Two Coventry University nursing students have been recognised with a national award for their work helping some of Warwickshire’s most vulnerable people access vital healthcare services.

Leah Kirkwood and Florence Jack‑Petter won the Student Innovation in Practice award at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2026 for a community outreach project supporting people experiencing homelessness and addiction to access primary care.

The Warwickshire‑based pair became involved in the project while training as Nursing Associates with Coventry University and Leamington Spa Primary Care Network (PCN), working across GP practices in the area. They have since qualified as Nursing Associates and are now completing a nursing degree top‑up qualification at Coventry University, alongside their GP Nursing Associate roles.

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The outreach clinics were developed with Leamington Spa PCN, Helping Hands Community Project and GP Dr David Maud to expand and enhance healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, building on existing outreach work already being delivered by NHS and voluntary sector services across Coventry and Warwickshire.

Leah and Florence are central to running the clinics, supported by Dr Maud and a PCN care co‑ordinator. The sessions focus on early identification of health issues, including high blood pressure, with around a third of attendees found to need further support or treatment.

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“It is an incredible honour to win this award. More importantly it shines a light on the importance of addressing health inequalities and recognising the impact of outreach work” said Student Nursing Times Award winner and Coventry University nursing student Florence Jack‑Petter

“Winning the Student Nursing Times Award shows that this work matters and that it has the potential to be used more widely” Said: Student Nursing Times Award winner and Coventry University nursing student Leah Kirkwood