Edith Cavell Fund For Nurses (cavell)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £790,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Initial contact within 2 working days
• Grant Range: Varies by need (white goods, mobility aids, rent deposits, etc.)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Beneficiaries Supported: 6,720 people in 2024 (1,695 received grants)

Contact Details

Website: www.cavell.org.uk

Phone: 01527 595 999 (Option 1 for Support Team)

Email: Info@cavell.org.uk / support@cavell.org.uk

Address: Registered charity supporting UK nurses, midwives, and healthcare workers

Overview

Cavell (formerly Cavell Nurses' Trust until August 2023) is named after Edith Cavell, the British nurse executed during World War I. The charity has been supporting nursing professionals for over a century. In 2024, Cavell distributed £790,000 in grants to 1,695 individuals, helping an average of 560 people per month through its support hub. The charity's total income for the financial year ending December 2024 was £940,513, with expenditure of £1,586,467. Cavell positions itself as the largest funder supporting nursing and midwifery professionals experiencing financial hardship in the UK. The organization has modernized its operations, implementing Salesforce-based grant management systems to process applications efficiently. The charity emphasizes that supporting nursing professionals ultimately strengthens workforce retention and improves patient care quality.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Cavell operates a single, flexible hardship grant program on a rolling basis with grants tailored to individual circumstances:

Individual Hardship Grants (amounts vary by need):

• Short-term financial emergencies
• Essential white goods (washing machines, refrigerators, etc.)
• Mobility aids and equipment
• Home adaptations for disability
• Rent deposits and removal costs (in some circumstances)
• Bankruptcy and Debt Relief Order fees

Application Method: Online application form (20-30 minutes to complete), with option for paper applications upon request. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

Cavell supports nursing professionals facing:

• Financial crisis and poverty: In 2024, 42% of working-age applicants were unable to meet basic needs like food; 6% were at risk of homelessness
• Health challenges: 29% of applicants faced complex mental or physical health challenges
• Domestic abuse: 17% of those seeking help had experienced domestic abuse in the past year
• Living costs and inflation: Rising costs affecting working and retired professionals
• Work-related stress: Financial hardship impacting ability to remain in the profession

Eligible Applicants:

• Current or former registered nurses
• Midwives
• Nursing associates
• Maternity support workers
• Healthcare assistants (40% of 2024 beneficiaries)
• Retired professionals from these fields

What They Don't Fund

• Debts (existing debts cannot be paid directly)
• Holidays
• Private medical treatment
• Private education
• Nursing home fees
• Legal fees
• Immigration fees
• Car purchases

Ready to write a winning application for Edith Cavell Fund For Nurses (cavell)?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Lewis Allett (joined 2022)

Chair of Trustees: Professor Nancy Fontaine (Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive with 39 years of nursing experience)

Board of Trustees:

• Deborah Critchley - Registered nurse with 30+ years experience, runs healthcare consultancy
• Paul Bishop - IT professional with 30+ years experience; senior leadership roles at Disney, BUPA, Equinox
• Matthew Hodson MBE - Registered adult nurse, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at University Hospitals Dorset
• Cynthia Gumbiti-Zimuto - Registered adult nurse since late 1990s
• David Lewis - 20+ years in pharmaceutical industry
• Debra Moore MBE FRSA - Nurse with policy and executive experience
• Naomi Dickson - CEO of Norwood, previously CEO of Jewish Women's Aid

Senior Leadership Team:

• Alison Parsons - Head of Support
• Libby Rowlands - Head of Partnerships
• Sarah Bonham - Finance, Trusts and Administration Manager
• Robert Tunmore - External Relations Lead
• Terri Jeynes - Support Services Manager

Key Quote from CEO Lewis Allett: “Over 80% of the people who come to Cavell for support are currently working... Cavell sees itself increasingly as being part of retention and of building a resilient workforce.” He emphasizes that “the safety nets that used to be there to catch people are being eroded,” and warns that “the challenges are growing, the complexity of cases are getting worse and the volume is increasing.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Complete online application form at cavell.org.uk/get-support/apply-for-a-grant/ (takes 20-30 minutes)
2. Save and resume: Application can be saved and completed later if needed
3. Initial contact: Cavell Support Team will contact applicants within 2 working days of submission
4. Paper applications: Available upon request via email

