A TRAINEE pharmacist from Swindon has won an award from Diabetes UK for his work on an outreach project.

Dexter Fernandes and a group of four fellow pre-registered pharmacists were presented with the Esme Shrapnell Award for Reaching out and Connecting at the 2019 Diabetes UK South West Inspire Awards at the Castle Hotel, Taunton.

The award recognises diabetes volunteers who have made significant strides in reaching people and communities alongside the charity.

As part of their training, Dexter and five other young pharmacists, Cameron Pool, Kenneth So, Liam Mcaree, Olivia Rose and Punita Mistry – who also works in the Swindon area – wanted to get involved in a diabetes-related community outreach scheme. They became Know Your Risk assessors and helped members of the public calculate their chance of developing Type 2 diabetes in pharmacies across the south west.

They raised awareness of the role diet and physical activity can play in preventing the condition and staged a Know Your Risk event at the Brunel Shopping Centre for World Diabetes Day last November.

During the project, they assessed 44 people, referring 72 per cent to their GP when they were found to be at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Dexter, who is completing his training at a pharmacy in the Orbital Shopping Park, said: “This was a very interesting project and we were happy to be able to make a difference.

“It’s so important to help people understand the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is a serious condition, and how they can prevent or delay it.

“We all found it very fulfilling and this award is just the icing on the cake.”

To find out more about volunteering for Diabetes UK visit www.diabetes.org.uk