On November 28th, we came together at The Village Hotel, Leeds, for our much-anticipated Be Proud event – a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible achievements of our colleagues from across the organisation. These are the people who go above and beyond every single day to support our clients, embodying the very heart of what Be Caring stands for. 

With over 140 attendees, this was an opportunity to showcase the fantastic work happening across all our services. From inspiring case studies of client outcomes achieved (like the one below), to innovative initiatives like our Trusted Reviewer pilot, the day was filled with examples of how our teams continue to make a difference with their care delivery. It was inspiring to hear our LIFE branch share the meaningful impact they’ve had on individuals with learning disabilities with their Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and active support approach, reminding us why we do what we do. 

A highlight of the day was the thought-provoking panel discussion led by Jane Townson, CEO of the Homecare Association. Her insights and vision for the future of social care sparked discussions about how we can continue to innovate and improve. 

Throughout the day, we celebrated our collective successes, shared best practices, and reflected on how far we’ve come as a community of care professionals. It was more than just a showcase – it was a chance to unite and reaffirm our commitment to shaping the future of care together. 

“The moment I heard from others from different cities, and how they make service users proud. I learnt a lot on how to go Above and Beyond providing compassionate care and support to individuals lives. It was nice having a chat with my colleagues and enjoying ourselves. The food was soo delicious, I miss that day, because I enjoyed it a lot.”

As the sun set, the event continued with our evening awards ceremony. This was a chance to shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of our colleagues who were nominated for delivering exceptional care and support. From Caregiver of the Year to Outstanding Team, every accolade celebrated the hard work, compassion, and dedication of our incredible teams. 

A particularly proud moment was when we honoured our Leeds team, who recently achieved an Outstanding rating in their CQC inspection — a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence. 

“I would like you to know how much this meant to the people who were invited on the day, especially those who won an award. Although we get plenty of compliments and feedback, people never really get formal recognition like this, I feel this really shows that Be Caring live up to their values!” 

Congratulations to our incredible award winners: 

Caregiver of the Year: Agnieszka Jedrak, Maisie Atherton, Mandy Rossington, Raheela Tabassum, Gift Okonye, Claire Thompson 

Team Colleague of the Year: Carron Lockwood 

Organisational Caregiver of the Year: Carrie Stephen 

Support Worker of the Year: Colin Petchey, Brenda Newing 

Office Colleague of the Year: Donna Snowdon 

Central Colleague of the Year: Caroline Kiely 

Special Recognition Award: Stacey’s Mobilisation Team 

Outstanding Team of the Year: Be Caring Leeds 

“What l was before, and what l am now, l am now a totally different person because of what l learnt during the Be Proud Event. l know more about care and I still wish to learn more.”

Be Proud isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of everything that makes our organisation special: our people, our values, and our shared mission to deliver the best possible care. To everyone who attended, presented, or received an award, thank you for making the day unforgettable. Together, we are shaping the future of social care, one act of kindness and dedication at a time.