Towergate Care Awards 2017 Winners

William Gallagher

Richard Webb, Tricia Phillips, William Gallagher, Denise Van Outen

William works for Leonard Cheshire Services in Wandsworth and has dedicated over 40 years of his life working with elderly, end of life and disabled people. He campaigns for dignity in care and has become a trustee for the dignity council.

Highly Commended

• Wenda Scotney

• Agnieszka Siepracka-Maj

Sharon McCrea

Richard Webb, Andy Partington, Sharon McCrea, Denise Van Outen

For 28 years, Sharon has been inspiring opportunities for children to learn through play for the children in her community of West Ealing. The last year has been tough, with council funding being greatly reduced and two children with severe special needs requiring constant care, but instead of telling those children’s parents they would need to pay more for the additional care, she proactively managed to secure monthly sponsorship from local businesses. Sharon’s personal motto is “Always support, never judge”.

Highly Commended

• Daniel Robertshaw

• Jane Boulton

Kate Carr

Richard Webb, Louis Selwyn, Kate Carr, Denise Van Outen

Kate has been Practice Manager of the Crookes Practice for eight years. During this time, she has always gone above and beyond what is required of a Practice Manager and always puts patients and the practice before herself. This has been demonstrated recently when Kate played a lead role in the development of a range of schemes which have made up the Sheffield Enhanced Primary Care Programme.

Highly Commended

• Eleanor Mounsey

• Barbara Baldwin

Pamela Humphrey

Richard Webb, Stephen Davis, Pamela Humphrey, Denise Van Outen

In 1972, when Pam was nearly 21 and newly married, her mother suffered a major stroke. She then became a full time patient in St Mary's Hospital in Kettering until she passed away almost 20 years later. When St Mary's needed a new day room extension, Pam became involved with fundraising to furnish it – and so began her journey of fundraising and volunteering. After her husband was diagnosed with a serious illness, Pam joined the Cransley Hospice Support Group and continues to give talks to volunteer visitors and caring professionals.

Highly Commended

• Hilary Walker

• David Fordy

Bev Burston

Richard Webb, Daniel Sinclair, Bev Burston, Denise Van Outen

Bev and her husband Joe have been fostering for over 14 years. A few years ago, Joe was diagnosed with Parkinson's and then Dementia. In 2014, Bev lost her mother to cancer and their daughter to cancer – leaving their four-year-old granddaughter without a mother. Despite the devastation to the family, Bev continued their commitment to the young people in their care and engage with other less experienced foster carers, offering them support and advice.

Highly Commended

• Clare and Mike Eynon

• Lynn Dauson

Debra Murphy

Richard Webb, Zanele Sibanda, Debra Murphy, Denise Van Outen

When she joined the Ferns Academy as Principal in 2012, it was under special circumstances. Debra gave up her home life in Durham to live in Bolton during the work week for four years. The school now achieves excellent results and has happy students.

Highly Commended

• Natasha Sharma

• Angela Barakeh

Janette Neal

Richard Webb, Robert Nicholls, Janette Neal, Denise Van Outen

Janette has been Care Manager at Sahara Lodge and Gardens in London since 2010. Having begun her career in care almost 30 years ago, she has years of experience working with vulnerable adults. She has a particular interest in working with autistic adults, supporting them to develop communication and sensory strategies to help interaction with others.

Highly Commended

• Maxine Cope

• Beata Czapla

Sheila Smith

Richard Webb, Faith Chapman, Sheila Smith, Denise Van Outen

Sheila is the engine behind North Wales Cancer Care, providing a networking platform for support and self-help groups for people with cancer. Sheila is a trained radiographer, who several years ago found herself receiving cancer treatments. She then retrained as a Shiatsu practitioner and in acupuncture, Feng Shui and Thai massage. Sheila is dedicated to improving the experience of people with cancer, especially when treatment is finished and people are expected to "get on with their lives".

Highly Commended

• Susan Childs

• Maeve Rigney

Joshua Welch

Richard Webb, Rachaele Hambleton, Joshua Welch, Denise Van Outen

Joshua is 14 years old, but his experiences in life make him older than his years. His 15-year-old brother has autism and ADHD and his Dad has terminal brain cancer – and he cares for them both as well as looking after his sister.

Highly Commended

• Lynn Butler

• Hazel Wilson

Joshua Welch

David Ross, Joshua Welch, Denise Van Outen