Judges’ Special Recognition award at Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2019

We are delighted that one of our Team Managers Cecilia Adetunji  won the  ‘Judges Special Recognition Award’ at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards on Friday 6th December 2019.

“Cecilia is clearly highly skilled at person centred care. In an alien situation, she excelled, organising support for an individual with learning disabilities so that they understood and could make choices about their end of life experience. Cecilia went the extra mile, having the difficult conversations, building new relationships with clinical teams and helping other people in the service to come to terms with their friend’s death. The judges were blown away by her extraordinary story.” (Judges Summary)

The Awards are designed to reward the hard work, dedication, innovation and excellence of everyone working in the not-for-profit sector who is making a positive difference to people’s lives, whether they are supporting children or adults and so Cecilia’s award was very well deserved.

Cecilia was nominated for another award the ‘End of Life Care Award’ but came runner up in this category.  Her award for Judges Special Recognition,  was collected on her behalf by her colleague Dawn and our Director of Services Mandy Crowford.

Our CEO Gabby Machell also won the ‘Making a difference Award’.

The Awards took place at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square and were hosted by Dame Esther Rantzen and Rebecca Wilcox, who presented our winners with their Special Awards.

We are all so proud that Gabby and Cecilia have been recognised for all their dedication and hard work.

Cecilia’s nomination:

‘Cecilia is a manager of a shared supported living service for people with learning disabilities.  When one of the tenants was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Cecilia led the team in delivery a truly personalised end of life experience with dignity and respect.  She formed solid relationships with clinical teams and communicated with the tenants family, as well as communicating the tenants wishes, such as what she wanted to be wearing and have with her in her final resting place.’