Our history

The Trust launches a refreshed website, new brand and focused grant strategy.

From October 2025 all financial hardship grant from Burdett and the Junius S Morgan Benevolent Fund are administered through the expertise of the team at Cavell.

Over £2million awarded to Women’s Health projects tackling prevention and health inequalities.

Clare Cable was welcomed as the new Chief Executive, continuing to strengthen the Trust’s reputation for excellence and furthering its strategic goal of positioning nurses at the centre of healthcare leadership.

The Trust hosted its second awards evening, where winners were awarded funds to enhance innovation.

Recognising the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on population health the Trust offered a series of grant programmes.

The Charity celebrated its 20th anniversary at Chelsea Physic Garden, announcing the launch of its pioneering Fellowships with the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London.

The Trust commissioned a garden at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show which has a lasting legacy at St Thomas’s Hospital.

The pandemic forced a renewed focus on digital health and nurses emerged as true change agents in the digital space.

Innovative evidence-based interventions supporting nurses’ mental health and wellbeing, inspired by pandemic learning.

Programme to encourage reducing restraint and restrictive interventions while prioritising patient safety and wellbeing.

Launch of first state of the world’s nursing report.

Funding to support care for people with complex needs in primary care settings.

A programme to enable innovation in supporting people with a learning disability to mark the 100th anniversary of LD Nursing.

An opportunity to recognise and celebrate inspirational nursing teams across the world.

Supported establishment of the global Nursing Now campaign.

Nurse-led projects to reduce attrition from the profession, ensuring a resilient and skilled workforce.

Implement proactive self-care strategies for men’s longer term health challenges.

Empowering nurses to tackle obesity in children and their mothers.

The Young Minds and transitional care programmes empowered nurses to improve mental health outcomes for young people and focused on support to enable transition to adult services.

Designed to fund smaller nurse-led projects in the UK and internationally involving clinical care, environment of care, social care, leadership and education. The programme made grants of up to £7,500 and offered a shorter application form and fast-tracked decision-making process.

Barbara’s story, the award-winning film, raised awareness of dementia and the care of older people for staff working in hospitals and the community.

Celebration highlighting impact on quality of life within care homes.

First grant to International Council of Nurses for the Global Nursing Leadership Institute to ensure nurses from low-income countries could take part through funded bursaries.

Improve patient care and enhance the leadership skills of nurses.

Refocused the Trust’s strategy on leadership development.

BTFN commissioned OPM to study business aspects of patient care, recommending how nurse leaders and organisations can develop leadership that prioritises patient experience, elevating nursing from bedside to boardroom.

Supported 500 UK hospices in developing professional skills and leadership, ensuring those facing death or bereavement receive care from highly skilled nursing staff.

Launch of a nurse-led Institute, supporting the shift of specialist practice and responsibilities from doctors to nurses.

Trust founded to advance nursing practice, leadership and patient-care improvement, named after Sir Henry Burdett KCB, the founder of the Royal National Pension Fund for Nurses.