It’s not always easy to feel hopeful. But if you look closely, hope is everywhere.

Across this week, there have been over 1,000 events and activities happening across cities, towns and villages in the UK, proving that people want to celebrate hope.

‘A Million Acts of Hope,’ is a campaign dedicated to celebrating all the good stuff happening in the UK, with hundreds of partner charities, faith organisations and ambassadors involved in spreading the message.

It’s more than a week’s worth of events. It’s people believing in something better and choosing to act on it. It’s showing that hope cannot be lost when it’s rooted in our communities. It’s saying loudly: hope is here to stay.

Cavell is using this week to talk about a Circle of Hope that starts with nurses and midwives who spread hope every day.

Nurses and midwives give people hope in difficult times. Cavell give nurses and midwives hope through emotional and financial support. That means more staff can thrive at work; more staff are recognised and valued; and more hope is delivered through patient care to impact the wider community. It’s the Circle of Hope that keeps on giving.

 

Hope through care

From delivering those new to the world, to comforting others at the end of life, nurses and midwives provide a million acts of hope every day through acts of kindness, care and connection for us all and our loved ones.

It’s sometimes in the small moments, when a nurse takes a little longer to talk and figure out what makes their patient’s smile – “I know you love the strawberry jelly, so I saved this last one from the trolley for you.”

On other occasions, it’s the big stuff – nurses delivering updates patients so desperately want to hear – “The Dr is happy with your latest results, and I’m pleased to say you can go home today. I know you’ve missed your cat!”

Occasionally, it’s the hope that lingers during difficult conversations, keeping people afloat when hope otherwise feels lost – “I know you are scared right now, but I am here to help you through this.”

Caring is an act of hope because it’s lets someone know they are not alone. Across the UK, nurses and midwives quietly do the extraordinary and life-changing work of delivering hope. We celebrate them today and every day.

 

Hope for nurses and midwives

Cavell provides a huge amount of hope too for these incredible professionals. The charity’s support services make a profound difference for nursing and midwifery professionals during their most challenging moments.

85% of those who were able to work told us that support from Cavell helped them get back to, or stay in work. Vital hope and support at the right time gives staff hope and confidence to keep nursing.

As they navigate crises exacerbated by factors like staffing shortages and burnout, whilst facing personal and financial hardship often due to illness, disability, domestic abuse and more, Cavell gives essential financial, emotional and holistic support.

From simple, essential support like money to replace a broken cooker or travelling expenses to medical appointments, to vital life changing aid like helping a family flee their home due to domestic abuse, Cavell is here to help and, above all, we provide hope.

96% said Cavell’s help positively affected their mental health. The impact of Cavell’s support can have a positive, longer term effect on nurses’ and midwives’ mental health, giving them hope and building resilience.

“I was feeling hopeless and had never asked for help from any service which could help me during hardship. I will forever be grateful and will live with hope for better health and the ability to give back however I can.” Nurse supported by Cavell in 2025.

 

Hope for the professions

One reason nurses and midwives suffer burnout is through understaffing and insufficient resources. Of the professionals we surveyed in 2025, 82% said they were negatively impacted by staff shortages during the previous 12 months.

We know that where staff feel supported by colleagues at work they are more likely to thrive, providing a higher quality of care for patients. 54% of those surveyed said supportive colleagues had the biggest positive impact of their wellbeing at work.

We would love to inspire more people to become nurses and midwives. This would not only support the wellbeing of those in the professions who are often stretched so thin, but improve patient outcomes too.

It’s Cavell’s hope that a million more nurses and midwives would lighten the load for a workforce under strain, take the pressure off, and support them to remain in the professions.

We also have hope that every nurse and midwife knows they can turn to Cavell in tough times, but what’s more, we hope that they don’t need to.

Here’s to every nurse and midwife performing a million acts of hope daily.

We see you, we recognise your efforts and the weight of it all, and we thank you.