Voyage Achievement Awards 2010
10th Jun
The 2010 Voyage Achievement Awards were held on 8th June at Rushton Hall in Northamptonshire, where the nominees and their supporters were joined by other Voyage staff and some special guests.
The day began with drinks in the beautiful great hall and library, before the guests moved through to the pavilion, which had been decorated in a pink, starry theme. Douglas Quinn welcomed everyone to the event, after which guests enjoyed a three course lunch, with music provided by a harpist.
The awards ceremony itself began with a few words from Mark Douglas, Quality Assurance Director, about the difficulty that the panel, comprising of himself, Douglas, Nigel Moreton, Finance Director and Paul Newton, Human Resources Director, had faced in choosing the winners. He commented on the number and high quality of nominations received this year, and the fantastic reception the judges had received when they visited the nominees at their services. He explained that the audience would be given chance to see these high standards for themselves, as the ceremony was going to include video nominations championing each of the nominees.
Mark was then joined on stage by Jamie Wagland, who was co-presenting the ceremony for the second year running. Jamie welcomed Nigel Harris, a non-executive member of the board, to announce the award for Staff Member of the Year. Siobhan Murray from Treddinoch in Falkirk was declared the winner. Siobhan was accompanied to the stage by Daniel Hotchkiss, who lives at the service.
The second award, for Team of the Year, was presented by Nancy Hamilton, President of the Social Care Association. The award was won by East Norfolk Supported Living staff team and was collected on their behalf by Rebeka Bonner, Service Manager, who was accompanied to the ceremony by staff members Theresa Lockwood and Sharon Willimott.
Robert Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Care Choices, took to the stage to announce the Manager of the Year award. This was won by Urvi Patel, who works at 28 Theatre Street, Swaffham, and had been nominated by a lady whose son she had supported to move into his own flat.
Douglas Quinn returned to the stage to introduce the final award, the Sade Abayomi Memorial Award for Sustained Best Practice. Douglas spoke about Sade, who worked for Voyage for over five years and sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2008. Sade was known for her exacting standards and commitment to high quality care for the people we support, and this award recognises an individual who has worked to a high standard over a sustained period of time. The winner was Lisa Williams, Operation Support Manager.
Douglas concluded the ceremony by saying he hoped the guests had enjoyed the day and been inspired by the stories they had heard, which serve to remind everyone what is really important in the business.
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