Royal Free Charity

12/06/2026

Sign ups for our Brave New Heights abseil close this Sunday. This is your final chance to clip in for patients and staff at the Royal Free London this year.

Places for next weekend’s 90 foot descent from the Pears Building are now very limited, so if you have been meaning to register, today is the day to do it.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up - we cannot wait to cheer you on as you step back over the edge for your local Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust hospitals.

Tag someone who needs a last nudge and use the link in the comments to secure your place before registration closes.

09/06/2026

Denise is scared of heights. Her son, Jamey, is terrified of needles. Together, they are facing their fears.

Jamey lives with Gaucher’s disease, a rare genetic condition that caused years of bone pain, nosebleeds and seizures before he was finally diagnosed at the Royal Free Hospital in 2024.

Denise wants to thank NHS staff for the specialist care Jamey receives. For her, that means clipping into a harness to take on our Brave New Heights abseil down the 90ft Pears Building to raise money for families coping with rare conditions.

Denise said: “I can’t do much to help, but I can do this. I'll be thinking of my boy waiting at the bottom. Everyone should do the abseil - enjoy it and make money for the Royal Free London while you’re at it.”

If Denise’s courage inspires you, tag someone you would abseil with and use the link in the comments to sign up for our Brave New Heights abseil today.

08/06/2026

We’re proud to be one of 89 charities awarded a share of National Institute for Health and Care Research £37m investment, supporting more than 800 early-career researchers.

This funding will help Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust researchers at a crucial stage of their careers, empowering them to drive future breakthroughs that save and improve lives.

Find out more at the link in our comments.

05/06/2026

Do you have a family member who is thinking about doing The Duke of Edinburgh's Award? 🤔

We’re now an approved activity provider, which means young people can complete their volunteering while supporting their local hospital.

Maria is currently working towards her silver award and volunteers as a ward helper at the Royal Free Hospital.

She shared: “One patient said ‘I haven’t seen you in a while’ which brought me such joy as it’s nice when patients remember you. Helping the nurses and staff, even though it’s something small... they’re always so thankful.”

These everyday moments make a real difference, both for patients and for young people gaining confidence and experience.

We’re proud to support young people alongside The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in developing skills and experience useful for their future careers.

Are you doing DofE? Find out how to volunteer with us via the link in the comments section below.

04/06/2026

Three generations. One reason to give back 💙

Stephen may be a familiar face at Barnet Hospital, volunteering his time to support patients and staff.

Now he’s finding a new way to support the community, taking on our charity abseil in memory of his wife, Jutta - a wife, mother and grandmother.

“The Royal Free looked after my wife before she died four years ago and the hospital was very helpful. I have an affinity with my local hospital.”

What began as Stephen’s own challenge is now shared across three generations.

“My son said, ‘Dad, I want to do it,’ and my grandson wanted to do it. So, they’re flying over from Amsterdam. We’re abseiling on Saturday.”

Together, they’re turning a personal challenge into a shared act of support for the NHS that cared for their family.

Sign up for our abseil and support your local hospital via the link in the comments below.

02/06/2026

What makes someone want to give back?

This Volunteers’ Week, we spoke to Camilla and Jacinta, who both volunteer at Chase Farm Hospital.

For them, it was the care their loved ones received that inspired them to support others.

“My husband has bowel cancer, so I bring him to do his chemo and pick him up. That’s where I started to realise I want to help people,” Jacinta shared.

“My son was in intensive care at Chase Farm Hospital and the care he was given was fantastic. The reason I’m here is giving back,” Camilla added.

For volunteers like Camilla and Jacinta, their lived experience allows them to bring compassion to patient lives and an understanding of the difficulties of hospital.

What inspires you to give back? Tell us in the comments below.

01/06/2026

This Volunteers' Week, we want to pay tribute to the 720 incredible people who have contributed 28,771 hours of volunteering across Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust hospitals since January.

From greeting patients at the door and supporting NHS staff to sitting with someone who needs company, every hour represents a commitment to supporting our amazing NHS.

We are proud of our young volunteers programme too, giving 16- to 22-year-olds the opportunity to develop skills, build confidence and contribute to their local hospital, with many going on to pursue a career in the NHS too.

To our whole volunteer community: thank you for everything you do.

29/05/2026

All of our volunteers bring something special, but Joe brings a little extra magic.

A member of The Magic Circle for nearly 30 years, Joe volunteers on the paediatric ward at North Mid, performing tricks for children and their families.

“The greatest art of all is to make people happy,” he said. “I get as much out of it as they do.”

For young patients experiencing pain or long stays in hospital, Joe’s magic offers a joyful escape from the routine of hospital life and moments of real relief.

“If I can make someone unwell smile or laugh, to me that is very rewarding.”

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, follow the link in the comments to find out more.

28/05/2026

Statement: Disruption to Hampstead Heath Pondcam and reports of swimming activity.

We are deeply concerned by behaviour that may endanger wildlife on Hampstead Heath.

Read our full statement: https://royalfreecharity.org/news/statement-disruption-to-hampstead-heath-pondcam-and-reports-of-swimming-activity

We are currently investigating the cause of disruption to our nature reserve livestream and we’re working with partners to restore the feed as quickly as possible.

27/05/2026

Two girls. One extraordinary bond.

Ciara and Kleya became best friends in secondary school before discovering they had something remarkable in common: both had been treated for leukaemia at Barnet Hospital when they were just three years old.

Now recovered, the two families are taking part in Walk for Wards on 19 September at Trent Park, Enfield to give something back to the NHS staff who supported them through the hardest days of their lives.

"We're doing Walk for Wards to give something back because the doctors, nurses and charity have been amazing. They don't just do their jobs, they go far beyond that," said Gentiana, Kleya's mum.

Christine, Ciara's mum, added: "I don't know how I would have gotten through it without them all. We're eternally grateful."

The support that helped the girls through treatment, from therapy dog visits to celebrations marking the end of their care, was made possible by your donations.

Join Ciara, Kleya and their families at Trent Park this September for a 5k or 10k walk. Every step you take raises vital funds for your local Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust hospitals.

Sign up link in the comments below. 👇