RCN Foundation partners with charity, DKMS UK
Establishing an education grant to help eliminate blood cancer and blood disorders.
The RCN Foundation is working in partnership with DKMS – an international charity dedicated to eliminating blood cancer and blood disorders.
Launched in the UK in 2013, DKMS hold the biggest stem cell register in the UK, which has over one million active registered donors. To date, globally, DKMS has registered over 12 million potential stem cell donors globally, and over 110,000 second chances at life have been provided.
Mitigating the gap
Over 2,000 people each year in the UK need a stem cell transplant, but just 3% of the UK’s population are registered as potential donors. This partnership seeks to mitigate this disparity, utilising and equipping nurses currently working in oncology and haematology and providing those wishing to study in this area with the opportunity to do so.
DKMS UK have donated £30,000 to the RCN Foundation to establish a 3-year education grant for UK nurses working in or wishing to study oncology and haematology. You do not need to be a member of the RCN to apply and there is no minimum or maximum on funding available.
What course can I apply for?
The grant covers the cost of a wide range of educational courses, such as: Leading in Cancer Care, Advanced Clinical Assessment in Cancer Care, Bone Marrow Biopsy Training, and Contemporary Cancer Treatment.
To find out if a course you wish to undertake could be funded, please email grants@rcnfoundation.org.uk.
How can I apply?
Applications will open on Friday 1 March and close on Friday 31 May and will fall under the Professional Bursary Scheme (PBS) education grant.
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Deepa Korea, Director of the RCN Foundation, said “This donation will enable many dedicated nurses to undertake courses to enhance their skills in an already specialised area. We are grateful to be working with DKMS to not only help increase the number of nurses working in this area of the profession, but to also raise awareness and in turn, encourage more people to become stem cell donors.”
Stephan Schumacher, Interim Chief Executive Officer for DKMS UK said: “Nurses are at the forefront of caring for patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, and they have a vital role to play in raising awareness of the urgent need for more people to register as potential stem cell donors, especially from currently under-represented communities. DKMS UK is delighted to establish this education grant with the RCN Foundation to support nurses in their invaluable work.” 