The Nightingale Fund, which was established in 1857, is set to merge into the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF).
Its decision to merge comes after the chair of the Nightingale Fund said the charity had faced “considerable challenges over the last few decades”.
The Nightingale Fund held the original endowment of funds raised by Florence Nightingale towards the end of the Crimean War.
According to its latest accounts ending March 2022, the FNF had an annual income of £3.4m.
Meanwhile, the Nightingale Fund’s latest accounts show an income of £27,000 and expenditure of £35,000. The charity’s income had fluctuated from £29,000 in 2018 to more than £51,000 in 2019.
Nightingale Fund: ‘Challenges in trying to fulfil Nightingale’s wishes’
Tom Bonham Carter, acting chair and trustee of the Nightingale Fund, said: “The Nightingale Fund has faced considerable challenges over the last few decades in trying to fulfil Nightingale’s wishes.
“There has been an inexorable rise in the cost of the post-registration courses nurses and midwives need to complete to improve their care for patients. At the same time, there has been a decrease in the financial support available from the NHS and other healthcare organisations for nurses and midwives to undertake education.
“The trustees of the Nightingale Fund and the council have unanimously agreed to joining with the Florence Nightingale Foundation in the hope that FNF will be better equipped to take on these still ongoing challenges and fulfil Florence Nightingale’s wishes.
“We are confident that, given FNF’s strong reputation and extensive experience in this area, its hard work to honour Florence’s legacy will continue”.
Both charities work to support UK nurses and midwives, through training and scholarships.
Greta Westwood, chief executive of the FNF, said: “It is a privilege for the Florence Nightingale Foundation to be entrusted with the responsibility of these funds.
“We will continue to honour Florence’s legacy by supporting nurses and midwives to be the best they can be and to have an even greater impact on patients, people, and the communities in which they work.”
