The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has announced that, as of 22 June 2026, the Certification Officer signed the Instrument of Transfer, thus approving the merger of BADN and Community the Union.
BADN, founded in 1940, has represented and supported dental nurses for over 80 years – and will continue to do so as a sector of Community. BADN’s Executive Committee will continue as the BADN Community Committee, chaired by Carolyn Roberts, formerly BADN’s President-elect, and Committee members will continue – although the roles of President and Treasurer have become redundant. Former BADN Chief Executive Pam Swain MBE will become BADN Community’s National Officer until her retirement in June 2027, and other members of staff will be TUPE’d over.
BADN Community will continue to produce the British Dental Nurses’ Journal, the online Coffee CatchUps, the CPD Portal and other BADN staples.
Community – which has a lineage dating back over a century – emerged through a merger between two traditional industrial unions representing steelworkers and textile and footwear workers. Over time, it became a general union representing members regardless of where they work. Community now has seven official organised sectors, including an existing and growing cohort of dental nurses who have joined Community since March 2024. Community operates in a federal style, which enables the established sectors to operate with significant autonomy, rather than through top-down centralised control. Community also has a notable political influence, with almost 100 MPs affiliated to the union elected to Parliament at the last General Election
The merger of the BADN into Community will take place over a three-year period, and current BADN members should not notice any immediate changes.
