Mary Seacole Awards winners and scholars

By RCM on 28 October 2016 Bursaries and Scholarships

The awards provide an opportunity for midwives and nurses to develop and enhance their careers through designing and undertaking a project of interest to them. 

These projects must impact and benefit Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.

Awardees who received funding for their projects last year were presented with certificates and Mary Seacole scholar badge for completed their projects.

While new awardees were also announced and the projects they will undertake were outlined.

There were a three projects focussing on FGM, including work to address the psychological and psychosexual needs of women who have undergone FGM.

There was also the development of a mobile app to assist health professionals in protecting girls from and preventing FGM, and a project focused on providing culturally competent care to those who have experienced or are at risk of FGM. 

The awards have been in existence for 22 years and were named after Mary Seacole – a Jamaican/Scottish nurse and businesswoman, celebrated for her bravery in nursing soldiers during the Crimean War.

Janet Fyle MBE, RCM professional policy advisor, who is chair of the Mary Seacole Awards Steering Committee, handed over to the new chair, health visitor Obi Amadi.    

Janet said: ‘The Mary Seacole Awards have and will continue to produce innovative high quality winners who strive to improve healthcare systems for BME communities.’