The team behind the University’s Healthier Societies project, which embeds social care placements into the nursing curriculum, is celebrating a win in the Student Nursing Times Awards’ community student placement of the year category.
Designed to align with NHS priorities to shift care from hospitals into communities, staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery created this innovative project to provide students with the chance to actively engage in non-traditional community organisations such as nurseries and refugee and asylum support services.
Many students have found their time working in community settings to be so worthwhile they have continued to work in them following completion of their placement, whether as employees or volunteers.
First-year nursing student Sarah Brookes said: “I believe the Healthier Societies placements to be very insightful. You learn a lot from the experience and you become a more understanding, more empathetic and better healthcare professional as a result.”
Placement providers have welcomed the new approach and commended Edge Hill for recognising the importance of nursing in the community.
Francesca Turner, Head of School at Chatham Nursery School, said: “The contribution Edge Hill students have made has been invaluable.
“Their presence has enhanced our setting, brought fresh perspectives and strengthened our partnership approach to supporting families.
“In turn, the nursery has been able to offer students rich, real‑world experience in community health, early intervention and multi‑agency working – areas essential to their future roles as healthcare professionals.”
Healthier Societies has been developed over the last three years to prepare students to meet the demand of modern nursing, and professional and voluntary practice within community and third-sector settings.
Professor Jacqueline Leigh, Associate Dean Student Experience, said: “The Healthier Societies Placement is an innovative, structured and highly-supported community placement model, offered to all pre-registration undergraduate nursing students across every field of practice as an assessed placement, and pre-registered postgraduate as a formative placement.
“Most importantly, it delivers a community placement experience that goes above and beyond to ensure students develop, flourish and feel supported throughout their placement journey.”
Emma Galley, Associate Head of Nursing and Midwifery, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award and so proud of the incredible work, partnerships and commitment that have made Healthier Societies such a success.
“This is a huge achievement and a real testament to the dedication, innovation and collaboration of everyone involved, from our staff and incredible community and social care partners, to our wonderful students.
“We couldn’t be prouder of what has been built together and excited to see what the future holds.”
Find out more about nursing at Edge Hill University.
May 8, 2026
