A history of support for our hospitals
There is a long history of charitable support for the hospitals of Newcastle upon Tyne, setting a foundation for the outstanding quality of care we deliver today. In 1886, John Fleming, a Newcastle Solicitor gave £25,000 to build a new hospital for sick children in memory of his wife, who had died in 1882.
The Fleming Memorial Hospital at Moor Edge was officially opened by Lord Armstrong on 26 September 1888. In 1988 the work of the hospital was transferred to the Fleming Wing of the Royal Victoria Infirmary and as the services and expertise became so specialist and expansive, the Great North Children’s Hospital was established in 2010.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary was built using donations from ship owner and philanthropist Mr John Hall and industrialist and philanthropist Lord Armstrong, on a ten acre site at Castle Leazes, provided by the Freemen of Newcastle and Newcastle Corporation. Work began in 1900 and the new hospital was opened by Edward VII on 11 July 1906.
In recent years, campaigns and appeals have been used to assist our hospitals with badly needed equipment. In 1977, The Freeman Hospital opened and a year later, Daisy Clark MBE launched the Charlie Bear Cancer Appeal in memory of her late husband Charlie with the aim of purchasing the first CT Scanner for The Freeman Hospital.
This tradition of charitable campaigns continues today with the charity launching its largest ever £30m appeal for funds to build The Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a world-leading centre for cancer trials to open in 2028.
Newcastle Hospitals Charity
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Newcastle hospitals receives its first donation
1886- In 1886, John Fleming, a Newcastle Solicitor gave £25,000 to build a new hospital for sick children.
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Newcastle Hospitals Charity founded
1996- The first official charity for Newcastle Hospitals was formed by a Declaration of Trust on 16 July 1996 as The Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS Charity which was amended by a Supplemental Deed dated 17 March 1999 to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity, Registration Number 1057213.
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The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation launches
2008- Sir Bobby Robson launched the Foundation in his name as part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity after a request by his oncologist Professor Ruth Plummer to raise £500,000 for equipment.
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The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre opens
2009- In February 2009, Sir Bobby Robson officially opened The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, a moment he was extremely proud of. He died a few months later aged 76.
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Newcastle Hospitals Charity appoints board
2016- Newcastle Hospitals Charity was constituted with a sole Corporate Trustee – the Board of Directors of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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Newcastle Hospitals Charity appoints first director
2020- The Charity’s first Director, Teri Bayliss, was appointed to lead and grow the charity team. The charity makes its largest award ever of £1m to support ‘Newcastle Improvement’ quality programme.
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Newcastle Hospitals Charity rebrands
2021- A new identity for the charity was developed (pro-bono), the retail operation was handed to the charity to run and a £1.5m grant is secured from NHS Charities together to support community recovery disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
- The largest single amount of £3.2m was awarded to support the founding of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Institute.
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Arts Programme launches
2022- The Hospitals Arts programme launched, supported with pilot funding.
- A major investment in fundraising is made with the aim of securing £10m a year by 2026/27 with the charity awarding £10m in 2021/22.
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Record donations and runners
2023- £1m donation secured from a philanthropic individual for robotics
- A record of 450 runners take part for NHC at the Great North Run.
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Volunteer services joins the charity
2024- The volunteer service becomes part of NHC and NHC Presents, the Charity’s public engagement programme launches.
- A £30m capital fundraising campaign is agreed to create The Sir Bobby Robson Institute at The Freeman Hospital.
- The charity relocates to former ‘Fleming Children’s Hospital building (the building founded the first charitable donor to Newcastle hospitals).
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Hitting a milestone
2025- A milestone of £9.5m in income is achieved in 2024/25.
- Planning permission for The Sir Bobby Robson Institute is granted.
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More to come
2026Watch this space!