Meet Adrian Anim a Community Nurse at Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and winner of the Learning Disability Nurse Award at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2024
Adrian’s career to become a registered Learning Disability Nurse with the NHS is proof of his perseverance and passion. For ten years, he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and those around them. He hopes that by sharing his journey, he can inspire others who may have faced setbacks on their own path.
Many people follow a set path into nursing, but Adrian’s route was less conventional. “As a child I faced a lot of challenges at school – reading and writing in particular,” he explains. Adrian left school without any qualifications. But for 20 years he enjoyed a good career as a painter and decorator – until serious injury forced a change in direction.
” I broke a vertebrae in my neck and that turned my life upside down,” Adrian recalls. “Everything changed. I just wasn’t the same following the injury.
“And I started decorating homes for people with learning disabilities and found it so refreshing. I felt so happy being around these lovely people.”
Adrian found a job as a support worker in social care for several years, and loved it. Then, someone asked if he had thought about going into nursing?
“I hadn’t, really,” he said. “But the spark was lit. So I went to college and got my qualifications, did an NVQ and then I went to uni. That was massive for me.” Adrian’s determination paid off, and he earned his nursing degree from Northumbria University. He even challenged himself to get an academic article peer reviewed and published.
“I hope my story reminds everyone that academic achievement isn’t just for people from a specific background, or a certain age. Anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, if they have enough dedication and the right support.
Now, as a Community Nurse, Adrian supports people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers. He’s passionate about empowering people to live fulfilling lives on their own terms. “My work isn’t just about meeting people’s basic health needs – it’s about breaking down barriers and advocating for people so they can have more control, choice, and independence.”
Adrian has twice been named ‘Great British Care Award’ Nurse of the Year for the North East and Scotland region, after being nominated by families he works with. He also won ‘Learning Disability Nurse of the Year’ in the 2024 National Learning Disability and Autism Awards.
Adrian has also led a project to improve nurses’ knowledge of oral health. The project has focussed on adding more about oral health to the nursing curriculum and to staff inductions. This work earned him the accolade of ‘Primary Care Nurse of the Year 2015’ in his first year as a qualified nurse.
Adrian wants to share a message of hope. “For anyone who might have struggled at school, or feels like their past experiences limit their options, I’m living proof that it’s never too late! You can still learn, to grow, and to make a
difference in the world. You need perseverance and passion. And you need to be willing to embrace new challenges. But a fulfilling career is within reach for anyone.”
@ CNTWNHS
cntw.nhs.uk
