Queen's Nursing Institute

Could Queen's Nursing Institute fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants
Up to £5,000
Where they fund
England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Applications
Accepted
How to apply
Email application

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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qicn.org.uk

About Queen's Nursing Institute

The Queen's Nursing Institute is a UK charity that supports registered community nurses through grants and scholarships. Established in 1887 by William Rathbone VI, its mission is to help nurses remain in the profession and to advance community nursing practice. The Institute funds nurse-led innovation projects in physical health, mental health, and environmental health. It also provides financial help to nurses facing hardship due to illness, disability, or other life crises, and educational grants for community nursing specialisms. The Institute is distinctive for its focus on the individual nurse as the driver of community health improvement.

What Queen's Nursing Institute funds

The Institute funds nurse-led innovation projects in physical health, mental health, and environmental health, supporting project delivery and equipment. It also provides financial help for nurses in financial difficulty following illness, disability, or other life crises, typically for essential household items, building repairs or adaptations, respite care, or specialist equipment. Educational grants are available for courses in community nursing specialisms. The Institute supports registered nurses across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

Who can apply

Individual registered community nurses or midwives, including retired or former community nurses or midwives, can apply. Applicants must be living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. The Institute prioritises nurses in financial difficulty following illness, disability, or other life crises, aiming to help them remain in the nursing profession. Nurses on an interim suspension order, suspended, or dismissed are not eligible, nor are those who have already received a grant in the past three years.

What Queen's Nursing Institute doesn't fund

The Institute does not fund projects that are part of established improvement programmes or already funded by other bodies, or projects not led by a registered nurse. Financial help excludes residential or nursing home fees, debt, medical treatment, and funeral expenses. Educational grants are limited to community nursing specialisms.

How they like to fund

The Institute offers one-off grants for specific purposes such as project delivery, equipment, training, or emergency support. Match funding is not required. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via email.

How much does Queen's Nursing Institute give?

Queen's Nursing Institute runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 42 sourced facts

Educational Grants
  • Online application form
Financial Help (Hardship Grants)Rolling applications
  • Online application form
  • Single-year grants
NGS Elsie Wagg Scholarship (Innovation)Currently closed
Up to £5,000
  • Two-stage process
  • 1 rounds a year
  • Single-year grants

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Queen's Nursing Institute funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Funding for educational courses in community nursing specialisms.

Costs they'll cover
TrainingEmergency fundingEquipmentProject delivery
They don't fund
Residential/nursing home feesDebtMedical treatmentFuneral expenses
The full exclusions list (2)
  • Nurses on an interim suspension order, suspended or dismissed. If you have already received a grant from us in the past 3 years.
  • Projects that are part of established improvement programmes or projects already funded by other bodies. Projects not led by a registered nurse. Projects where total costs are over £5000.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction
Focus areas
HealthMental healthHomelessnessOlder people

How to apply to Queen's Nursing Institute

Queen's Nursing Institute takes applications via email application.

  • Published programme route: online application form.
  • Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

  1. 1
    Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
  2. 2
    See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
  3. 3
    Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Queen's Nursing Institute could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Queen's Nursing Institute provide?

Queen's Nursing Institute runs 3 grant programmes — NGS Elsie Wagg Scholarship (Innovation): Up to £5,000.

Where does Queen's Nursing Institute fund charities?

Queen's Nursing Institute funds charities operating in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.

Does Queen's Nursing Institute accept unsolicited applications?

Queen's Nursing Institute accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Queen's Nursing Institute not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Nurses on an interim suspension order, suspended or dismissed. If you have already received a grant from us in the past 3 years.; Projects that are part of established improvement programmes or projects already funded by other bodies. Projects not led by a registered nurse. Projects where total costs are over £5000.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Queen's Nursing Institute?

Queen's Nursing Institute takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.

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Could Queen's Nursing Institute be a fit?

Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.