Midwives scoop scholarships in 2018 Iolanthe Midwifery Trust Awards
Congratulations to Gayani Raheem and Claire Axcell who have been awarded two scholarships by the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust – a registered charity set up to support midwifery education, practice and research.
Gayani Raheem, midwife award winner is using her £1,500 funding to develop antenatal education classes for teenage parents. Claire Axcell, student award winner will use her £1,000 to train as a Mellow Parenting practitioner to support local vulnerable populations.
Gayani Raheem, midwife award winner explains:
“I am so pleased to have won and cannot wait to spend the grant on educational resources for parentcraft sessions. I truly believe this will not only improve the lives of our young mothers and their babies but also their experiences throughout pregnancy. This is what the ‘Best Beginnings’ team is all about – ensuring our most vulnerable parents achieve a positive experience on their journey into parenthood and are given opportunities to reach their full potential when bringing their baby into the world.”
Claire Axcell, student award winner says:
“I applied as I wanted to pursue some sort of antenatal education that would benefit the women I work with. I have two children who have additional needs, so going abroad isn't an option for me. I've seen how good antenatal education can be, but a lot of the time the really good comprehensive classes come with a price tag. I really believe in equity of care, especially for those who, for whatever reason, are vulnerable either socially or economically.”
Giuseppe Labriola, head of midwifery comments:
“Congratulations to Gayani and Claire on this fantastic achievement. The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust is a prestigious charity. For midwives to offer the very best care, they need to develop their professional education and conduct research, which will benefit mothers, babies and families who receive our care.”
The awards ceremony is on Thursday 13 September at Bush House, Aldwych.