Universal health coverage is an ambitious goal central to the eradication of poverty in low and middle-income countries. However, the number of qualified staff working in developing countries is not sufficient to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, and professional development opportunities for nurses are rare or non-existent. This article explores how UK-trained nurses can support the training of colleagues working in regions where resources are limited, and provides examples of current voluntary projects in old age care taking place in Sri Lanka and Nepal. It discusses the contribution that nurses can make to the reduction of healthcare inequalities worldwide and reflects on the benefits that such experiences can have on nursing practice in the UK.