New grants for improving patient care in nurse-led projects

A new grant has been announced for nurses and midwives to undertake projects aimed at improving patient care and safety, help in addressing health inequalities and improve staff wellbeing.

The RCN Foundation is seeking to fund up to eight ‘quality improvement’ (QI) projects across the UK on an annual basis, with grants of up to £2,500 available.

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Announcing the project this week, the foundation states the request for grant opportunities in QI was ‘driven by nurses, midwives and health support workers wanting to carry out small step changes in their workplace’.

Additionally, QI projects can contribute to continuing professional development (CPD) activity, it said.

To be eligible for the grant, applicants must be a registered nurse, midwife, nursing associate, health and support care worker or a maternity assistant. Applications close at 5pm on 6 April.

Last month, the RCN Foundation also announced up to £30,000 of funding for learning disabilities nurses to undertake research projects aimed at addressing health inequalities and improving health-related quality of life outcomes for people with a learning disability in Wales.

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In 2025, the foundation also funded eight QI projects following a £25,000 donation from LV=, with projects including research training for people with learning disabilities, dementia care initiatives improving postnatal perineal care, and more.

Speaking previously, Deepa Korea, director of RCN Foundation said: ‘QI projects are a wonderful new part of the work and grant making that we do.’

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Charlotte McArdle, vice chair of the board of trustees at RCN Foundation added: ‘By participating in QI projects, nurses and midwives will identify gaps in care and directly contribute to improving the quality of services people receive.

‘Not only do I believe in QI, but I believe that nurse and midwives are best placed to deliver these changes.’