First-ever University-wide Inclusion award presented

The first-ever university-wide Inclusion award was presented to a final-year student at graduation last week.

The Paul McMullen University Award for Inclusion has been created to highlight and celebrate some of the most incredible inclusive achievements, which students demonstrate while studying at the University of Derby.

Sarah Barley-McMullen, Academic Lead for Inclusion for the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing team (EDIW) and sister of Paul, created the award for her late brother – honouring the way in which he shaped her views, values and the way she lives her life. 

Elanore Ward, a Biomedical Health student at the University of Derby, was awarded the prize for her dedication, outstanding inclusive practice and impact on the LGBTQ community.

Elanore’s voluntary work has helped to promote transgender healthcare among the medical community, as well as support the needs of transgender patients, and avoid the negative labelling of transgender healthcare issues.

Her work started during an access course in Kings Lynn, where she was invited to speak to health and social care and nursing students about the sociological aspects of healthcare for transgender people.

Having established herself as a guest speaker in this area, Elanore has been invited to speak to trainee GPs on rotation in Cambridge about transgender healthcare and strategies for interacting meaningfully with transgender women and men.

Elanore said: “Being awarded the Paul McMullen University Award for Inclusion is a great honour. The work I do in transgender healthcare is not done for recognition, but because it’s an area of healthcare and medicine that is overlooked. As a transgender female scientist, I can relate to similar situations and convey the right messages. 

“What I’ve achieved would not have been possible without my supervisor, Dr Elizabeth Marsh, who always encourages me and has been incredibly supportive.”

The award recognises acts of inclusion that are demonstrated through the values, behaviours and practices of an individual towards their peers in one or both of the following ways:

1) Participation as a role model or ally to their peers, in order to support and demonstrate solidarity with others in an attempt to normalise diversity.

2) Engaging with inclusivity through research, professional practice or volunteering in order to promote inclusion within pedagogy, work-place practice or social action.

Sarah said: “Paul taught me everything I know about being kind, fierce and fair in life. It is wonderful that Elanore has won this award. She embodies the courage and passion that are needed to be inclusive and to make real change happen in this world. Paul would have loved everything that Elanore stands for.”

Elanore added: “I've wanted to remain at the University of Derby to continue my studies for a while, but after receiving this recognition, it has made it certain I want to carry on building my career here.”

Find out more about the courses on offer at the University of Derby.