Required Documentation

• Evidence of qualifying employment (nursing registration, employment records)
• Benefits documentation (if receiving benefits)
• Last 2 months of bank statements
• Quotes or estimates for specific items needed (e.g., white goods, mobility aids)

Decision Timeline

• Initial contact: Within 2 working days of application submission
• Full decision timeline: Not publicly disclosed, but designed for rapid response to financial emergencies
• Application method: Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in 2024:

• 6,720 people contacted Cavell for support
• 1,695 individuals received grants (approximately 25% of those who made contact)
• The charity emphasizes that all who contact them receive some form of support, whether grants, benefits advice, emotional support, or signposting to other services

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the crisis-response nature of the funding and that circumstances change, applicants are encouraged to contact Cavell whenever they face hardship.

Application Success Factors

What Cavell Values:

• Genuine hardship: Clear demonstration of financial difficulty affecting basic needs
• Current or past service in nursing: Active or retired nurses, midwives, nursing associates, maternity support workers, or healthcare assistants
• Impact on work capacity: How financial stress affects ability to work or care for patients

Recent Funding Examples and Beneficiary Testimonials:

• Healthcare assistant: "I really can't thank you enough for this."
• Nurse living with cancer: The funding "allowed us to pay our bills to ensure I wasn't rushing back to work."
• Beneficiary response: "Thank you so so so much for your generosity! You don't know how much this means to me and the stress it has taken off me!"

2024 Impact Statistics (from beneficiaries):

• 99% said support eased their financial hardship or crisis
• 68% said support helped them get back into work or stay in work
• 82% said support positively affected their ability to do their job
• 96% said it positively affected their mental health
• 89% felt less stressed or anxious
• 81% felt more in control of their circumstances

Tips for Applicants:

• Be comprehensive: Provide complete bank statements and evidence of employment
• Be specific: Include detailed quotes for items needed
• Contact early: Don't wait until crisis point - Cavell can help before situations become critical
• Be honest: Clear explanation of circumstances helps the team understand your needs
• Remember holistic support: Even if you're unsure about grant eligibility, Cavell offers benefits advice, emotional support, and referrals

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Note: This charity provides grants directly to individuals (nurses and healthcare workers), not to organizations. This overview is relevant if you are a nursing professional seeking personal financial support, not for organizational grant applications.

• Individual-focused, not organizational: Cavell supports individual nursing professionals, not healthcare organizations or nursing programs
• Crisis response orientation: Designed for rapid response to financial emergencies and hardship
• Holistic support model: Grants are one part of a package including emotional support, benefits advice, and signposting
• No stigma approach: 80%+ of beneficiaries are working professionals; seeking help is normalized
• Documentation ready: Have employment evidence, bank statements, and quotes prepared before applying
• Rapid initial response: Expect contact within 2 working days, demonstrating commitment to urgent need
• Wide definition of eligibility: Includes retired professionals and those who have left the profession, not just current workers

References

Official Cavell Sources:

• Cavell website: www.cavell.org.uk
• Apply for a grant page: https://cavell.org.uk/get-support/apply-for-a-grant/
• What we do: https://cavell.org.uk/what-we-do/
• Meet the team: https://cavell.org.uk/what-we-do/meet-the-team/
• Our Trustees: https://cavell.org.uk/what-we-do/our-trustees/

Charity Commission:

• Charity Commission Register: Edith Cavell Fund for Nurses, Charity Number 1160148
• Financial data for year ending 31 December 2024: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160148&subid=0

Third-Party Sources:

• "Financial challenges 'are growing' for nurses, says charity" - Nursing in Practice (2024)
• “Cavell launches month-long campaign to thank nurses” - Nursing Times, May 2024
• “Nurse charity sees almost 50% rise in those seeking financial and wellbeing support” - Nursing in Practice (2024)
• “Charity warns rise in nurses seeking support for domestic abuse” - Nursing Times, January 2025
• Smallwood Trust: “Community Grant Partnerships: Cavell Nurses Trust” (2024)
• Time Technology: "Cavell Nurses' Trust Transform Their Grant Making With Salesforce" (case study)

Statistical Data:

• 2024 annual statistics cited throughout regarding 6,720 people supported, £790,000 in grants, and impact metrics from beneficiary surveys
• CEO Lewis Allett quotes from various nursing sector publications (2024)