Friends of Crowborough Hospital (FOCH)

The Friends of Crowborough Hospital is a volunteer-led and volunteer-staffed charity that has actively promoted “excellent care at the heart of the local community” by supporting the work of Crowborough Hospital for over 65 years.

For many years the Friends have themselves provided services at the hospital site including running the hospital shop and providing patient transport for the rehabilitation day centre. The Friends have consistently raised funds to purchase medical equipment and other benefits for patients and staff based at the hospital, and in 1999 raised £1.5M towards the complete redevelopment of the hospital building without which Crowborough Hospital would no longer exist.

In January 2015 the Friends started their Social Day Service which operates on Mondays and Fridays at the Day Centre on the Hospital Site.   This highly valued service not only offers a step-down opportunity for patients who have had rehabilitation at the day centre on other days of the week, but also, importantly, supports individuals who may be experiencing loneliness or other effects of social isolation.  This Social Day Service is run by volunteers.   From their own charitable funds the Friends employ a professional part-time manager to ensure that volunteers receive the support and training that enables them to offer an excellent service.