Cavell

What Cavell gives you

You get a one-off grant to help you through a financial crisis. There is no fixed amount. Cavell works it out around what you actually need. In 2024 it paid out £790,000 (about 920,000 EUR) to 1,695 people, roughly £466 (about 540 EUR) each. The money can cover a short-term emergency, essential household appliances like a broken cooker or fridge, mobility aids, home adaptations if you have a disability, and in some cases a rent deposit, removal costs or bankruptcy fees. Cavell is a UK charity for nursing and midwifery professionals. The help costs you nothing and there is no membership. It does not cover debts, holidays, private medical or education fees, care home fees, legal or immigration costs, or buying a car.

Who can apply

• Your job: You are a current, former or retired registered nurse, registered nursing associate or registered midwife, or a maternity support worker who works under a registered midwife.
• Where you live and worked: You currently live in the UK and have worked in one of these roles in the UK.
• Financial need: You are in financial hardship.
• Savings: You and your household have less than £4,000 (about 4,650 EUR) in total across savings and current accounts.
• Not for students: If you are currently a student, you cannot apply here. Student nurses and midwives are pointed to funds like the NHS Learning Support Fund instead.
• Not for healthcare assistants: Working, former or retired healthcare assistants are not eligible.

How to apply

Fill in the online application form on the Cavell website. It takes at least 20 to 30 minutes and you can save and continue later. If you prefer, you can ask for a paper form by email. After you apply, the support team contacts you within two working days about the documents they need, such as proof of your job and recent bank statements.

How realistic are your chances?

This is need-based help, not a competition for a set number of places. It comes down to whether you fit the criteria and can show real hardship. With £790,000 spread across nearly 1,700 people in a year, and a clear rule of under £4,000 in savings, a nurse, midwife or maternity support worker in genuine difficulty who can document their situation has good prospects. If your need falls outside what Cavell funds, such as debts or course fees, it will not be covered.