What is an NHS Charity?

NHS Charities are the legal way the NHS health boards can raise and distribute charitable funds for hospitals and health services. There are over 230 NHS charities across the UK and NHS Borders Health Charity is the official charity of NHS Borders.

NHS Charities provide extra care and support for NHS patients and staff, enabling health services to do more. We enhance what is already available, we do not substitute for core provision but instead provide additional support that prevents ill health and improves services for patients and staff.

Take a look at the below email from NHS Charities Together, of which NHS borders Health Charity is a member.

Who is NHS Borders Health Charity?

NHS Borders Health Charity is the official charity of NHS Borders. You may have known us previously as ‘The Difference’ or even the endowment funds but we changed our name in July 2025 as we believe it better communicates who we are and better reflects our mission and values both for now and into the future. NHS Borders Health Charity is the official known as name for ‘Borders Health Board Endowment Funds’. We are registered with OSCR under the registered charity number SC008225. We are the only charity that supports all of NHS Borders’ work, all its staff and all the patients and families it cares for.

Borders Health Board Endowment Funds has existed for over 50 years and the charity has been operating under the brand name of ‘The Difference’ for the past 15 years.

We are an active charity which raises and manages all charitable donations to NHS Borders to meet immediate and long-term needs of its patients and community. We support the staff, patients, and communities of the Scottish Borders to live happier, healthier lives. We want every patient to receive the best possible care and support across all of our sites and community settings.

Every donation, as always, goes to enhance the care and experience of NHS Borders’ patients.