Meet Martin Nelson Martin is 24 years old works as a Nursing Assistant and has recently won the ‘Aim Higher’ vocational champion award 2010. He is a member of the Sefton Health branch in the North West. 

Tell us a little about your job? 
As a nursing assistant my job is supporting nurses by doing patient care – feeding, helping with hygiene and physical observations like blood pressure. The patients are the best bit of my job, that day-to-day contact. I suppose it’s also like helping vulnerable members at times. One thing we could do with though is more staff. It’s a struggle to get everything done to the highest standard and more staff would mean a better standard of service. 

How did you get involved in UNISON? 
Well, like a lot of young people I suspect, I started off feeling ‘What’s the point? What’s in it for me?’ But gradually I saw how UNISON helped and it helped represent me on a couple of matters. Then I got elected as a steward and did my basic steward training, and this year I got elected to the young members post at our AGM. I now know what former UNISON President Gerry Gallagher’s meant when he said at conference ‘I owe the union everything, the union owes me nothing’ and by getting involved I feel I’m giving something back. 

What was the ‘Aim Higher’ award for? 
Funnily enough, I was at home asleep when they phoned me to tell me I had won the award, and still half-asleep I had to ask what it was for! Basically it’s to recognise that I’m the person on our advanced apprenticeship scheme who has shown most improvement. I’ve recently completed the advanced apprenticeship in health and social care, and came out of it with a range of certificates at NVQ level 3, and I can now get on to do nurse training. 

Tell us about something you’ve done in your branch? 
It’s not specifically young members work, but I was proud of the work I did to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. My mum died of it when I was 16. At conference last year there was a debate about the issue and although I was only there as a visitor I wrote a speech for our delegate who spoke in support. After that I decided to run an awareness day involving charities at my workplace. It was so successful that the members want to run it again this year. 

What’s next for you? 
Organising young members in my branch. I’m also going to Disabled members conference on behalf of young members. But who knows? One day I might even be UNISON President!
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