Yesterday, for Shared Lives Week 2024, we held a live virtual awards ceremony to announce the winners of our Shared Lives Carer Awards. The hour-long ceremony was co-hosted by (our resident Ant & Dec) chief exec, Lesley Dixon and director of operations, Harriet Michael-Phillips.
Some of our Shared Lives teams across the country even had a little watch party at their respective offices!
We also took the time to celebrate the amazing work that has gone on across all of our services this past year from welcoming in a whole new region in North Yorkshire to being highlighted as one of the six models of social care in the #SocialCareFuture movement.
We had nearly 50 fantastic nominations from social workers, fellow carers, supported people and Shared Lives team members but only six people could take home an award. Here’s who won:
Katherine Griffiths – Lifetime Achievement Award Kieren Hardy – Newcomer of The Year Award Georgina and Andrew Kennedy – Transformational Care Award Pamela Thomas-Leigh – Independence Champion Award Paul Crilly – Shared Lives Advocate Award Val Budgen – Pride of PSS Award‘Katherine deserves this nomination for over 23 years in care, support and dedication to PSS supported people.’
Derek Thompson, development worker in Shared Lives Merseyside nominated Kieren for the Newcomer of the Year Award. Derek said:
‘Without Kieren’s support J’s life would have been totally disrupted and he may well have had to move away from the people who have become his family over the last 30 years.’
Katie Reilly, development worker in Shared Lives Lincolnshire supported J, supported by Georgina and Andrew to put a joint nomination together. J said:
‘They saved my life! They are angels on earth and if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would be here. I can’t say enough about what they mean to me and what they have done for me since I got here. They never gave up on me.’
Katie Macdonald, supported by Pamela Thomas-Leigh in Shared Lives North Wales made a nomination for her Shared Lives carer. She said:
Now I’m 25 years old and I have been offered a conditional offer for a nursing degree. Without the support from my carers I couldn’t have done this. Now I am looking forward to my future and having a life,
Service manager for Shared Lives North West, Bob Bell made his nomination for Paul. He said:
Paul, with his knowledge, experience and positivity is the go-to person for a perspective on the life changing outcomes Shared Lives can provide. He’s always willing to give his time to talk about Shared Lives and shares his knowledge with other carers.
Development workers from Manchester Eve Higginson and Alex Bundock made their nomination for Val. They said:
‘Val has been committed to making a difference in the life of the person she supports despite an extremely challenging year. We are very proud to have Val in our service!’