Your student news: Autumn 2018

What’s new in the student world? Your chance to tell us where you’ve been and what you’ve been up to...

Raising money 4Louis

Society climbs three peaks

Members of the City University of London Midwifery Society climbed the Yorkshire three peaks to raise money for their nominated charity of the year 4Louis.

Phoebe Stannard, Elly Bamber and Ruth Rogers gathered a group of midwives and student midwives to attempt the climb: a 24.5-mile circular walk in North Yorkshire including 1585m of vertical ascent.

The team spent much of the day walking in a giant cloud, but managed to complete the challenge in just over 12 hours and raised £5295 for 4Louis.

The charity was chosen after a number of students, who were involved in the care of bereaved women during their training, were grateful to 4Louis for providing memory boxes to help the families.

Mentor Appreciation Day

Successful collaboration

Coventry University Midwifery Society and George Eliot Maternity Unit collaborated to arrange a Mentor Appreciation Day in June.

All students were able to nominate mentors who had gone above and beyond, and they received certificates and ‘thank you’ cards.

It was a great opportunity for both students midwives and mentors to drink tea, eat cake and celebrate great working relationships.

Pregnancy and beyond

Wellbeing event

The University of Greenwich Midwifery Society hosted its first pregnancy and beyond wellbeing event in June.

The free event ran workshops such as pregnancy pilates, a talk for dads-to-be and a myth-busting pelvic floor session. There was also an exhibition of informative stalls for women by local businesses and organisations, including NHS trusts and sling libraries.

The day was a success with women describing feeling well cared for and professionals feeding back that it was a good chance to network.

Apprenticeships

Coming soon in England?

NHS trusts and higher education institutions are taking the first steps towards creating midwifery degree apprenticeships in England.

The government created a new national apprentice system in 2016, which has seen every sector of the economy create apprenticeships to widen access and address the skills shortage.

Coming together as a ‘trailblazer’, with the RCM as a sector partner, midwifery leaders from across England have created a first draft Midwifery apprenticeship standard – based on the 2009 NMC standards – with the hope of the first midwifery degree apprentices beginning in 2019. Read more on this, the consultation period and what happens next.

The RCM is working alongside trailblazer members to support the process and will keep members updated. 

Student wins award

Quality of care highlighted

Second-year student midwife Kayleigh Graham has won the University of South Wales’ student midwife of the year award.

Kayleigh was nominated by one of the fathers she cared for on a labour ward clinical placement. The family had been through a very stressful experience and Kayleigh was pleased that she was able to provide care that they remembered.

She said: ‘I am extremely passionate about the care I provide and winning the award has proven that all the effort and time I put into placement and the course is worth it. I am so lucky to learn from the amazing midwives that I have worked with and am grateful for their support through the course.’

Pride

Marching in Edinburgh

RCM Scotland and Edinburgh Napier Midwifery Society joined thousands of people in the streets of Edinburgh for Edinburgh Pride in June.

The torrential rain didn’t dampen their spirits and they proudly marched along flying the RCM flags for all to see.

A big thank you goes to the midwifery society and their friends and family for coming along on the day.