A charity that aims to empower students to drive positive change on sustainability has been chosen as the charity partner for our annual celebration of nurse education.
Each year, the Student Nursing Times Awards honour the outstanding achievements of student nurses, educators, and institutions that are advancing nursing and midwifery education.
We can reveal that Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) will be our charity partner for the 2024 Student Nursing Times Awards.
The selection of SOS-UK chimes with the launch of a new award category for 2024 – Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability, in recognition of the importance of tackling the climate crisis.
This award seeks to highlight a student or small group of students who has made an exceptional contribution to promoting sustainability and green issues during their time at university.
By partnering with SOS-UK, the Student Nursing Times Awards will further highlight the importance of student-led sustainability action and sustainability in the nursing and midwifery professions.
SOS-UK, a leading sustainability-focused education charity, supports students from all disciplines to champion sustainability and social justice in their institutions and communities.
The charity said its mission aligns with the values of the nursing profession, where compassionate care and a commitment to creating a healthier, more equitable world are paramount.
But SOS-UK said it believed that every student should be a “sustainability student”, whether they were studying nursing, midwifery, or any other discipline in or outside healthcare.
It runs campaigns like the SDG Teach In and Responsible Futures, which aim to embed sustainability across all forms of education like a “golden thread”.
SOS-UK also runs Green Impact, a workplace learning and awards programme that empowers staff to create positive change in their workplace.
Green Impact runs in many healthcare settings across the UK, with healthcare professionals learning about sustainability at work and taking action as a result.
SOS-UK president Larissa Kennedy said: “We hope this collaboration will encourage attendees to consider the environmental impact of healthcare practices and promote the integration of sustainable principles into the nursing curriculum.
“Nursing is a profession that holds tremendous potential for positive change, and by working together, we hope to inspire the next generation of nurses to lead the way in creating a more sustainable and socially just healthcare system.”
The Student Nursing Times Awards, which are back to celebrate student nurses and the organisations that support them for the 13th year running, are now closed for entries.
After an initial judging phase, the 2024 shortlist will soon be announced.
Live judging of the finalists will take place next, before the winners are announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Friday 26 April 2024.
This year we have 23 fantastic categories highlighting excellence in all four branches of student education as well as other important areas of student life.
There are also categories dedicated to lecturers, practice supervisors, universities, trusts and private organisations going above and beyond to support student nurses on their journey.
Returning categories include Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year; Educator of the Year; the Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion; Student Innovation in Practice; and Practice Supervisor of the Year.
- Find out who made the shortlist of the 2024 Student Nursing Times Awards
Thank you to our sponsors NHS England, London Higher, Brunel University London, Birmingham City University, University of Nottingham and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Related articles
Have your say
or a new account to join the discussion.