A ‘REMARKABLE’ chaplain from Rugby has been honoured with a national award for her work with seriously ill children.
Nell Cockell has been named as a winner in the prestigious WellChild Awards.
Nell, a chaplain who works across Warwickshire, was selected from hundreds of nominations from across the UK to win the category of ‘Outstanding Professional’.
Nell works across Warwickshire to support children, young people and their families who have been given a life limiting diagnosis by spending quality time with them, and talking with them to explore their hopes and fears and allow them to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
An example of the impact she has made is her work with a young person who suffered from anxiety after receiving a non-curative diagnosis.
Nell spent time with him to talk through his fears and his hopes, which ultimately reduced his anxiety to a point where medication was no longer required for it.
Nell has also provided emotional support to help her colleagues in palliative and complex care for children through difficult times.
She was nominated for the award by her colleague Dr Cheryl Adams, who said: “Nell’s work is such an important part of the care given to the children, young people and families we look after and yet is often unnoticed due to its nature.
“Winning this WellChild award will highlight how important it is that this support is available to those who need it.
“I also hope it will inspire other chaplaincies, teams, and trusts to prioritise timely provision of pastoral support and show what is possible.”
The awards are run by WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, to celebrate the resilience of children and young people living with serious illnesses or complex medical needs, and honour the dedication of those individuals who go the extra mile to help them.
WellChild Chief Executive Matt James said: “The number of children and young people in the UK living with long term complex medical needs is growing. The WellChild Awards 2023 will be a unique opportunity to recognise the immense challenges they have faced and to celebrate their remarkable positivity, resilience, and spirit, which is an inspiration to us all.
“It will also help us to shine a light on the dedication of those around them, from siblings and parent carers to the professionals who have gone above and beyond to give them the best chance to thrive in life.”
Nell will collect her award at a ceremony in London on September 7.
