Outstanding Oxfordshire carers celebrated at annual awards
Carers across Oxfordshire were celebrated at an awards ceremony on Monday (17 June), recognising the people making a difference to the lives of others.
People from the community and voluntary sector, statutory and independent care providers, as well as unpaid carers were recognised at the Oxfordshire Care Awards.
The awards are an annual event, organised by Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP) with support from Action for Carers Oxfordshire, Age UK Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council.
Staff and volunteers working with Wallingford based care providers, Style Acre, took home five awards, including Gemma Elliot (pictured below) receiving the Front Line Leaders Award and Olwen Barlow winning the Volunteer Award for her work at Wantage Market Garden.
The Care Team Award was given to Daybreak Oxfordshire, a charity specialising in providing activities for people with dementia, while offering some well-deserved respite for carers.
Shared Lives carer, Sue Clayton received the Long Service Award for her dedication to the scheme run by Oxfordshire County Council that matches caring households with adults who have additional care needs, offering them a place to stay and grow their independence.
Alongside the awards themselves, to celebrate ten years of OACP, the day included an information event for nominees and guests to learn more about the county’s care sector. It also gave care providers the opportunity to network with other organisations to share their ideas and experiences.
Eddy McDowall, CEO of Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers, said: “It’s always a huge privilege to be involved in the Oxfordshire Care Awards. The awards give the whole community a chance to pause, focus and reflect, and thank the hard working people in our industry, celebrating those moments where people go above and beyond what’s expected.” 
Karen Fuller, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Adult Social Care, said: “The Oxfordshire Care Awards are one of the highlights of the year. By celebrating the very best carers in Oxfordshire, we get the opportunity to really reflect on what our industry is all about – the people who are making a difference on a daily basis to other people’s lives. It’s been an honour to take part in the event and celebrate the achievements of Oxfordshire’s carers.”
Andrew Lane, Chair of Trustees for both Age UK Oxfordshire and Action for Carers Oxfordshire, said: “It has been a pleasure being part of the Oxfordshire Care Awards, celebrating the fantastic care provided by such wonderful people in Oxfordshire. It’s so important to recognise the contribution that care workers, volunteers and unpaid carers make to our local communities.”
The full list of winners and those highly commended are:
Newcomer to Care Award:
- Winner: Semukeliso Sithole - Countywide Caring Ltd
- Highly commended: Jo Adamson - Style Acre
The Care Home Worker Award
- Winner: Hannah Kirby - Launton Grange Care Home
- Highly commended: Esther Kariuki - Autism at Kingwood
The Unpaid Carer Award
- Winner: Karen Hynds
- Highly commended: Roger Ridler
The Volunteer Award
- Winner: Olwen Barlow - Style Acre
- Highly commended: Andy Willis - Banburyshire Advice Centre
The Frontline Leaders Award
- Winner: Gemma Elliot - Style Acre
- Highly commended: Kam Gill - Walfinch Oxfordshire
The Home Care Worker Award
- Winner: Chris Woodley - Style Acre
- Highly commended: Caroline Sibanda - Oxford Private Care
International Recruitment Award
- Winner: Autism at Kingwood
- Highly commended: Stuart Martin - SureCare Oxfordshire
The Care Team Award
- Winner: Daybreak Oxfordshire
- Highly commended: Home Hospice Care Team (HHCT)
The Long‐Term Service Award
- Winner: Sue Clayton - Shared Live Scheme
- Highly commended: Katy Michalek - Mumby's Live-in Care
The Inspiration Award
- Winner: Maymessy Cookery School
- Highly commended: Shelley Ward - Godswell Park Care Home
Digital Social Care Hero Award
- Winner: Barbra Hayers - Trinity Carers Services Ltd
- Highly commended: Lorraine Green - The Chiltern Centre.
Josie’s Award
- Winner: Lisa-Marie Betteridge - Style Acre
- Highly commended: Georgia Mace - PBS4 Ltd
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