Page 26 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

24 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Edith Cavell
The roles of the military and nursing were inextricably linked in the life, and death, of First World War nursing heroine Edith Cavell.
Having helped 200 Allied soldiers to escape from German- occupied Belgium during the bloody conflict, she made the ultimate sacrifice by paying with her life in October 1915.
But as the centenary of Cavell’s death draws ever nearer, the charity that was founded in her name continues to uphold the legacy of care, compassion, reconciliation and loyalty that she held so dear and left behind upon her death.
Edith Cavell’s remains were returned to her native Norfolk at the end of the First World War. And, two years later, Cavell Nurses’ Trust was established in 1917 following the public subscription that arose following her untimely death.
The national nursing charity is now well established as the UK’s largest benevolent fund which looks after the welfare of all members of the nursing profession.
Cavell Nurses’ Trust traditionally provides help to nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, who are in need of support due to ill-health, financial difficulties and domestic abuse.
But, as commemorations begin this year over the centenary of the outbreak of WW1, it is important to reflect on the welfare support which the charity also provides to army nurses and army nursing reservists.
Together, Cavell Nurses’ Trust supports the UK’s 650,000 student, working and retired nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, as well as army nursing reservists, who need financial help and support following illness, injury and other difficulties.
The charity, based in Redditch, Worcestershire, has provided financial support worth more than £2.5 million over the last five years through one-off grants or regular payments.
The services provided by Cavell Nurses’ Trust often makes the difference between nurses being able to cope or not, or the difference between being able to work or not. Being given the right support at the right time can make a huge difference.
The charity takes a holistic approach to difficulties so, as well as financial grants, it offers advice and support to increase an individual’s income by providing benefit advice, provide information and signpost individuals to local support groups.
It also helps those members of the nursing profession who find themselves feeling isolated from colleagues and friends following retirement through age or ill-health.
To be eligible to apply for help potential beneficiaries must have savings of less than £4,000. For more information, call Freephone on 0808 1234 999. (see separate case study)
Cavell Nurses’ Trust also cares deeply about the student nurses who will shortly be stepping up into the profession’s ‘front line’ roles.
It runs an annual student scholarship award which recognises outstanding student nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, but considerations are currently being made towards a possible new award recognising the role of army nursing reservists.
Cavell Nurses’ Trust is exploring other links with the military, both from heritage and fundraising aspects.
Cavell 200, which aims to have 200 individuals and corporate