A MIDWIFERY student at the University of Bradford is to receive a prestigious award for demonstrating the "outstanding" values of the First World War nurse Edith Cavell.

Nada Abdul-Majid, 28, who is in the third year of her studies, will be presented with the Cavell Nurses' Trust Scholarship Award during a ceremony in London today, after triumphing over hundreds of her peers.

The awards, now in their fourth year, are especially poignant this year as 2015 marks 100 years since Cavell was executed by firing squad in German-occupied Belgium.

She was court-martialled and found guilty of treason after helping 200 Allied soldiers reach their freedom.

Miss Abdul-Majid's award recognises the enthusiasm and determination of students to improve the birth experience for women and show sustained commitment to advancing the profession.

Aside from first-class grades on her course, the judges said it was her extra-curricular work that made her stand out from other candidates.

She has been volunteering with the Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary, working with asylum seekers and refugees who are pregnant or have young children.

Having formed close relationships with the women she has met, Miss Abdul-Majid said the experience had inspired her to pursue a career as a specialist BME midwife.

“The highlight of my studies has been having the opportunity to support a variety of women and their families, in what can be the most poignant time of their lives," she said.

"It is a real privilege to support women throughout the childbearing continuum and empower them to make decisions about their own care.

"There is no better feeling than forming meaningful relationships with women and being there to witness new life being brought into the world.”

As part of her prize, Miss Abdul-Majid will head to Ghana for a three-week placement, spending two weeks in the maternity unit of a large government-run hospital, and a week in a village where maternity care is provided in a community setting.

“I am absolutely thrilled that I have won the award for ‘Outstanding Student Midwife', and am extremely grateful to the Cavell Nurses’ Trust for granting me the opportunity to do an elective placement abroad to develop my practice and provide the best ‘woman-centred’ midwifery care to all women," she said.

The Cavell Nurses' Trust gives welfare support to nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, and students experiencing financial or personal hardship, and in the last year, has supported more than 1,100 people with around 7,100 years combined service to the public.

CEO Steve Charlton said: "I’d like to congratulate Nada Abdul-Majid.

"This year’s awards build on our commitment to be here for nurses by celebrating excellence and leadership.

"These are qualities Edith Cavell demonstrated by caring for soldiers on both sides of the First World War."