The Benevolent Fund for Nurses in Scotland (BFNS) is a grant giving charity which was established in 1925 by the Association of Scottish Matrons at a time when salaries were extremely low and the only available benefit was the small old age pension. The Association invited employed nurses to contribute a small amount to the Fund to assist their retired colleagues.
Conditions have changed over the years and although the BFNS was initially intended to give financial help to retired members of the profession, now many younger members are also in need of our assistance. The BFNS employs a liaison officer who brings a personal touch in the way the Fund is managed. She visits potential and existing beneficiaries, liaises with the committee, other agencies and grant giving bodies and deals with the day to day administration of the fund. By providing financial assistance, the Fund helps many nurses through difficult times and the Liaison Officer offers some comfort and support at the same time.
The fund is entirely dependent on donations, legacies and income from investments