In 2023, very few of the students on Cardiff University’s midwifery programme were from the Global Majority. By 2025, they made up 15% of the cohort. That shift is the result of three years of work to broaden access to midwifery education and transform the experience of those who study it.
The Cardiff University midwifery team has been named as this year’s recipient of the CNO RCM Wales Quality Innovation Awards 2026 in recognition of that work.
Since the publication of the RCM’s Decolonising the Curriculum toolkit in 2023, the team have reviewed recruitment processes, curriculum design, assessment and practice learning to ensure inclusivity runs through the student journey rather than sitting as a standalone initiative.
Simulation manikins, teaching images and clinical scenarios now reflect a range of skin tones and cultural backgrounds.
Students are also taught to recognise the signs of deterioration across different skin tones – vital when prompt action can save lives.
The team committed to the Diverse Cymru Cultural Competence Accreditation Scheme, which was recognised in April 2026 with a Gold award. This makes Cardiff University the only midwifery establishment in Wales to receive that recognition.
RCM Wales Director Julie Richards said:
“This year’s nominations have once again showcased the commitment of our members to improving the safety and quality of maternity services across Wales.
“The Cardiff University midwifery team stood out for the breadth and depth of what they have achieved. We know that the diversity of our midwifery workforce matters for the women and families we serve, particularly for women from the Global Majority, who continue to face the greatest inequalities in maternity care.
“This team has tackled that at its root, changing who can access midwifery education and what that experience looks and feels like. The growth in their student cohort means that the women of Wales will be cared for by a more diverse midwifery workforce for years to come.”
The Cardiff team was presented with their award at a ceremony on July 8 at Cardiff University.
Dr Lucie Warren, Lead Midwife for Education at Cardiff University, said: “We recognised as a team that meaningful change was needed not only to decolonise our curriculum, but also to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all staff and students. Our engagement with the Diverse Cymru scheme has enabled us to make significant progress in embedding and demonstrating the values of cultural safety, inclusion, and belonging within midwifery education.
“We remain committed to ensuring that our student population reflects the diversity of the communities we serve across South Wales. While we are very proud of the progress we have made to date, we also recognise that there is still much more to be done.
“We are particularly pleased that Midwifery at Cardiff University has been recognised for this work by the Chief Nursing Officer and the Royal College of Midwives.”
Karen Jewell, Chief Midwifery Officer for the Welsh Government, said: “We are delighted to present this CNO excellence award to the Cardiff University Midwifery team for their outstanding work in providing inclusive educational provision and a safe and respectful work environment for all.
“This team have shown measurable evidence of success in promoting inclusion, winning a Diverse Cymru Gold award in the Cultural Competence Accreditation Awards – the only one awarded in maternity services in Wales, increasing ability to improve clinical outcomes for Black and Brown women and their babies, ensuring safer, more equitable maternity care across Wales.”
