarantee that future requests will be approved.
Need more help?
We are here to help. If you have any questions regarding your project idea, the application process or any of the information above please our Projects Manager Fran Masey O’Neill on fran@rockinghorse.org.uk or call 01273 330044
Click here to apply for funding.