We Support Pay the Placement
One week. One goal. One action.
From 11th–17th May 2026, the Pay the Placement campaign is calling for change. At the University of Lancashire, we are proud to support this important national movement.
Led by the University of Essex Students’ Union, the campaign is pushing for all nursing and healthcare students to be paid for their placements. Real work deserves real pay.
Why it matters
Nursing and healthcare students play a vital role on placement. They support patients, services and communities while often facing significant financial pressure.
We believe this needs to change.
What the campaign is calling for
- Paid placements for nursing and healthcare students
- A full review of healthcare student funding, as called for by the Royal College of Nursing
- National action to fix a system that is not working
How we are supporting
At the University of Lancashire Students' Union, we are supporting the University of Essex SU by:
- Raising awareness of the campaign across our student community
- Encouraging students and staff to take part
- Supporting efforts to build momentum for national change
Take action
Be part of the movement for change.
Sign the Petition
Support the national campaign and help call for fair pay for healthcare students on placement.
Sign Here
Join the Action Group at the University of Lancashire
Work with others on campus to raise awareness, organise activity and support the campaign locally.
Join the Action Group
Share Your Story
We want to hear about your experience of placement.
Tell us:
Everyone who completes the form will be entered into a £50 prize draw.
Share Your Experience
Become a Campaign Rep
We’re looking for student volunteers to help spread the word about the campaign, calling for fair pay and better support for healthcare students on placement.
As a Campaign Rep, you’ll collect a Campaign Pack from the Students’ Union and take it into your everyday student spaces – lectures, classes, study groups, placements, or shared areas – to encourage students and friends to sign the petition and get involved.
Your campaign pack will include:
- Campaign newspapers
- Leaflets with key facts and actions
- Pay the Placement pin badges
- QR codes linking directly to the petition and resources
- Sweets to share with your friends!
Everyone that signs up will be entered into a draw to win a £50 voucher to say thank you for your efforts!
This is a low-pressure, flexible role that fits easily around your studies or placement commitments. However, please let us know if you want to be involved in the wider placements campaign with the Students’ Union!
Where can I collect my campaign pack?
We will leave your pack with the Welcome Desk in the Students’ Union building, to collect at a time convenient to you.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Sources & References
- 1 in 7 student nurses consider dropping out
Royal College of Nursing (2025) Fixing the Leaking Pipeline
rcn.org.uk →
- 43% of student nurses and midwives say the commute is unmanageable
Our own research and placement focus groups
- 60,000+ student nurses keep the NHS running for free
Essex SU (2026) Pay The Placement
essexstudent.com →
- It costs £20 a day to commute
Our research as part of a survey of commuter students, and a review of local transport company prices
- Each student nurse contributes 2,300 hours
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Standards for pre-registration nursing programmes
nmc.org.uk →
- 41% struggled balancing placement with other responsibilities
Our own research and placement focus groups
- Despite making up 15% of the student population, nurses and midwives only make up 4.2% of clubs and society members
15% from live university enrolment data; 4.2% from our society membership data on MSL