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‘RCM welcomes Government announcement of financial grant for student midwives’

By ‘RCM welcomes Government announcement of financial grant for student midwives’ on 16 December 2019 Maternity Services Midwives NHS Student midwives Bursaries and Scholarships Midwifery Midwife Training

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed the Prime Ministers announcement that all student midwives on courses in England from September 2020 will receive a £5,000 year grant for every year they are studying.

The reintroduction of a bursary and more financial support for student midwives was one of the RCM key manifesto* asks from the incoming Government.

Responding to the announcement, Gill Walton CEO and General Secretary at the RCM said; “In our ‘midwives manifesto’ the RCM called for a big improvement in financial support for student midwives, so today’s announcement is a welcome step forward.

“We have campaigned hard since 2016 for the reinstatement of the student bursary for our hard-working student midwives who we know have been struggling financially since the removal of the bursary in 2017, so we are really pleased the Government has listened to our calls and committed  to the return of annual payments to support student midwives while they are studying.

“Being a student midwife is different from the perception of a student that most people have. Student midwives, for example, spend around half their time working in the NHS on clinical placements as well as attending their university classes as do nurses and the RCM is delighted that the Government have recognised this. However, the RCM would also like to see a future review of the application of tuition fees.

“Today’s announcement will be a relief to current student midwives who are struggling financially and for those considering career in midwifery this is certainly good news and it will also go towards improving recruitment and retention and ensure midwifery is an attractive profession to enter.”

 

The new universal offer will be offered to all new and continuing degree-level midwifery, nursing and allied health students, starting from September 2020.

 

The grant, which will not need to be repaid and translates to the following;

  • All midwifery and nursing students on courses from September 2020 to receive a £5,000 a year grant
  • Additional payments of up to £3,000 available for students in regions or specialisms struggling to recruit or to help students cover childcare costs

 

*Read the RCM’s ‘Midwife Manifesto’ here: https://www.rcm.org.uk/media/3669/rcm-uk-manifesto-a4.pdf

 

Read full Government announcement here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nursing-students-to-receive-5-000-payment-a-year

 

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk. 

 

Note to editors

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.

 

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