A “superstar” has won a national award in recognition of her commitment to supporting healthcare colleagues across Wolverhampton and Walsall to develop and thrive.

Claire Flatt, Matron for Post Registration Education at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), won a Cavell Star Award. The awards are run by Cavell, the charity that supports UK Nurses, Midwives, Nursing Associates and Maternity Support Workers, both in service and retired.

Claire said: “It’s been a real honour and a very humbling experience. I feel immensely proud to be recognised for my work and leadership, both of which I am so passionate about.

“This award also celebrates the collective achievements of our education and research team, whose dedication inspires me daily. For me, Nursing is about more than individual contributions; it’s about uplifting each other, creating positive change, and making a difference for our patients and staff. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back, and this recognition reinforces my commitment to continuing this journey.”

The charity is named after Edith Cavell –  a British nurse during the First World War. She is celebrated for saving the lives of German and Allied soldiers and in helping more than 200 allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium.

In 2018, the charity launched its award programme – The Cavell Star Awards –  which are given to Nurses, Midwives, Nursing Associates and Health Care Assistants who “shine bright and show exceptional care to one of three groups of people; patients, patient’s families or their colleagues.

Each award winner receives a medal, presentation case and pin badge.

Claire has been presented with a ‘Their colleagues’ award, which celebrates her as a “superstar colleague who goes above and beyond their usual duties to support others”.

She was nominated by her colleagues and peers across Nurse Education (RWT) and The Faculty of Research and Clinical Education, FORCE, (Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust).

The nomination said: “Claire is a dedicated Nurse who goes above and beyond to support her colleagues, the broader education team and improve services and patient care.

“She inspires the team to think innovatively and creatively about the learning needs of colleagues across healthcare services, and promotes and supports the ideas proposed by the team to senior leads. Claire is very busy within her role, yet always finds the time to be a listening ear and professional friend to members of the immediate and wider education and research team.

“Claire offers broader support to staff within the Trusts through her roles as a Professional Nurse Associate and Royal College of Nursing representative, which is amazing considering how vast her role is as matron.

“She goes even further, above and beyond the line of duty, by undertaking physical challenges to raise money for various charities having raised more than £60,000 to date. Having experienced health issues herself, and being a patient, Claire passionately engages with charity to raise money. Last year she climbed the Wrekin at sunrise to raise money for the RWT Charity, and most recently she has raised £1,000 for the Well Wishers charity at Walsall cycling over 500KM from Vietnam to Cambodia to raise money to support patients, families and staff.

“She has inspired many members of the team to think more broadly about how they contribute within the organisation and to be kinder and more conscientious team members. We are delighted that the nomination has resulted in Claire being given one of the awards.”

Working across both NHS Trusts, Claire is responsible for supporting and advancing post registration education of Nurses, Midwives and AHPs. She has worked at the Trusts since 2021.

Paul Steiner, Communications Manager for Cavell, said: “Cavell is proud to ensure amazing nurses like Claire can be recognised and celebrated by their colleagues through the Cavell Star Awards.

“We’re keen that this joy is spread amongst nursing and midwifery teams, boosting morale wherever the star shines. We’re also proud to be here supporting the nursing and midwifery family when they are going through tough times.”