SWANSEA: Final-year nursing student shortlisted for national award for her dedication to patients with learning disabilities
A Swansea nursing student has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award that recognises the very best in student nursing — and she hopes her nomination can help put the spotlight on a specialism that she says changes lives every day.
Ellesse Mathias, who is in her final year at Swansea University, has been named as a finalist in the Learning Disabilities category at this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards. The awards recognise outstanding students, educators and organisations across nursing and midwifery in the UK, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on April 24.
Ellesse, who is from Swansea, said she was “shocked and humbled” to have been shortlisted. “It means a great deal to know that others have recognised my passion for supporting people with learning disabilities and advocating for them across education and practice,” she said.
She described choosing learning disability nursing as both a personal and a professional decision, drawn to a specialism that she says sits at the heart of what healthcare should be about. “I am passionate about ensuring that every individual, regardless of ability or complexity of need, is able to live a meaningful and valued life,” she said.
Learning disability nursing is one of the four branches of nursing in the UK but is frequently less understood by the public than other areas of the profession. Nurses working in the specialism support individuals across a huge range of settings — from community care to hospitals — often over long periods of time, building deep knowledge of the people they work with.
Ellesse says it is that depth of relationship that makes the role so rewarding. “I enjoy the uniqueness of the role — being able to build genuine relationships, problem-solve creatively, and really get to know the people I support,” she said. “Often, you develop such a strong understanding that you can anticipate needs before they are even expressed, which is incredibly rewarding.”
Having nearly completed her degree, Ellesse is now preparing to start her first nursing post at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. She has set her sights firmly on using her career to drive change beyond the ward.
“My ambition is to influence practice at both a clinical and wider system level, ensuring there is greater understanding, advocacy, and inclusion for individuals with learning disabilities,” she said.
She added that she hoped her shortlisting would help raise the profile of the specialism itself. “I hope this opportunity allows me to further highlight the unique and essential role of learning disability nurses — not only within the workforce, but in the lives of the individuals and families we support.”
It is a role that touches a significant number of people. According to NHS estimates, around 1.5 million people in England have a learning disability, with many more across Wales, and people with learning disabilities face significant health inequalities compared to the wider population. Learning disability nurses are central to addressing those inequalities — supporting people to access healthcare, manage complex needs, and live as independently as possible.
Ellesse’s ambitions stretch beyond clinical practice. She said she hoped to continue shaping services, supporting future students, and “strengthening the role of learning disability nursing across all areas of healthcare” as her career progresses.
The Student Nursing Times Awards ceremony takes place in London on Friday, April 24.
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