All the news from SIL AGM and Awards

SIL marked a significant milestone this year with an extra special AGM and awards.

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary we pulled out all the stops to deliver an extra special AGM with special guests, a towering cake and film show.

AGM Formal Business

The AGM was opened by Marion Tweed-Ryecroft. Marion was SIL’s first employee and helped a group of disabled people and carers way back in 1996 to gain support for a Direct Payments pilot in Herefordshire.  At that time very few local authorities were running them but this new approach to social care would allow disabled people to control their own care and support by allowing them a pot of money to buy in the services they want rather than being ‘prescribed’ a care package.

Marion spoke fondly of her time at SIL and about the amazing work we still do now to promote wellbeing and independence amongst our service users.

With the formal business underway it was Chairperson Angie Higham that was the first of the day to commend employees and trustees for their work over the last 18 months during the worst of the covid pandemic. How everyone pulled together and worked with determination, compassion and fortitude.  SIL went through some difficult times especially when over 40% of the Homecare team contracted the virus.  Due to the willingness of the rest of the team and support from ILH no shifts were missed and the care of all service users was maintained.

Trustee and Treasurer, John Rogers spoke of the financially secure position the business holds and how we are well placed to be able to continue to grow and develop the business.  This will ensure that we continue to put service users at the heart of what we do and expand our offer to them.

A item of core business at our AGM is the approval of trustee appointments and we are delighted to say that Trustee David Hughes is continuing for a further term. Angie Higham is to stay as Chairperson and will be supported by Shirley Mackay and Julie Thornby as Joint Vice Chairs and John Rogers as Treasurer.  These were unanimously approved by members present.

CEO Euan closed the morning session recognising the amazing contribution of everyone across the business.

The AGM morning session including Chair’s report, Treasurer’s report, voting and resolutions and CEO’s report can be viewed at: Session 1 (The AGM) https://youtu.be/fCyl712mAZo

SIL Awards 2021

For this years awards ceremony we introduced a few changes;

  • Extra awards, to recognise excellence across the organisation;
  • Programme to display the very best of our shortlisted nominees; and
  • A silver framed certificate for all winners.

Independent Living at Home (ILH) Registered Manager, Lisa Bradley kicked off our awards ceremony with the ILH awards which you can view at Session 2 (Awards Ceremony) https://youtu.be/x9ll24w-FDo

The Judy Phillips Memorial Award – Support Worker of the Year (Peer nomination)

The winner of this award was Pauline McLaughlin with runners up Joyce Taylor and Ruth Davies.

The Ian Jones Award – Support Work of the Year (Service-user nomination)

The winner of this award was Zara Cook and the runner up was Emma Bird.

The Adam Cove Award – Team Leader of the year (nominated by Support Workers and Service Users)

The winner of this award was Donna Tranter and the runner up was Katie Loughran.  This is the second year running that these two have been placed in these positions.

ILH Team of the Year (Service user nomination)

The winners of this award were Michael Baillon’s Team including David Hopkins, Nikyta Carey, Nick Gray and Richard Baynham.  The runners up were Josh Long’s team; Katie Loughran, Joe Williams, Emma Bird, Sam Gawler, Megan Thimm and Naomi Fulcher.

Homecare Registered Manager Tara Jones was on hand to present the next award for her service area. Tara closed the first section of the awards with a tear jerking thank you to her team, with particular thanks to Jade Perks, Homecare Co-ordinator who she credits with getting her through the worst 12 months.

Homecare Service Award for Support Worker of the Year (Service user nomination)

The winner of this award was Carolyn Layton and the runner up was Rebecca Guerin.

You can read about all of the winners and runners up in the AGM Programme to see why they all are worthy of their awards.

Extra Awards for 2021

Traditionally SIL awards have recognised excellence in our care providing teams as it receives so little acclaim elsewhere.  One of the positives to come from the Covid-19 pandemic is that the care sector is now receiving much more recognition for it’s value and we have proudly and diligently lived up to the keyworker title.

We continue to recognise excellence in our care teams but with this celebratory event we wanted to acknowledge the outstanding people that are part of the wider SIL team and those that support and care for people outside of our workforce. To that end we have introduced 5 new awards:

Direct Payment Services Award Outstanding PA of the year, nominated by DPSS SUs.

Nominations were sought from our DPSS users and family members for their support staff or personal assistants; those that they feel are the best example of what an outstanding PA should be and the winner was Jackie Innis as nominated by Dr Choesang Fenner- Tensin.

Team awards for Outstanding achievement for:

Implementing a new banking system while homeworking  was awarded to the DPSS team;Christy Dallow, Amy Deacon, Caroline Batley, Bee Phillips, Rhiannon Evans and Jess Pantall.

Supporting the growth of the organisation through sound financial management  was awarded to the Finance Team; Mike Moyles and Jennie Jones.

Maintaining all office functions during lockdown  was awarded to HR & Business Support; Gemma Lewis, Karen Hunt, Chib Alexander, Millie Davies and Paula Palmer.

And with all the awards given it was time to celebrate with a glass of fizz and a slice of cake.  CEO, Euan McPherson and our longest standing Trustee Maggie O’Neill were on hand to do the honours and cut the eyecatching and very delicious cake.

Then it was on to the final session of our day, the launch of our new SIL mini movies; showcasing the excellent services that SIL has to offer.  These were produced by Wild Edric Media and starred our brilliant service users and staff.

You can view these over on our Youtube channel at Session 3 https://youtu.be/oSsiIj86jt4

A tongue in cheek special news broadcast very ‘amateurly’ produced by SIL employees Briony and Paula ended the film show.  They brought together a cast of faces old and new to tell SILs story right from 1996 to the current day. With thanks to Marion, Ginnie Jacques, Maggie O’Neill, Service users Sam and Sheila and everyone else who starred in our broadcast.

So all that was left to do was to close the show and say thank you to everyone for the last year, for taking part in our AGM and films, for helping to plan and put on our AGM and so much more.  As Euan remarked in his closing statement and look to the future “We just need to keep on doing what we’re doing.”

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