Awards Judges

Nick Wood
Education and Development Lead (Military Culture and Transition) at York St John University
Soldiering On Award Finalist, 2018

Nick is the Education and Development Lead (Military Culture and Transition) at York St John University. He developed The Military Human series of CPD training courses in 2012 to enable NHS health and social care staff to support veterans with their transition to civilian life. The Understanding Military Culture and Transition training has been delivered in partnership with over 30 different organisations, including Local Authorities, Criminal Justice System, Health Education England and NHS trusts across England and Wales, with nearly 2000 staff having received the training. Nick was a Soldiering On Awards finalist in 2018 as a Forces in Mind Trust nominee in the Working Together category.

Nick joined Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) as an Aircraft Engineer and saw active service in the Falklands in 1982 with 800 Naval Air Squadron Sea Harriers on board HMS Hermes. After leaving the Royal Navy he joined HM Prison Service where, whilst supporting offenders to address their offending behaviour and preparing them for resettlement, he created and developed the Veterans in Custody Support model to identify and support offenders who were former members of the Armed Forces. The VICS model was adopted as best practice by the MOD and MOJ and, in 2010, he became the VICS national coordinator for all HM Prisons in England and Wales. In 2010 Nick was presented with the HRH Princess Royal Butler Trust Award for his veterans support work. He volunteered as a Royal British Legion community case worker for two years and has also supported the SSAFA Prison In Reach project team for a number of years.

Nick sits on the COBSEO Veterans in the Criminal Justice System cluster group and supports both the Yorkshire and Humber and North East NHS Armed Forces Commissioning and Network groups. He delivers the Military Human CPD to a wide range of professional staff and has introduced the subject along with Occupational Therapist colleagues into student lectures at York St John University. He recently co-authored two chapters within the publications: Jamie Hacker Hughes: Military Veteran Psychological Health and Social Care -Contemporary Issues with Dr Deidre MacManus, and the Occupational Therapy Evidence in Practice for Mental Health 2nd Edition, with colleagues from York St John University. Nick also published the South Yorkshire Local Authority Armed Forces Covenant Project 1st year Impact on Service Delivery report in June 2018, on behalf of York St John University.

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