Winners at North East & Scotland Awards

Community Integrated Care are proud to have been awarded the prestigious Care Innovator accolade at the Great North East & Scotland Care Awards last night (Thursday 7th November).

The ‘Care Innovator’ title is in recognition of our ground-breaking ‘Save our Wild Isles’ project – designed to empower people with support needs to enjoy nature’s benefits. Through interactive webinars and accessible resources, the initiative has supported care teams to transform outdoor spaces, bringing joy to people supported. Innovative toolkits covered creating low-cost sensory gardens, enjoying accessible nature walks, and supporting creative and sensory experiences, all of which promoted health, happiness, and well-being.

Community Integrated Care is proud to have partnered with the RSPB, WWF, the National Trust, and leading charity for creativity and arts in care, Age Exchange, to support the social care sector to enjoy and care for nature. Scott Ritchie, Head of Operations for our Scotland Region, proudly accepted the award.

John Hughes, our Director of Partnerships and Communities, said, “We’re incredibly proud that our Save Our Wild Isles programmes, in partnership with WWF, RSPB, National Trust, and Age Exchange, was awarded the Care Innovator accolade last night”.

He continued, “Through drawing upon the strengths of Community Integrated Care and the people we support, and the insights of our expert partners, we have been able to create unique solutions that empower the health, wellbeing and independence of people who draw on care and support through nature. Importantly, these programmes also enable the social care sector to play an active role in protecting our ecosystems at this important time”.

At the event, we had another five fantastic finalists from across the North East and Scotland:

• Home Care Team Award – Parkside Supported Living Service
• Dignity in Care Award – Ian Sanderson
• Home Care Worker Award – Vicky Barker
• Care Employer Award – Community Integrated Care
• Putting People First Award – Abbotsfords Street Supported Living Service

Scott Ritchie, Head of Operations for our Scotland Region, said, ““Thank you to our amazing partners who supported this fantastic project. A huge congratulations to all our finalists, who all represented the very best of social care”.

Last night’s awards ceremony forms part of the Great British Care Award’s regional events, celebrating excellence across the sector. The ceremonies continue to take place throughout this month across other regions, with Community Integrated Care celebrating 22 Great British Care Awards.

Winners from the regional events will go through to a National Finals taking place in March next year.