UHP volunteer receives Women in STEM Award at this year’s West Country Women’s Awards
Lyndsey Withers, a dedicated volunteer and advocate for social justice and health equity, is the recipient of the Women in STEM Award at this year’s West Country Women Awards.
Lyndsey has been recognised for her transformative contributions to healthcare and community outreach. Through her work with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and Plymouth Soup Run, Lyndsey has made an enduring impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals and the systems supporting them.
As a volunteer with UHP, she plays a crucial role in advancing patient safety and ethical decision-making. Appointed as the Trust’s first Patient Safety Partner in 2022, Lyndsey has brought a unique perspective to discussions about patient care and wellbeing. This role builds on her prior contributions as a lay member of the Trust’s Ethical Decisions Support Group, where she provided insight regarding critical decision-making processes. Lyndsey’s work has included evaluating proposals for new medical technologies, addressing patient safety concerns, and supporting programmes such as the Peninsula Motor Neuron Disease Network, for which she helped secure vital funding to continue assisting patients and their families.
In addition to her contributions within the NHS, Lyndsey has devoted significant time and energy to tackling homelessness and food poverty in Plymouth. For over 15 years, she has volunteered with Plymouth Soup Run, an organisation that provides essential support to some of the city’s most disadvantaged residents. In her role as a hands-on volunteer, she has contributed to the delivery of some 33,000 meals annually. Most recently, Lyndsey has been involved in the introduction of weekend support for people experiencing the most severe form of homelessness – rough sleeping – prioritising their needs and connecting them with housing, healthcare, and other essential services.
Reflecting on her work, Lyndsey draws parallels between the challenges faced by people in Plymouth and those she had witnessed globally before retiring. Lyndsey said: “Whether helping agricultural communities in developing countries to combat poverty and achieve food security, addressing homelessness here in Plymouth or supporting vulnerable patients in the NHS, the aim is the same: to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
She credits her success to a blend of scientific training, strong communication skills, and an unwavering passion for social justice. Her work continues to exemplify the profound impact that dedicated individuals can have on both institutional systems and the most vulnerable members of society.
