Midwifery student scoops prestigious award
A midwifery student from the University of Bradford has been praised for her work helping vulnerable women in a French refugee camp.
Claire Welford, a third year student midwife, travelled to the camp in Dunkirk in February this year, where she spent three weeks helping the volunteers to provide a safe and welcoming space for the women in the camp. She would help open up the centre and distribute supplies around the camp or in the free shop. She also assisted in providing activities for the women to do for mindfulness and as a distraction from their situation.
Claire’s dedication to helping the women has led to her being awarded a Iolanthe Midwife award. The annual awards help to support midwifery education, practice and research.
Claire said: “I feel privileged to have not only attended my elective placement at a women's centre in a refugee camp but also at being awarded this prestigious award. I am so grateful for the Iolanthe trust and their support and I'm looking forward to attending the awards dinner in London.”
The awards will take place on Thursday 28 September
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust was set up as a charity in 1983 to support midwifery education, practice and research. The founders hoped to improve the care of women, babies and families by awarding grants and fellowships to applicants. The Iolanthe student award was set up in 2002 to assist pre-registration midwifery students seeking support for attendance at study days or to undertake elective visits.
Follow Claire’s blog ‘midwife on a mission’