Olivia Takes National Award For ‘Stop the Bleed’ Campaign

A student at Newark College has won a title thanks to her volunteer work in renowned national Further Education Awards, the Good For Me, Good For FE Awards. 

Cookie’s Crusaders, led by Olivia Cook and her family, leads ‘Stop The Bleed’ sessions designed to equip people with the knowledge and techniques to manage life-threatening situations before professional help arrives.  

Now Olivia has taken the ‘Student Volunteer of the Year’ award home after a ceremony at the House of Lords, London. 

Speaking from the awards ceremony, Olivia says: “I am really proud of what we have achieved and that so many more people are now aware of how to deal with severe bleeding. I will continue  to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and to support others. 

“We have had 263 students trained through the ‘Stop The Bleed’ course to have the skills to manage severe bleeding in any form it may come in.” 

Cookies Crusaders was set up by Olivia’s family following the tragic death of her father, James Cook, 40, who died in April this year after suffering stab wounds in Castlegate, Newark, leaving behind his wife Adele, and three daughters Lilly-May, Olivia, and Ruby. 

James’s family and friends have joined forces to create the fundraising group Cookie’s Crusaders, aiming to raise money for life-saving bleed kits to be installed in and around Newark, which manage life-threatening bleeding from traumatic injuries before emergency services arrive. 

As the kits require specific, careful instruction in order to be effective, so as a result Newark Community First Aid (NCFA) recently held specialised first aid courses to treat life-threatening bleeding alongside their regular first aid training. 

Head of Newark Campuses, Penny Taylor MBE, said: “We’re so proud of Olivia and her achievements so far and to get this award is no mean feat as some amazing stories have been nominated. I know this will only spur Olivia on to be more determined in her mission to make the world a safer place.” 

After meeting with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Olivia has overseen three kits set to be installed in and around town, and more kits are set to be located at Newark Castle, in the market place, and also either at the Odeon cinema or at the skate park on Sherwood Avenue. The ambition is for the group to eventually expand their reach beyond Newark and into the rest of the district.  

There is already a kit at Newark College and there are a number of Bleed kits in local establishments in Newark and the organisation’s aim is to work with local partners, Notts Police, NSDC, Nottingham County Council, Newark Community First Aid and local residents to provide support. 

Find out more about Cookie’s Crusaders via their Facebook page here.