Care workers in Rotherham are celebrating after being shortlisted in the York and Humberside Great British Care Awards, with finalists in four separate categories.
The team behind Rotherham Dementia Support Service and Rotherham Carers Time 4 You, service manager Amanda Tomlinson and volunteer Anne Martin are all in the running to take home trophies from an awards ceremony that will be held at The Armouries in Leeds on 2 November.
The personalised care delivered by the Rotherham Dementia Support Service has been recognised in the Putting People First category. The team – Victoria Lawton-Bates, Linda Stanbra, Jodie Marchant and manager Amanda – provide one-to-one support and advice for people living with dementia and their carers.
The service also puts on special dementia cafés in locations across Rotherham every month, where people come together to socialise, chat and get specialist advice.
The Rotherham Carers Time 4 You group is a monthly respite service for people living with dementia. The support workers and volunteers behind the group have been shortlisted in the Co-Production category, which recognises teams who design and deliver support in partnership with the people who use the services.
Once a month, carers of people living with dementia can take their loved ones to the group while they enjoy some time to themselves. The people with dementia take part in a wide range of fun activities including music, singing and dancing, all organised by people who have lived experience of dementia.
Anne Martin is a volunteer at the Rotherham dementia groups and cafes, and she’s also been recognised individually in the Unpaid Carer category. Anne was nominated by manager Amanda, who said: “Anne has been a carer for various family members over many years and volunteers for Making Space in our Rotherham Dementia Support services.
“Anne is motivated purely by wanting to help others. She has such a lot of experience as a carer, she just wants to share it with anyone who may benefit. She knows what people are going through and can offer advice, support or simply just listen.”
And finally, Amanda herself has been recognised in the individual category of Dementia Carer. Amanda has been shortlisted for all the successful initiatives she’s implemented to support people living with dementia.
Nick Farmer is the chief operating officer at Making Space, the national health and social care charity which manages the Rotherham dementia services.
He said of the awards: “It’s so important to celebrate the successes of all the hardworking teams within the care sector. Just being nominated means that someone has noticed how our colleagues go above and beyond every day to achieve the charity’s vision to put wellbeing at the heart of health and social care.
“This is something that should be celebrated, regardless of who takes home a trophy. But it goes without saying that we’re all rooting for them in the finals – it really is a great honour for this wonderful team and their manager Amanda.
“Whatever the outcome, we’re all immensely proud of everyone who’s been shortlisted and wish all of the finalists across our sector the best of luck on the night.”
