The Burdett Trust for Nursing

Charity Number: 1089849

Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, South Africa ... [2 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Data not publicly available
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8 weeks (based on scholarship programmes)
  • Grant Range: Varies by programme (recent programmes: £100,000 for individual projects)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) with selective international work

Contact Details

Website: www.btfn.org.uk

Email: zoe.amasanti@rathbones.com

Phone: 0207 319 5510

Address: 8 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7AZ

Overview

The Burdett Trust for Nursing was established in 2002 as an independent charitable trust named after Sir Henry Burdett KCB, the founder of the Royal National Pension Fund for Nurses. The Trust has awarded over £65 million in grants to support nurse-led projects since its inception. The Trust focuses on empowering nurses to make significant improvements to the patient care environment through three key strategic areas: building nursing research capacity and capabilities, building nurse leadership capacity and capabilities, and supporting local nurse-led initiatives. The Trust is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to “champion equality, value diversity and challenge power imbalances” in all its work. The Trust is the UK's largest nursing grant-giving charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Trust operates various grant programmes supporting nurse-led initiatives. Recent programmes have included:

  • Women's Health Programme: Projects empowering women and healthcare professionals to improve care, including perinatal care, menopause support, and maternal health for minority ethnic groups (£100,000 individual project grants)
  • Complex Needs in Primary Care: Supporting nurse-led initiatives addressing complex health needs
  • Digital Health Nurse-Led Improvement Projects: Supporting innovation in digital healthcare (£25,000 - £50,000 typical range)
  • Burdett Fellowships: Scholarships for nursing leadership development and research capacity building, covering full tuition fees and stipends for full-time courses
  • COVID-19 Supporting Nursing Resilience Programme: £1.2 million awarded across multiple grants
  • The 150 Leaders Programme: Multi-year partnership with Council of Deans
  • Nursing Now Challenge: Global leadership development programme
  • High Impact Interventions: Previous programmes focused on Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), and Chronic Respiratory Diseases (£50,000 - £100,000)

Application Method: Applications typically submitted through online processes on a rolling basis. Grant guidance materials and application questions provided in advance.

Project Duration: Projects must typically be completed within a 12-month period.

Priority Areas

Core Requirements:

  • All projects must be nurse-led with nursing contribution at their core
  • Projects should empower nurses to make significant improvements to patient care
  • Focus on building nursing research capacity and capabilities
  • Strengthening nurse leadership capacity and capabilities
  • Supporting local nurse-led initiatives

Eligible Applicants:

  • UK organisations undertaking innovative projects to strengthen nursing leadership
  • Properly constituted bodies in the public or voluntary/charity sectors
  • Universities or other charitable educational bodies providing health-related education, training, or research and development

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not detailed in publicly available documents, the Trust's focus is explicitly on:

  • Nurse-led projects only (not projects where nursing is secondary)
  • UK-based organisations (with selective international partnerships)

The Trust transferred hardship grant support to a partnership with Cavell, focusing their resources on nurse-led improvement projects and leadership development.

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman of Trustees: Alan Gibbs (the Trust is currently recruiting for a new Chair of Trustees)

Chief Executive: Professor Clare Cable (joined October 2024)

Former Chief Executive: Shirley Baines (retired early 2025 after overseeing the Trust since its inception in 2002, serving as CEO for the final ten years)

Other Trustees:

  • David Julian Martin Smith
  • Evy Piers George Hambro (Appointed 2013, Investment Manager)
  • Janice Stevens CBE
  • Professor David Thomas Sines CBE PhD
  • Rachael Marguerite Corser (Appointed 2021, Chief Nurse)

Trustee Remuneration: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Leadership Quotes:

Shirley Baines on the Trust's mission: "We're really proud of the projects we fund and continue to listen closely to the nursing community to react and adapt, to help protect nurses. Recruitment, investment and retention of nursing professionals is key."

On impact: "We always tried to ensure the projects were actually going to make a difference... The vision has absolutely been achieved because it's supporting nurse-led projects. Burdett has given away over £60m in grants to nurse-led projects."

On adaptability: "We saw through the pandemic that it's key to adapt to support people in their current circumstances. We are here to ensure local relevance and global impact."

How to Apply to The Burdett Trust For Nursing

How to Apply

Applications typically submitted through online processes available on the Trust's website. The Trust operates various grant programmes throughout the year.

