The Vocational and Community Enterprises (VAC) recently held a celebration event for all of its contracted members of staff. The event was held at Lisieux Hall on Friday 25th September 2015 and ran from 5.30pm through to around 10pm. A delicious supper was provided and everyone enjoyed listening to some good music and catching up with their colleagues from across the enterprises.
From its inception the aim of the Vac Celebration Event was to bring together all of the different staff teams from the Vac services to celebrate their individual and team achievements throughout 2015. As a Vac management team we wanted to say thank you to all of our staff teams for their continued dedication and commitment to their jobs. We also wanted to highlight those individuals/teams that have gone above and beyond what would normally be expected of them in their normal working day; and most importantly of all we wanted to say THANK YOU to all staff teams for continuing to provide unique and enriching person centred support.
With that in mind 7 distinct awards were created by the Vac management team, to be presented on the night. Each award was presented to the recipient/s by their respective team leaders who read a short rationale of why they were being presented with an award. Each category of award came with a certificate with the winners name on, a copy of the rationale (laminated) and a small prize and/or a personalised, hand-made trophy. Heather Vickerman presented the awards and prizes to each of the winners, thanking them personally for their contribution to Brothers of Charity Services and their incredible support for all the people who attend the Vocational Enterprises
The details of each award are as follows:
- Duct tape Award– to be able to fix about anything
Presented by Dan Coward to Paul Burgess
Paul has the amazing ability to fix almost anything across the retail enterprises! This includes machinery, computers, shelving, doors, locking mechanisms, cupboards, external gates and almost anything really. Paul does all of this at almost no cost to BOCs and more often than not its outside of his working day. Thank you Paul.
- Communication/Language Award–
Presented by Matt Hoyles to Nick Middleton
Nick has been taking the lead running Hands on Gardening since he began working for the Brothers of Charity. Nick discovered that someone we support had not been engaging in group activities and was struggling to motivate himself resulting in a lack of confidence. This person showed an interest in learning new languages. So Nick used his own knowledge of Chinese, Japanese, French, and German to teach basic words to this individual. The team now often talk in different languages, and through peer to peer learning have taught each other lots of phrases and ways to ask how to do things whilst working in peoples gardens. This is a fantastic example of person centred support where a special connection was established with an individual. Thank you Nick.
- Most outstanding contribution Award
For someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty
Presented by Matt Hoyles to Alex Trumper
Alex has worked for Brothers of Charity for over 5 years. He has taken on many challenges including the development and construction of raised beds in the Chorley Backs Scheme, various community food growing initiatives and has supported developing the partnership with South Ribble Borough Council. Alex has supported people effortlessly to make the transition from moving away from the base at Lisieux Hall. Alex took on a lead role for 2 weeks this summer whilst his Team Leader was on holiday. He did this impeccably with no other incentive than to develop his skills further within the organisation. Thank you Alex.
- Best innovation/initiative within a project Award
Presented by Dan Coward to Gwyn Trafford
Gwyn demonstrated great innovation, imagination and enthusiasm during a competition that Crafty Uniforms recently entered run by Chorley Council. Gwynwas fundamental in thinking outside of the box and creating a window display solely made up items that we sell in the shop every day. This include a floral display that included a giant sunflower, a pond complete with ducks, a tree made of out a mannequin, handmade trees, trellis work and much more. This resulted in Crafty Uniforms winning 1st prize and being presented with the title of ‘Best Kept Shop Front in Chorley 2015’ along with a cheque for £150. Well done and thank you Gwyn.
- Most outstanding person centred support Awards
Shared Award for Hannah and Heather
Presented by Kay Brogan-Moore to Hannah Dearden
Presented by Andrea and Siobhan to Heather Smith
PART A
Hannah Dearden has demonstrated many key elements that make an excellent support worker. Hannah recently raised concerns with her team leader about an individual’s health and wellbeing. Contact was made with the individual’s family and doctors’ appointments were scheduled to investigate the issues raised by. The family later contacted the team leader to offer her sincere thanks and gratitude to Hanna as the medical tests had confirmed that the individual had a serious and potentially life threatening condition for which he now has medical support. The family are forever grateful to the support worker because they believe that she has helped to save his life. Thank you Hannah.
PART B
At 5pm every Tuesday evening Heather supports an elderly gentleman who lives in the Nursing Home. His condition means that his moods change quickly and often he can’t attend his Art session. Heather goes to great lengths to engage this artist – no matter how he is feeling. She has devised innovative ways to enable him to be able to paint in bed to retain his skills and interests. She understands that dementia is an illness that can cause a person to reject even the people or activities that they most enjoy. By responding to his changing moods, she provides a window during his week where he is truly at the heart of the service she is providing. Thank you Heather.
- Digging Deep Award– For a team that has embraced change –
Presented by Ann Jones to JobSpec team
This award goes to all members of the Jobspec team; Steve, Janet and Kath. The Jobspec team has recently gone through fundamental changes to their working day and they have successfully transitioned into being an essential part of the Outreach service which has required them to have immense of amounts of patience, understanding and flexibility around working hours and patterns. Each member of this team has fully embraced all the changes that they have been presented with during a difficult period of re-structure. Thank you Jobspec team.
- Mission Impossible Award– for accomplishing the near impossible
Presented by Ann Jones to Danny Foster
Danny has gone above and beyond to ensure the people he supports have a fulfilling day whilst in his kitchen. Danny lone works in Ormskirk which means he is the representative for BOCS in West Lancashire. Danny recently had to deal with a very difficult and possibly dangerous situation, when one of the people he supports walked out of the enterprise part way through the day. Danny ensured that she arrived home safely; staying with her until her family got home to explain things to them. He also took it upon himself to enrol onto an evening class in his own time; to learn sign language. This ensured that he could effectively communicate with this individual in the future and that they would become more involved within the group. Thank you Danny.
The night was a huge success with people already talking about the next Vac Celebration Event!
Dan Coward (on behalf of Management Team)
Click here to view photos from the awards event
