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Our impact

The midwife who’s back to caring for patients after a long illness.

The healthcare support worker who’s become an expert in dementia care.

The nurse who improved everyday life for people in care homes around the UK.

These are just a few examples of how our support for the nursing team has a direct, positive impact on patient care and public health and wellbeing.

Our impact on individuals in 2023

In 2023, we directly supported 624 nurses, midwives, and healthcare support workers as well as many hundreds of others impacted through the projects we funded. 

Hardship grants 

  • We awarded £200,000 in hardship grants to 514 members of the nursing and midwifery workforce facing hardship
  • A further 2,145 individuals received signposting support
  • £22,698,479 identified in unclaimed benefits for clients by our hardship service
  • 88% said the grant and any signposting received helped them to feel more in control of their situation.

Doing the job I love

Amelia experienced domestic and financial abuse which resulted in her leaving her home with her baby. This left her in a large amount of debt, and didn’t have any savings. She applied for an RCN Foundation hardship grant to help with costs and upfront childcare fees so she could go back to work. Receiving the grant helped her get back on her feet and since returning to work, she has been promoted to a band 7 nurse practitioner. "This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the RCN Foundation. I am incredibly grateful to be able to continue my career which I enjoy and provide for my daughter. Being back at work has also helped me to clear any debt that I was left with."

Amelia, Nurse 
Nurse smiling on ward

Education grants

  • We supported the professional development and training of 110 individuals through education grants that totalled £160,247
  • Funding was granted for a wide range of education activities, from one-off courses in a particular clinical specialism, to Masters’ modules and funding for PhDs
  • 86% reported that the grant had enhanced holistic, evidence based, patient-centred care
  • 86% stated that they had increased competence.

A compassionate future

Adeboye is a healthcare support worker and was the recipient of the RCN Foundation Kershaw education grant. In 2023, he was awarded an Impact Award in recognition of his work. "Thank you for recognising the importance of healthcare support workers and all of their efforts. This award reminds us of our collective responsibility in creating a compassionate and dignified healthcare environment. With the support of the RCN Foundation, I am confident that together we can create a brighter and more compassionate future for the healthcare sector."

Adeboye, Healthcare Support Worker
Adeboye IA 2023

     Impact in numbers 2023

Our impact on patient care

In 2023, we funded a number of nursing and midwifery led research projects.

In May, we announced the launch of the first Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing in the UK. Following a robust selection process, the Foundation awarded a grant to the University of Salford to host the first Chair in Adult Social Care Nursing in the UK and have since announced that Dr Claire Pryor has been appointed in to the role. The Chair will be supported by a postdoctoral research assistant to undertake and translate research into clinical practice and to develop the evidence-base upon which the next generation of adult social care nurses can drive social care nursing practice forward.

Here are some of our other highlights:

  • We worked in partnership again with The King’s Fund to support the delivery of Follow Your Compassion, a companion study to the Courage of Compassion. Follow Your Compassion reviewed the lived experience of newly qualified nurses and midwives and the reality of the culture of work they stepped into post qualifying, to establish how embedded in practice compassionate leadership had become. A total of 22 newly registered nurses and midwives working in the NHS across the UK took part.
  • The launch of Michelle Cox RCN Foundation Anti-Racism Award, which is an annual grant which will support a nurse or midwifery-led project that aims to oppose racism and promote racial equality within the professions.

Why we measure impact

Evaluating our impact shows not only the effectiveness of our work but also the need for our services amongst the nursing and midwifery professions. By evidencing our impact, we can showcase our work to our partners and donors. We can also review what has worked well and areas we may need to target or develop to ensure that we continuously improve our services.

For a more in-depth review of our impact, take a look at our RCN Foundation Impact Report 2023.