Helen Allen

Helen is a Staff Nurse at Wythenshawe Hospital, and was recently awarded "Nurse of the Year 2011" by the British Journal of Nursing. Helen should be acknowledged, for her nursing in its most global sense. As well as working part time on the cardiothoracic surgery unit at Wythenshawe, Helen founded the Sale-based charity, PEPAIDS in 2001, alleviating poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa, which she runs voluntarily. As a busy mum of two children aged 4 and 3, Helen knows what it's like trying to juggle everything that life brings, and she is passionate about enabling people to do something exciting that will really make a difference and that fits into their lives. Helen designed an award-winning volunteer programme that helped win one of only 8 prizes from over 2500 entries in the Vodafone World of Difference International Competition 2010. Her volunteering programme enables people from any walk of life to get involved in the UK or Africa, doing something that excites them with whatever time or skills that they have. As well as individuals volunteering, Helen's programme has involved three Manchester High Schools this year, Chorlton High School, Abraham Moss and Parrs Wood, fundraising and forming links with community Schools in Zambia.