The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has revealed the shortlist for 2026’s RCM Awards, celebrating midwives, maternity support workers, educators, students and multidisciplinary teams whose work is transforming care for women, babies and families across the UK. 

In total, there are 63 nominees on the shortlist, with the winners being announced at an awards ceremony in London next month. 

Gill Walton, RCM Chief Executive, said: “The RCM Awards are a celebration of the passion, dedication and incredible skill of midwives, maternity support workers and teams across the UK. Every day they make a real difference in the lives of women, babies, and families – often going above and beyond in ways that are inspiring and humbling. 

“This year’s shortlist showcases stories of innovation, compassion, leadership and resilience – it’s a wonderful reminder of the strength and commitment of our profession. We are so proud to honour their achievements and bring our community together to celebrate these exceptional contributions at the ceremony in February.” 

The ceremony is being held at the Brewery in Chiswell Street, Central London, on the afternoon of Friday 6 February. We’d love to see as many as possible of the midwifery and maternity support worker community at the event – tickets can be booked here. 

The full shortlist is: 

Excellence in midwifery for leadership 

• Alexandra Birch – University of Staffordshire

• Bryany Tweedale – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

• Jules Gudgeon – NHS England

• Lauren Flett – NHS Orkney

• Natalie Shirley – Whipps Cross, Bart’s Health NHS Trust

 

Excellence in public health 

• Beth Fletcher, Paul Bolton (Dorset Healthcare), Akeisha Robinson, Jo Hartley & Ellie Pollock – University Hospitals Dorset 

• Deborah McCoy – Government of Jersey HCS 

• FGM Midwifery Team – Ana Esquerdo – University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

• Maternity Smoking in Pregnancy Team – Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 

• Rachel Evans, Eleanor Johnson, Bronwen Clatworthy, Rosy Phillips, Fay Fear, Claire Turbutt, Sarah Jenkins, Carla Baldwin, Bethan Thorn, Joanne Foley, Florence Beach, Amy Brown, Karen Hall – Empowering Communities: Enhancing breastfeeding awareness and culture in low prevalence, socially deprived areas 

 

Educator of the year 

• Angela Ayuk and Alison Bommel – Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 

• Middlesex University Midwifery Team – Middlesex University 

• Midwifery Team – University of Leicester 

• MWL Preceptorship Team – Mersey West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

• The Memory Milk Gift Initiative – Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust supported by the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice 

 

Excellence in research 

• Emily Bates, Saskia Osterloff, Emily Sowinski – UEA 

• Michelle McKay – University of Staffordshire 

• Natasha Carr – Birmingham City University 

• Sarah Weist – University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

 

Outstanding contribution to perinatal mental health 

• Amy Lewis and Sarah Davies – BCUHB – NHS 

• Gemma Poole – The Essential Baby Company 

• Gina Oliver, Helen Bloomfield, Tracey-Anne Phillips – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 

• Josephine Lane – Government of Jersey HCS 

 

Outstanding contribution to pregnancy loss & bereavement care 

• Lauren Caulfield – University of Manchester 

• Natalie Abbas & Claire Westcott – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board 

• NHS Fife Midwifery Team with Held in our Hearts – NHS Fife 

• Snowdrop team – James Cook University Hospital 

• The Onnen Team – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board 

 

Innovation in maternity care 

• Birth Choices Team – North Bristol Trust NHS Hospital 

• Maternity Epilepsy Project Team – United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

• Maternity Team & Maternity Neonatal Voices Partnership – Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust 

• Sarah Beardsall and infant feeding team – Barnsley NHS Trust 

• The Maple Team: Low risk place of birth QI Project – East Suffolk and North Essex 

 

The Gill Adgie members champion 

• Bianca Armitage – ABUHB 

• Bobby-joe Campbell – Countess of Chester Hospital 

• Chrissy Walsh – Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 

• Kate Shinkwin – Cardiff and Vale UHB 

• Waheeda Dusmohamed – Barts Health Hospitals NHS Trust 

 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion 

• Autism Friendly Champions – Northern Health and Social Care Trust 

• Black and Asian Maternal Health Group: Naomi Plant, Jules Bambridge and others – United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

• London Regional Maternity Team – NHS England London 

• Octavia Wiseman, Monica Franklin and Jacqui Kempen – South East London Local Maternity and Neonatal Service (LMNS) 

• Tommy’s Pregnancy Information Team – Tommy’s Charity 

 

Student midwife of the year 

• Anika Badiani – King’s College London 

• Emily Piosek – Buckinghamshire New University 

• Emma Healey – University of Leicester 

• Lauren Caulfield – University of Manchester 

• Mira Waligora – University of the West of Scotland 

 

Maternity support worker of the year 

• Beverley Hynes – Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 

• Cerian Jones – London North West University NHS Trust 

• Daniella Giddings – Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHSFT 

• Helen Sturgess – NHS 

• Joyce Hanna – NHSCT 

 

Multi-disciplinary team of the year 

• ATAIN Team – Airedale NHS Foundation Trust 

• Maternity Education Team – LNWH 

• MAViS Specialist Hypertension Team – Manchester Foundation Trust 

• Multiprofessional Education Team – University Hospitals Dorset 

• The Memory Milk Gift Advisory Board – The Milk Bank at Chester, Countess of Chester 

 

Midwifery society of the year 

• Bangor University Student Midwife Society BUSMS – Bangor University 

• Nightingale Society – King’s College London 

• Queen’s University Belfast Midwifery Society – Queen’s University Belfast 

• Swansea University Midwifery Society – Swansea University
• UWS Midwifery Society – University of the West of Scotland