Application Process:

  • Check the Trust's website (www.btfn.org.uk) for current grant programmes
  • Download and read grant guidance materials before applying
  • Complete online application forms
  • Applications typically processed on a rolling basis

Recommendations:

  • Sign up for the Trust's newsletter for updates on grant programmes
  • Monitor their website and social media for announcements
  • Review programme-specific guidelines carefully
  • Note that submitting multiple applications to the same funding call means your applications will compete with each other for a fixed pot of funding
  • It is unlikely that Trustees would award two grants to one organisation in one funding call

Decision Timeline

Based on scholarship programmes, the typical decision timeline is approximately 8 weeks:

  • Selection panels meet after application deadline
  • Shortlisted candidates invited for interview where applicable
  • Successful candidates informed within approximately 2 months

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Trust does not publish application numbers or success rate statistics.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in publicly available documentation. Applicants should check programme-specific guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors

1. Nurse-Led Focus

Projects must be genuinely nurse-led with the nursing contribution to healthcare at their core. This is non-negotiable.

2. Alignment with Current Priorities

Projects should clearly address the Trust's current strategic priorities, which may evolve over time. Check the website for current focus areas.

3. Demonstrable Impact

The Trust seeks projects that will “make a difference” - show clear, measurable outcomes that improve patient care environment and health outcomes.

4. Innovation and Empowerment

Projects should empower nurses and demonstrate innovative approaches to healthcare challenges.

5. Proper Organisational Structure

Applicants must be properly constituted bodies in public/voluntary sectors, or universities/charitable educational bodies.

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Leadership Development: £178,900 to South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust for BAME nursing workforce leadership programme
  • Volunteer Services: Over £850,000 over three years to Helpforce Community Trust for 'Adopt and Adapt' service creating 100,000 volunteering opportunities
  • Homeless Nursing: £8,000 small grant to London Network of Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Group
  • Mental Health: Young Minds programme - 10 grants totalling £801,184 for projects supporting young people with mental health problems
  • Transitional Care: 12 grants totalling £1,151,750 for nurse-led initiatives for young people transitioning to adult services
  • Research Capacity: Making TRACS project with Bournemouth University on improving nurse retention
  • Community Maternity Care: Intervention project co-created by local women and maternity/health visiting staff
  • International Work: IGNITE programme supporting nursing/midwifery projects in Liberia, DRC, and Uganda
  • Patients First Programme: 70 initiatives across UK to improve patient care
  • Women's Health: Projects empowering women from South Asian communities and healthcare professionals to improve perinatal care and address cultural barriers in diabetes management

Language and Terminology

The Trust emphasises:

  • “Nurse-led” initiatives
  • “Empowering nurses”
  • “Significant improvements to patient care environment”
  • “Building capacity and capabilities”
  • “Local relevance and global impact”
  • “Equity, diversity, and inclusion”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Check Website Regularly: The Trust operates various grant programmes throughout the year. Visit www.btfn.org.uk to check current opportunities and sign up for newsletters.
  1. Ensure Genuine Nurse Leadership: Projects must be authentically nurse-led, not physician-led with nurse support. This is the Trust's fundamental requirement and cannot be compromised.
  1. Demonstrate Clear Impact: Show measurable outcomes and “make a difference” evidence. The Trust values projects that create tangible improvements to patient care environments.
  1. 12-Month Project Window: Plan for projects that can be completed within 12 months. Budget and timeline accordingly.
  1. Variable Grant Amounts: Grant amounts vary by programme. Recent programmes have included £100,000 individual project grants for women's health and £25,000-£50,000 for digital health projects. Review programme-specific guidance for funding levels.
  1. Emphasise Innovation and Empowerment: Show how your project innovates and empowers nurses to deliver better care. The Trust values forward-thinking approaches that build nursing capacity.
  1. Read Guidance Thoroughly: Download and thoroughly review all guidance materials before applying. The Trust expects applicants to demonstrate understanding of programme requirements.
  1. Avoid Multiple Applications to Same Call: Submitting multiple applications to one funding call means they compete with each other, and it is unlikely both would be funded.
  1. Align with Current Priorities: The Trust's strategic focus areas evolve. Check their website and recent grant awards to understand current priorities.

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