Next week is Mencap’s Learning Disability Week 2015, and learning disability care is always close to the heart of one Nottingham student nurse.

Emma Carpenter, who studies Learning Disabilities Nursing in the School of Health Sciences at The University of Nottingham, has been recognised with an award from the Student Nursing Times Awards 2015 in the category of ‘Student Nurse of the Year: Learning Disabilities’. The awards support the whole student nursing profession and celebrate the achievements of student nurses across the country.

A ‘big achievement in academia’

Emma said: “I felt privileged to be shortlisted, and was completely shocked to win the award. I was up against some fantastic student nurses, so felt totally overwhelmed when my name was called out. I feel completely honoured to be named Learning Disability Student Nurse of the Year. Winning the award has been my biggest achievement in academia and I feel really proud. Now I cannot wait to qualify, get a job and start to make a change.”

Improving health and wellbeing

The Student Nursing Times Awards were announced in May 2015 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Emma was one of 18 winners among 158 finalists who attended the ceremony.

Emma continued: “My personal philosophy is to deliver care through a holistic approach; remaining respectful and professional at all times. My aim is to address and overcome barriers, improve health and wellbeing and enable people with learning disabilities to have a fulfilling quality of life.

“Knowing that I can make a difference in some way to a person’s life is the reason why I choose to be a learning disability nurse.”

Learning Disabilities Week is organised annually by the charity Mencap and this year runs from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June. To find out more about and be a part of Learning Disability Week, visit www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek