Social worker Amy Milburn, from Penrith, recently graduated from the University of Cumbria with a first class honours degree in social work and an award from the university for excellence in placement.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she was invited to attend the British Education Awards ceremony in Manchester as a finalist in the degree category for England zone 1 (North West, North East, Humberside and Yorkshire and West Midlands). She was the only Cumbrian there.
“Unfortunately I didn’t win, but it was such an honour and an achievement to be one of the three finalists in England zone 1,” said 30-year-old Amy, who works in adult social care for Westmorland and Furness Council.
Amy grew up in Tebay and went to Queen Katherine School, Kendal before doing an HNC in health and social care at Lancaster and Morecambe College, which she finished in 2014. She left her care home role during the COVID pandemic to return to learning because she “wanted to do more” to help those in need.
She attended the University of Cumbria’s Fusehill campus, in Carlisle, in 2020, where she studied social work, graduating with a first class honours degree in July last year and gaining an excellence in placement award from the university.
She completed two placements – one in a children’s home and, earlier this year, a 100-day placement at the Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice.
While on placement, she was part of the hospice’s patient and family support team. Responsibilities included carrying out assessments and teaching nursing associates how to carry out certain processes.
She also worked with people for whom English is not their first language and she helped to host a family support day for families and young people who access services and facilities at Jigsaw, the children’s hospice.
She and husband Kyle live in Penrith and have two young boys.
Amy loves country walks with her family and dog and enjoys her work and fundraising for Blood Cancer UK by organising an annual Walk of Light — the next is on March 30 (https://walkoflight.bloodcancer.org.uk/fundraising/amys-fundraising-page-for-blood-cancer-uk?fbclid=).
