Barnsley
Adults and Communities
Excellence Awards Evening 2013
On Wednesday 19th June 2013 a very special event
took place at the Bluebell Banqueting Suite, Dodworth, to celebrate outstanding
achievements of people and teams across the borough who provide Adult Social
Care or Community Support work.
As with previous events put together by the council’s Adults
and Communities Directorate the ceremony was divided into two parts and around
200 people were in attendance. The event
is fully supported by independent businesses and, therefore, incurs no cost to
the council.
Since 2006 a large part of the evening has been dedicated to
the ‘Excellence Awards’. +me were
awarded Best Voluntary Service Provision and Karl received Extra Mile
Individual Award. These awards are designed to highlight the outstanding
achievements of individuals and teams and those who have gone that ‘extra
mile’. Nominations are put forward by members
of the public, service users, carers, family members and work colleagues with a
short list and winners drawn up by a panel of judges who represent the whole of
the community spectrum. This year there
were eleven (11) awards in total, including a Winner of Winners, and the
evening was principally supported by BOSCH Healthcare who dedicated a special
award on the night. The guests from
BOSCH also gave a short address on their groundbreaking work with the council in
the field of Telehealthcare along with a display of some of their products.
The Excellence Awards were presented by Cabinet Spokesperson
for Adults and Communities, Councillor Jenny Platts and the Winner of Winners
were presented by Martin Farran.
For the last eighteen (18) years there has also been a
celebration for those who have gained nationally recognised qualifications and
this year saw a large number of workers, from both the statutory, independent and
voluntary sectors, receive a certificate of recognition from the Mayor of
Barnsley, Councillor Ken Richardson. Awards
at all levels were celebrated throughout the evening with rapturous applause
and cheers for all those successful.
Also in attendance were the Mayor of Barnsley, Ken Richardson and senior officers of BMBC’s Adults and
Communities Directorate.
The evening was MC’d by Trevor Hewitt of the Adults and
Communities Workforce Development Team, who were also responsible for
organising the event and Councillor Jenny Platts closed the ceremony.
Many local organisations and individuals also donated gifts
for a raffle with all the proceeds (around £400) going to Barnsley Hospice.
The evening, yet again, was a great success and a truly
joyous occasion for those attending with some fantastic feedback. It is rare that there is opportunity to
celebrate positive work across the borough and it continues to play an important
part in encouraging and maintaining high quality, person centered support to
the people of the borough. People are already looking forward to
celebrating again in 2014.
