Sheffield Hallam University student wins national midwife award

Sheffield Hallam undergraduate, Charlotte Ellender, 23, has won the Royal College of Midwives Student Midwife of the Year Award for her contributions as a student.

The final year student from Gleadless ‘wasn’t expecting’ to receive the accolade when the Royal College of Midwives announced the results via a virutal ceremony on twitter yesterday.

Charlotte followed in the path of Sheffield Hallam alumni who have scooped the Student Midwife of the Year Award award for the last two years running.

The 23-year-old received the award for the dedication she has shown to the profession during her three years at university, through her role as the chair of Sheffield Hallam University’s student midwifery society.

Charlotte explained how she felt when received the news that she had won.

“I don't think it's all quite set in – I'm really honoured, I know the category had a lot of deserving shortlist students in it and it just feels really weird that they chose me to be honest”, she said.

“It definitely wasn't something I was expecting, it's been inspiring really.

"I was brought to tears, I don't think I stopped crying all night.

"It's incomprehensible, I just can't put it into words that they chose me for the award, I don't feel like I deserve it.”

The student midwife celebrated the win with her mum and dad who she is currently quarantined with during the coronavirus lockdown.

Charlotte is set to work for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust when she graduates from her midwifery course this summer.

The 23-year-old shared what originally motivated her to train to become a midwife.

"I wanted to be able to help women and be their advocate and to empower them at a time when they are so vulnerable”, Charlotte added.

"To be able to be there for them and to be there voice when they might not have one that kind of speared me on to do midwifery really.”