RCN Foundation establishes committee for Wales

A charity offering nurses career development funding and hardship grants has set up a committee for Wales.

The Wales committee of The RCN Foundation was unveiled by the chief nursing officer for Wales Jean White at the RCN Wales nurse leadership summit on Wednesday.

The RCN Foundation was established in 2010 to distribute training bursaries, research grants and hardship funding that had traditionally been provided by the main RCN body.

Vital investment

Professor White said: ‘It is vital we invest in the nursing workforce both in terms of wellbeing and to help drive the shift from traditional, to evidence-based practice.’

Examples of grants include a £5,000 scholarship to advance clinical leadership for patients with long-term conditions, but nurses can also obtain bursaries to help with their continuing professional development and research projects.

In six years, the foundation has handed out:

• £428,000 of education funding
• £253,000 of project grants
• 102 individual training bursaries
• 488 hardship grants

Help in tough times

Hardship support takes the form of means-tested one-off payments, as well as money advice and help finding other sources of financial aid.

Professor White added: ‘It is a huge privilege to launch the committee, which I know will help the profession to grow in Wales and provide hope when times are tough.’

The committee will be chaired by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board retired nurse director Denise Llewellyn.

In other news:

Bursary helps nurses develop their skills in caring for people who are terminally ill

Pioneering course sees graduates combine research and front-line nursing