A SPECIALIST organ donation nurse is the recipient of a local community award.

Angela Ditchfield of Blackburn, will be presented with The John Roberts Outstanding Achievement Award 2019, sponsored by women’s refuge Humraaz, on the night of the One Voice Annual Dinner on Friday February 22.

Angela has worked as the diversity lead nurse for organ donation and transplantation, engaging with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to increase understanding of organ donation and transplants.

In 2014, Angela was awarded the Mary Seacole Leadership award for research she had carried out in the Asian community where she worked.

This award allowed Angela to travel to South Korea to present her research at an international conference. She also travelled to the USA to spend time working with the organ donation teams there. She was also presented with NHS Blood and Transplant employee of the year.

Angela said: “It’s an absolute honour to have won this prestigious award. Working to raise awareness of organ donation within Muslim communities is an essential part of seeking to reduce inequalities in health."

One Voice Chairman Abrar Hussain said: “Angela has crucially dispelled myths around organ donation and has provided educational programmes for BME communities.

The Annual Dinner, now in its seventh year, celebrates the work of One Voice Blackburn, and also volunteers and community workers in Blackburn with Darwen.