The Burdett Trust For Nursing

Charity Number: 1089849

Annual Expenditure: £2.8M
Geographic Focus: Jamaica, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, Northern Ireland, Scotland ... [1 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £2.75 million (based on £55m+ over 20 years)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8 weeks (based on scholarship programs)
  • Grant Range: £50,000 - £100,000 (typical grant programmes)
  • 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: Rathbones Trust Company Limited, 30 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QN

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. Over the past two decades, the Trust has awarded more than £60 million in grants to support nurse-led projects. 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. In 2025, the Trust is undertaking a strategic review with a new approach expected to launch at the end of the year. The Trust is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to “champion equality, value diversity and challenge power imbalances” in all its work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Note: The Trust is currently not accepting applications during their 2025 strategic review period. Previous programmes have included:

  • High Impact Type 2 Diabetes Interventions: £50,000 - £100,000 (prevention, treatment and management of diabetes)
  • High Impact Interventions – Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA): £50,000 - £100,000 (preventative cardiovascular health, rehabilitation, reduction in stroke-related hospitalisation)
  • High Impact Cardiovascular Disease Interventions: £50,000 - £100,000
  • High Impact Interventions – Chronic Respiratory Diseases: £50,000 - £100,000
  • COVID-19 Supporting Nursing Resilience Programme: £1.2 million awarded across multiple grants
  • Digital Health Nurse-Led Improvement Projects: Various amounts
  • The 150 Leaders Programme: Multi-year partnership with Council of Deans
  • Nursing Now Challenge: Extended to 2025, global leadership development
  • Small Grants Programme: Previously included grants around £8,000 for development work

Application Method: Rolling basis (when open) with application guidance documents provided

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

Priority Areas

Strategic Focus (2022-2027): The Trust launched a five-year funding strategy focused on reducing death and the impact of longer-term disability related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), targeting the four main categories of NCDs through a series of grant programmes.

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)
  • Projects that align with their current strategic focus on non-communicable diseases
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Governance and Leadership

Chairman of Trustees: Alan Gibbs

Former Chief Executive: Shirley Baines (retired in early 2025 after 10 years as CEO and overseeing the Trust since its inception)

Other Trustees (as of 2023):

  • 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."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The Trust is not currently accepting grant applications as 2025 is a year of review. They expect to launch their new approach at the end of 2025.

When Applications Reopen:

  • Applications typically submitted through online processes
  • Grant guidance materials and application questions provided in advance
  • Applicants advised to download and read guidance materials before applying
  • Rolling basis applications for most programmes (not fixed deadlines)

Recommendations:

  • Sign up for the Trust's newsletter for updates on when applications reopen
  • Monitor their website and social media for announcements
  • Review programme-specific guidelines carefully when available

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
  • 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 when applications reopen.

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 Strategy

Since 2022, the Trust has focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Projects should clearly address prevention, treatment, management, or reduction of disability related to NCDs.

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 totaling £801,184 for projects supporting young people with mental health problems
  • Transitional Care: 12 grants totaling £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

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. Wait for Strategic Review Completion: Applications are currently closed during 2025 strategic review. Sign up for newsletters and monitor announcements for when applications reopen with new strategy.
  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. Align with NCD Strategy: For the 2022-2027 period, focus on non-communicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory diseases). Projects should demonstrate clear contribution to reducing death and disability from NCDs.
  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. Expect £50,000-£100,000 Range: Most grant programmes award in this range. Ensure your project scope and budget align with this expectation.
  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: When applications reopen, download and thoroughly review all guidance materials before applying. The Trust expects applicants to demonstrate understanding of programme requirements.

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