Hillie Halonen, Health Visitor at Bradford District Care Trust, has been awarded a prestigious Mary Seacole Development award.

The awards provide the opportunity to undertake a specific health care project or other educational/development activity that benefits and improves the health outcomes of people from BME communities.

Hillie is using the award to develop a project which will support EU-Migrant Families with parent and infant relationships for positive mental health. She will pilot an infant-parental cue card tool kit, specifically focusing on families who have moved to Bradford from Eastern Europe. A prize of £6,250 was awarded to Hillie, enabling her to fund the pilot.

Hillie said: “This is an exciting project which will contribute to the growing evidence around the importance of early parent infant relationships on neurological development. It will also help me to develop my leadership skills.”

The awards were created in 1994 in honour of pioneering Victoria nurse Mary Seacole who cared for wounded British Soldiers during the Crimean War.

Phil Hubbard, Head of Bradford City Services at Bradford District Care Trust, said: “This has provided Hillie with the opportunity to explore how all health visitors will be able to positively engage and support EU families.”