Cheryl’s beloved Granny was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over a decade ago and she watched her Grandad struggle with her care as there was no specialist dementia support available for families. This is what motivated her to purse a career in mental health nursing.

“My Granny’s passing was the turning point for me; I wanted to advocate for all families with dementia to improve access to care.” Cheryl commented.

“At the age of 18, I left school to pursue a Law degree but quickly realised this wasn’t the career path for me. Following my Granny’s diagnosis, I applied to study mental health nursing so I could become a specialist dementia nurse to honour her memory. When I qualified as a nurse, I worked in several settings including a care home, memory clinic and the local community mental health team. This experience led me to securing the Admiral Nurse position at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust – a very proud achievement. Outside of Admiral Nursing I am a busy Mum of 3 boys, a writer and specialist lecturer in health inequalities.”

Speaking about Nursing as a profession, Cheryl says, “I would advise anyone who is considering training as a nurse to pursue their dreams whatever their background. We need more diverse representation in Nursing and more role models from underserved communities to stand up and inspire the next generation. I came from a working-class upbringing and have worked very hard to overcome barriers to become a Specialist Dementia Nurse. Working as an Admiral Nurse means that I get to make a difference every day in my Granny’s memory and empower families to get the support that they need, Admiral Nursing is a very specialist field, and we need more of us!”