Supporters, funders, community partners, charity champions and frontline healthcare workers, came together recently, to celebrate a decade of impact as Raising Health, the charity of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), marked its 10th anniversary with a special event recognising the people who have helped make lasting change possible.
Held at LPT’s headquarters at County Hall, the celebration reflected on ten years of charitable impact across mental health, community health, young people, children and learning disability services, whilst also sharing the charity’s ambitions for the future. Guests heard powerful stories from patients, families and services, showcasing how charitable funding has enhanced care, improved environments and created opportunities beyond what NHS funding alone can provide.
During the event, Raising Health shared highlights from its latest Impact Report, demonstrating the scale of support delivered throughout the past year. In 2025/26 alone, an estimated 46,000 people from communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland directly benefited from projects funded through Raising Health. A total of 183 projects have been supported through charitable funding worth £598,000.
Guests also reflected on Raising Health’s journey since 2016, when the charity transformed from managing donations and legacies into a fundraising organisation that works alongside patients, staff, communities and partners to improve healthcare experiences across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The event celebrated a number of projects made possible through charitable support, including the creation of sensory environments for young people at Hinckley Hub, the development of therapeutic gardens, a community-funded gym at Stewart House Rehabilitation Service, and the introduction of sports equipment across mental health wards.
Guests also heard about an emerging £150,000 programme supporting children and young people waiting for mental health services. Delivered with community partners, it provides tailored resources and support for families who might otherwise struggle to access help.
Other examples of impact included the distribution of 400 teddy bears to children’s services through the Teddies for Loving Care initiative and more than 600 Christmas gifts provided to patients across 37 LPT inpatient units thanks to the generosity of local businesses, community groups and supporters.
A particularly moving moment came as attendees heard the story of Steve Taylor and his family. Following a traumatic brain injury, Steve received support from LPT’s Community Intensive Neurorehabilitation Support Service (CINSS). In recognition of the care he received, his wife Lana and daughter Kaytlin later completed the Windsor Half Marathon and raised £1,000 for the service, demonstrating the lasting impact charitable support can have on patients and families.
Faisal Hussain, chair of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and chair of the Charitable Funds Committee, said:
“For the past 10 years, Raising Health has helped make a real difference to patients, service users, carers and staff across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible generosity of our donors, fundraisers, volunteers and supporters, whose commitment has enabled us to fund projects and experiences that go beyond what NHS funding alone can provide.”
Magda Korytkowska, fundraising manager at Raising Health, added:
“I am incredibly proud to be part of Raising Health – a charity that makes so much difference. Whilst we may be a small charity team, our ambition is significant. We recognise the unique responsibility that comes with being the charity of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and the important role we play in helping bridge the gap between statutory services and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.”
As Raising Health looks towards its next chapter, the charity is focusing on its most ambitious fundraising appeal yet, aiming to raise £1million to create dementia-friendly environments across community hospitals and older adult mental health wards, helping some of the region’s most vulnerable patients feel more independent and better supported during their care. To get involved please visit our Dementia friendly environments appeal webpage.
Maria Warden, operational matron for community hospital inpatients, said:
“The environment in which we receive care can have a profound impact on our wellbeing. For people living with dementia, creating calm, familiar and easy-to-navigate spaces can help reduce anxiety, maintain independence and improve their overall experience in hospital. Through this appeal, we hope to transform wards across our community and mental health services, building on the success of charity-funded improvements already introduced at Melton Community Hospital and North Ward at Market Harborough. Together, we can create spaces that provide comfort, dignity and reassurance when they are needed most.”
To learn more about Raising Health and read the latest Impact Report, visit the Raising Health website or follow the charity on social media.