Islington Carers Hub wins award for contribution to medical teaching
Last month, Islington Carers Hub were delighted to hear that they had won an award from University College London Medical School, for ‘Outstanding Participation of a Community Service in Teaching UCL Medical Students‘.
Islington Carers Hub has been delivering half-day placements for medical students from UCL Medical School since 2012. The workshops provide the students with an insight into what it’s like being a carer. There are three workshops for year 2 students in the Autumn Term and eight workshops for year 1 students in the Spring Term. They are given an introduction to the support that Islington Carers Hub provides carers with and then two carers per session share their experience of being a carer – and bring to life a “day in the life of a carer”, the rewards and challenges of caring and what’s involved emotionally, financially, physically.
Islington Carers Hub was chosen as winner for the UCL Medical School award based on feedback received from students – for the contribution to teaching UCL medical students by the community.
Torpekai Boukens, Team Leader – Islington Carers Hub was presented with the award at the annual UCL Primary Care Medical Education Conference 2025 on Friday 14th February. She said, “It’s very much a team effort. Members of the Islington Carers Hub take it in turns to tutor the students. We’re very grateful to carers who give up their time to share their experiences. We really appreciate the recognition from the students that the training is something that they really value in terms of their overall preparation to become a doctor.”
Students share their insight into caring following workshops
Three first year UCL medical students share what stood out for them speaking with two Islington carers during their placement. They are pictured below alongside Islington Carers Hub staff member and two Islington carers.
