October 27, 2016, by Justine Wallis-Leggett

Success at the Black Achievers Awards

Professor Gina Higginbottom and Maxine Robinson at the Black Achievers Awards

On Saturday, The University of Nottingham was proud to sponsor the Health category at the 2016 Black Achievers Awards. Professor Gina Higginbottom, Mary Seacole Professor of Ethnicity and Community Health, and Stacy Johnson, Lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Co-Chair of the institutional Race Equality Steering Group, attended the event to represent the university and present our winner, Maxine Robinson, with her award.

Described in her nomination as “an example of this ‘Nottingham Girl Can’ with a heart of pure gold”, Maxine Robinson won the hearts of the judging panel with her commitment to supporting survivors of sexual abuse. In 2014, she set up the self-help group Support for Survivors, which aims to help not just women but everyone who has suffered abuse.

In addition to creating a safe space for survivors, she also speaks publicly about her personal experience to empower survivors of childhood abuse, and is a Survivor Advisory Panel Member at National Catholic Safeguarding Commission. Speaking after the event, Professor Gina Higginbottom commented:

“It was a very great privilege to present The University of Nottingham sponsored Health Award at the Black Achievers Awards ceremony. It was a fantastic event and the organisation was superb. Most importantly, the awardees were outstanding and their narratives impressive; despite her own personal challenges, Maxine Robinson has gone on to benevolently establish a self-help group and charity Support for Survivors, demonstrating exemplary courage and altruism.”

Congratulations also go to University of Nottingham nursing alumna Aquiline Chivinge, who won the ‘Nottingham Black Achiever of the Year’ in the Learning, Skills and Employment category, and to all of the excellent nominees – The University of Nottingham panel had enormous difficulty choosing between such worthy candidates.

Congratulations to you all!

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