Pelican Nurses League Fund

Thanks to a generous donation from the Pelican Nurses League, NHS Lothian Charity has established the Pelican Nurses League Fund. This fund supports nurses with their ongoing professional development.

The Pelican Nurses League has been an important part of the nursing community for many years. When the league wound down in 2025, the remaining funds were transferred to NHS Lothian Charity so that we could help continue their legacy of supporting nurses to develop their potential through learning.

By bringing the fund into NHS Lothian Charity and integrating it with our simple and straightforward online application process, we have made it easier for staff to access charitable support.

Eligibility and How to Apply

We use a single application process for all funding requests. This means you don’t apply directly to an individual fund or grant programme. Instead, you complete one standard online application form, and our Funding Team will match your request to the most appropriate funding stream, which may include the Pelican Nurses League Fund.

Pelican Nurses League Fund Criteria:

Up to £250 per individual or £500 per group
Limited to one award every 24 months
To support registered nurses with their ongoing professional development and student nurses with their education.
Does not include mandatory or core training – this is the responsibility of NHS Lothian.

How to submit your application:

Read our guidance notes for completing your application – Reading this fully before making a start on your application will maximise your likelihood of success.
Submit your application through our online application form – You can’t save the form as you go so make sure you have all the details you need to complete it in one sitting.
We’ll review your application and see if it matches the criteria or if another funding stream exists that would be more suitable.
You’ll then be notified of the outcome.

Got any questions?

Please get in touch if you have any questions – we’re here to help! Contact us by emailing [email protected]

Continuing a Proud Legacy of Nursing Support – The Pelican Nurses League History

The Pelican has long been a symbol of charity and self‑sacrifice, appearing on the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) Coat of Arms. This symbol was adopted in 1917 for the RIE School of Nursing badge, showing a pelican feeding her young, representing the dedication and care at the heart of nursing.

Nurses who trained and worked at the RIE earned this badge and became known worldwide as ‘Pelicans’, creating a strong sense of identity and pride among RIE‑trained nurses.

In the decades that followed, the Pelican identity grew:

The Pelican nurses’ magazine launched in the late 1920s, helping keep nurses connected.
The RIE Nurses’ League formed in the 1930s to maintain links among Pelican nurses and record nursing achievements.
Over time, the Pelican magazine evolved into the Pelican Nurses’ League Journal.

When nursing schools were reorganised in the 1970s and the original RIE School of Nursing no longer existed, the League faced a decision about the future of the Pelican badge. After widespread consultation, members overwhelmingly chose to continue awarding the badge under the League’s name, ensuring the tradition lived on. A dedicated Pelican Badge Fund supported its continued issue to newly trained nurses who joined the League.

Through these changes, the Pelican badge has remained a cherished symbol of the RIE’s nursing heritage — honouring compassion, professionalism, and the close community of nurses who trained and cared for patients there.