£300,000 extra training fund available for low income NHS nurses
Funding through RCN Foundation and Deliveroo’s Supporting the NHS campaign to provide educational grants to 200 nurses, midwives and support workers
NHS nursing staff will be able to apply for funding for extra training and professional development thanks to a new grants fund.
The £300,000 fund, launched by the RCN Foundation and delivery company Deliveroo, will provide educational grants to 200 nurses, midwives and support workers from across the UK, targeting those on low incomes or in the early stages of their careers.
The scheme will allow NHS nursing and midwifery staff to embark on a wide range of training from one-off courses to MSc modules covering diverse specialisms, such as pain management, mental health, oncology, diabetes and critical care.
Long-term investment in the profession through new educational grants, says RCN Foundation
Courses can be delivered online or face to face in training venues in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for the scheme confirmed ‘any development, training or educational opportunity’ would be considered.
RCN Foundation board of trustees chair and former chief nursing officer for England Jane Cummings said: ‘Health and care staff have been at the forefront of supporting patients through the pandemic for two years.
‘We are honoured to be able to support nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers by investing in the profession for the long term through this new educational grants programme.’
Deliveroo chief executive Will Shu added NHS staff had played an ‘invaluable’ role during the pandemic and the scheme was a way of expressing ‘enormous gratitude’.
Concern over nurses’ ability to access continuing professional development opportunities
Two spaces on the programme will allocated to Deliveroo delivery riders, who also work as NHS nursing or midwifery staff.
The initiative comes amid ongoing concern about nurses’ ability to access continuing professional development opportunities – especially given the additional challenges and staffing shortages caused by COVID-19.
The funding has come through Deliveroo’s Supporting the NHS campaign, which prompted donations from customers and partner organisations.
Applications for the grants will open in March and can be made via the RCN Foundation website.
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