New nursing scholarships to support young people into Mental Health and Learning Disability nursing

St Andrew's are proud to launch a new scholarship programme and encourage talented nurses of the future to apply and pursue a nursing career in Mental Health or Learning Disability nursing.

The three-and-a-half-year programme is called ASPIRE Nursing and there are 10 scholarships available. It is aimed at 18-24 year olds who are passionate about a career in nursing and have the drive to attend university, but who do not have the financial support or qualifications needed.

Students will be provided with the equivalent of £9,000 worth of education, paid employment for 18 months and exposure to clinical work. They will also attend university and be given £18,000 per year in financial support while studying. Once they have gained their BSc (Hons) degree, they are guaranteed a staff nurse position at St Andrew’s Healthcare and will benefit from excellent career development and progression opportunities.

Students will join St Andrew’s as Healthcare Assistants, working within clinical settings to gain experience. They will complete a Certificate in Higher Education in their first year, which enables them to transition into the second year of a nursing degree either in mental health or learning disability nursing.

Ged Rogers, Clinical Education Manager at St Andrew’s, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for young people to start a career in mental health or learning disability nursing with a leading mental health charity that offers high-quality holistic services within outstanding facilities. 

“With this scholarship, people can earn while learning on the job and be supported financially during their university career. It is ideal for those who may not have the A level grades they wanted, or those who missed out on opportunities due to the pandemic.

“Mental health and learning disability nursing are growing areas within healthcare with great career opportunities. We are looking for the talented nurses of the future to bring compassion and enthusiasm and become part of our healthcare teams, delivering brilliant care and helping transform the lives of our patients. We encourage young people who are ambitious and looking for an alternative route into nursing to apply. We will support our students at every step of the way.”

Candidates must have a good GCSE grade in Maths and English (Grade 4 minimum). The closing date for applications is Sunday, August 15, 2021. For more information click here.