A mature student from UCLan has been nominated for an inspiring nurse award after co-founding a charity that helps make children more comfortable during hospital stays.

Amanda Chadwick, 35, from Partington near Manchester, set up Wrap Pyjama Fairies after being inspired from her experience of rushing her two-day-old daughter into hospital after she was diagnosed with heart failure.

The mum-of-three, who studies mental health nursing, has been selected for the Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year, whilst UCLan has been named in the Nurse Education Provider of the Year category in the 2017 Student Nursing Times Awards.

Amanda said: “I’m overwhelmed to have been nominated for this award.

“There are so many students out there who work hard so I was really surprised when I found out.

“I never started any of this to win awards, I saw a need and decided to do something about it.

“I couldn’t do it all without the charity’s co-founder Chelsea Coulson-Williams, a master’s student at Aberystwyth University, and all the fabulous volunteers.”

Eve Potts, Amanda’s personal tutor, said: “I am so incredibly proud of her; she works hard in University and on placement.

“It amazes me how she finds the time to do her charity work for the Wrap Pyjama Fairies and be a wonderful mum to her young family.

“Amanda never seeks out attention and quietly goes about her business.

“She has been a valued member of her cohort and will be missed when she completes her course at the end of March.”

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Karen Wright, Head of the School of Nursing, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been recognised by the Student Nursing Times in this category.

“We are a huge provider of nursing education in the North West and are renowned for producing thousands of top quality nurses who progress into roles within the hospital trusts.

“This nomination is a great reward for the staff who work tirelessly to deliver the very best in teaching.”

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The Student Nursing Times Awards ceremony will take place on 27 April at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

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