UWL nursing student secures prestigious scholarship

University of West London (UWL) nursing student Natasha Ray has been awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Sandhu Charitable Foundation Trust following a year of exceptional academic and clinical achievement. Balancing a dual-registration in Children’s and Mental Health Nursing with a remarkable 89% grade average, the second-year student—who lives with a visual impairment—is being recognised for her dedication to disability advocacy and her ‘outstanding’ commitment to patient care.

Natasha’s journey into healthcare has been shaped by living with a congenital visual impairment and long-term mental health difficulties. She is passionate about providing care that helps people feel safe, understood and valued. On placement, patients and families have thanked her for being ‘caring, gentle, respectful and empathetic’, saying she made them ‘feel really comfortable’ and ‘calm’.

Alongside her studies, Natasha helps children and young people with visual impairments build their confidence and independence as a mentor with charity LOOK UK. She also contributes to research and service design as a member of Moorfields Eye Hospital’s Youth Patient Advisory Group and develops medical students’ understanding of disability through delivering annual lectures at the University of Birmingham.

Senior Lecturer in Children’s Nursing and Natasha’s Personal Tutor Chiara Baiocchi commented: “I have come to know Natasha as an exceptionally dedicated, capable, and compassionate student who consistently exemplifies the highest standards of the nursing profession. I was delighted to recommend her for this scholarship, and I have no doubt she will make outstanding use of it.”

Natasha’s ambition is to continue developing her knowledge and skills through postgraduate study and she is considering progressing towards an Advanced Nurse Practitioner role, allowing for greater clinical autonomy and integration of physical and mental health care. She is also interested in exploring pathways within the field of psychology, an opportunity made possible by the MSci dual qualification.

In her thank you to the foundation Natasha said: “Beyond its practical value, this award carries a strong sense of responsibility. It motivates me to continue striving for excellence, to maximise available opportunities, and to honour the trust placed in me by using my education to shape positive change.”

You can read more about studying at CNMH and about scholarships at UWL online.