Leicestershire and Rutland County Nursing Association

The Leicestershire and Rutland County Nursing Association, established in 1963 with roots in supporting district nurses, is a hyper-local charity dedicated to providing compassionate financial aid and relief to individuals in Leicestershire and Rutland facing hardship due to sickness, convalescence, disability, infirmity, or poverty—particularly former nursing professionals and residents unable to support themselves amid health challenges. Guided by values of dignity, welfare, and filling gaps left by statutory services, it prioritises improving quality of life for vulnerable populations through targeted, needs-led grants, often via strategic partnerships like Leicester Charity Link.

It funds relief of hardship for sick, disabled, or infirm individuals (especially ex-nurses), alongside one-off and ongoing support to local organisations addressing health-related poverty, carers, dementia care, and disability services—examples include Melton Mencap, New Life Foundation, Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, Dove Cottage, and Blood Bikes. Grants support core welfare activities, emergency aid, and capacity-building for grassroots groups serving these themes, with a focus on acute needs not met elsewhere.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities and community groups based in Leicestershire and Rutland, with no income thresholds but a preference for small, local entities. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; trustees select recipients via referrals and partnerships on a rolling basis, with no deadlines or public forms. Typical grants range from £500–£2,000 for individuals to £1,000–£25,000+ for organisations. It excludes non-local activities, large capital projects, and lacks religious restrictions, standing out for its historic nursing heritage, intermediary-driven model, and unwavering localist focus on health-compromised hardship.