In this edition of Five Minutes With, we meet Sarah, Associate Director of Charities, who brings nearly 20 years of NHS experience across clinical, academic and charity roles.

Working across both BSMHFT and Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), Sarah provides strategic leadership and oversight for charitable activity that enhances patient experience, supports staff wellbeing and enables innovation. Sarah shares what inspires her work, the difference charities make within the NHS and how Caring Minds is helping to support service users, patients and colleagues across the Trust.

Hi Sarah, please could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Team BSMHFT?

“This year I will celebrate 20 years of working in the NHS, a career that started as an honorary assistant within the Learning Disabilities Division as part of my Psychology degree. After various clinical and academic roles across the NHS, universities and the charity sector I am ready to embrace my new role as Associate Director of Charities.

“I provide senior leadership, strategic direction and operational oversight for both charities. Splitting my time between the two organisations, ensuring a coordinated approach to delivering impactful charitable activity that enhances patient experience, supports staff wellbeing and enables innovation across both Trusts.

“I am excited to be joining Louise John, Caring Minds’ Charity Manager, to help drive the aims of the charity forward, raising awareness and ultimately funds to support service users and their families in ways the Trust is unable to.”

What is it like day to day working withing the charity sector?

“Working within the NHS charity sector is fast-paced, purpose-driven and incredibly varied, we can definitely say no two days are ever the same. One day might involve meeting clinicians to discuss funding a new wellbeing initiative, the next reviewing budgets and impact reports for the corporate trustee and the next planning a fundraising campaign or attending a community event. The role sits at the intersection of healthcare, fundraising, governance and storytelling, so you’re constantly switching between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery.

“Having grown BCHC charity from a team of one to a team of 10 brings a completely different dynamic and I have this ambition for Caring Minds as we work closer together, maximising resources to drive forward enhancements and innovation across both Trusts. In the early days, you do everything, fundraising, finance oversight, communications, stakeholder engagement and administration. As the team expands, the focus shifts toward leadership, culture-building and strategic growth.

What remains constant however is the impact. You see first hand how funds raised translate into improved patient environments, staff wellbeing initiatives and innovative projects that wouldn’t otherwise happen. It’s challenging, often busy, but deeply rewarding!”

Has there ever been a stand-out moment in your career that has made you pause and reflect?

“Every day I am inspired by donors that I talk to, from individuals donating in memory or thanks for the care their loved one has received, to talking to our dedicated clinicians who continue to make a difference for every one of their service users, despite other pressures they may be under. But if I had to choose one key moment during my career it would have to be securing a million-pound grant agreement and having the charity project feature on the BBC’s The One Show. For me this really showed the power of the charity sector within the NHS. It can take a while to embed what the charity’s purpose is and our role within the Trust, but key moments like this really show the power we have, to make a difference for our communities. It is a key moment for me because it helped others really understand the true value of NHS Charities.”

What does Caring Minds do to support service user, patients and staff?

“Caring Minds supports service users, patients and staff by funding projects that enhance wellbeing beyond core NHS provision. Working alongside BSMHFT, it provides additional resources such as therapeutic activities, improved ward environments, comfort items and community events that promote recovery and inclusion. As a charity, we also apply to Trust and Foundations such as the National Lottery and NHS Charities Together and through a recent successful grant have been able to invest in staff wellbeing spaces – helping employees feel valued and supported in demanding roles.

“By raising funds and engaging carers, families and the wider community, Caring Minds strengthens the overall care experience and creates a more positive, compassionate environment for everyone involved in mental health services. We are just beginning our strategic journey so please do watch this space as we share more about our aims and objectives over the coming months.”

What is the role and need of NHS charities?

“The need for NHS charities is increasingly significant due to rising demand on services, ongoing financial pressures and the growing recognition that healthcare must be holistic, not purely clinical. Core NHS funding prioritises essential medical treatment, but NHS charities enable Trusts to respond flexibly and creatively to emerging patient and staff needs. They fund projects that enhance environments, support mental health and wellbeing, introduce therapeutic activities, improve family spaces and provide specialist equipment that may not sit within statutory budgets. This flexibility allows hospitals to move quickly, pilot innovative ideas and create more compassionate, person-centred settings that support recovery and dignity.

“Successful examples demonstrate this impact clearly. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity has raised substantial funds to support pioneering paediatric research and Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity invests in community health, tackling health inequalities and funding long-term population health initiatives. These charities show how external fundraising can accelerate innovation, enhance patient experience and strengthen staff support in ways that statutory funding alone cannot achieve.

“By engaging donors, corporate partners, volunteers and local communities, NHS charities also deepen public connection to their local trusts. This involvement builds trust, shared ownership and collective pride in healthcare services, ensuring that care extends beyond treatment to emotional, social and environmental wellbeing. Together we are taking this next step, just imagine what Caring Minds and BSMHFT can achieve together if everyone truly understood the value of NHS Charites – watch this space!”

What do you do to improve your mental health and wellbeing?

“I make it a real priority to take regular holidays, big or small. Whether it’s a weekend away with friends or a proper break, stepping back helps me reset, recharge and return with a clearer head. I also love spending quality time with my family. Those moments, laughing together, going on days out or simply relaxing, help keep me grounded and remind me what really matters. I have been lucky enough to visit many different countries and I feel this also brings a sense of humility and appreciation for what I have.

“Swimming is another ‘go to’ for me. There is something about being in the water that instantly switches my brain into ‘calm mode.’ It is my way of unwinding, shaking off stress and boosting my energy at the same time. If I can combine the two, even better.“

Past, present or future, what three people would you most want to sit down for a meal with?

“For the past, I would choose my grandma, who died when I was only a few months old. I never had the chance to know her and I’d love to hear her stories, understand her values and learn more about the family history that shaped me.

“In the present, I would choose David Attenborough. His perspective on the natural world, climate change and humanity’s responsibility to the planet would make for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation. I of course would also ask what his favourite dinosaur is!

“For the future, I would choose my future daughter, to see the person she becomes, hear about her dreams and experiences and understand how I might help shape a world she feels hopeful about.”

Tell us something that people might not know about you

“Skydiving and scuba diving in Australia over the Great Barrier Reef, although this probably doesn’t come as a surprise for someone working in the charity sector. So, I will also share that I once got called out of the audience to play Pictionary on The Graham Norton Show, but my picture was terrible and I got told off by Graham for using letters!”

Describe yourself in three words

“I’m going to use my husbands’ words from his wedding speech – determined, caring and loyal.” 

You can find out more about Caring Minds and how you can support the charity on the Caring Minds page.