In September we held our Excellence Awards ceremony at Hampton Court. The Excellence Awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our colleagues across SeeAbility, with a spotlight on those who have gone above and beyond to support people to live, love, thrive and belong. 

The nomination process 

Our colleagues, those we support, and their family and friends were eligible to nominate colleagues for an award. The stories we received illustrated a clear passion and drive to support SeeAbility’s mission of delivering ambitious support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and sight loss.  

 Our awards this year were competitive - thank you to everyone who submitted nominations! Whilst we can’t issue awards to everyone, please know that your contributions are not going unnoticed, only serving to strengthen our mission.  

Each nomination was reviewed to identify those which best demonstrate our values:  

• Respect is our starting point  

• We spark imagination  

• We learn together to be our best  

• We believe in each other  

A panel of the people we support, colleagues, trustees and our Senior Leadership Team cast their votes. An additional award was given for our ‘Volunteer of the Year’. 

Anu Ghagba 

Respect is our starting point 

Anu won an Excellence Award for her life-saving actions when supporting Stephen during a heart attack. Her quick thinking and collected approach in calling the emergency services and administering CPR were decisive in ensuring Stephen survived a serious medical emergency. We are proud of how she put her training into use so promptly, and Stephen is now well on the road to recovery. 

‘The fact that she could stay calm and focus on what needed to happen in those first few minutes of that emergency is just amazing really. Had it not been for Anu’s work that day, it could have been a very different picture.’ - Kelly, Manager 

‘Anu just reacted in the most exemplary way that we all hope we would, but you never know until it happens. I’m so proud of her, and so thankful.’ - Ysanne, Deputy Manager 

Carl Corby 

Respect is our starting point 

Carl has been supporting James for a decade, but he never stops looking for ways to help James grow and achieve his ambitions. They share a love of the gym, and Carl has supported James to build muscle and lose weight so he feels confident in his body. Recently, James expressed to Carl that he wanted to find a romantic partner, so Carl has supported James in building a relationship with Nathan, who James met at the gym they go to. As James has difficulty with his memory, Carl works hard to record James and Nathan’s relationship, so he can remind James of all the wonderful times together that they have shared. 

‘James is just very active when he’s being supported by Carl. They do barbecues on the beach, and they take the train down to Plymouth. They do everything.’ - Sarah, Deputy Manager 

Giban’s team 

We learn together to be our best 

Before Giban was supported by SeeAbility, he lived in one room and relied on takeaways. Now he’s thriving, with tons of sporty hobbies and his own flat! Francis (who supports Giban) even learned to swim in his own time just so he could support Giban in the pool - a perfect example of the team’s commitment to transforming his health, confidence and happiness. 

‘Giban is thriving, busy and living the life he’s always wanted.’ - Julie, Deputy Manager  

John’s* team 

We learn together to be our best 

When John was consistently experiencing pain and anxiety, his team went above and beyond to find a way forward - even turning a dental visit into a pretend café trip to make sure he felt safe! Their support meant John avoided a serious health risk - he’s now healthy, full of life, and happy in his own home. 

‘Ben and his team have gone above and beyond in supporting John. It’s just incredible. It comes out of compassion and it comes out of empathy.’ - Hiral, John’s dentist 

Nicola Stanley 

We believe in each other 

Nicola’s dedication and belief in Ben have enabled him to move out of a long-stay hospital (where he had lived for 10 years) and truly thrive in his own home. Nicola even learned BSL from scratch to make sure he felt understood and supported - the difference she’s made is remarkable. 

‘Nicolas has this absolutely amazing ability of highlighting where things are going wrong, but she also has this incredible ability to do that and not upset anyone. People know with Nicola that she’s never doing it just to be difficult, but she’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do for the person. Good is never good enough for Nicola.’ - Emma, Head of Behaviour Support 

Jamie Tomlin 

We believe in each other 

Kind, knowledgeable and always ready to help, Jamie is the person everyone turns to at Redhill - whether it’s fixing a broken TV, offering advice, or just being a calm presence. He goes above and beyond every day, driven by a genuine passion for supporting others and challenging expectations. 

‘Whoever comes into contact with Jamie is always so well supported and so well respected that everyone just thinks so much of him.’ - Kelly, Manager 

‘If you have a question, if you just need a chat or encouragement, he’s really there and he knows his stuff. So he really has a lot of knowledge that you can just tap into.’ – Courteney, Senior Support Worker 

24 Peaks Project Team 

We spark imagination 

To mark SeeAbility’s 225th Anniversary, Trustees Jack Stacy and Michael Smith climbed 24 of the Lake District’s tallest peaks in 24 hours - challenging perceptions of what people with disabilities can achieve. The 24 Peaks Project Team made it possible, and their efforts led to our biggest media splash in decades, reaching millions across the UK and raising over £175,000! 

Megan Booker 

We spark imagination 

After years in institutional settings, Dave* didn’t believe things could change – that is, until Megan began supporting him. With patience, empathy and a deep commitment to understanding what he wants out of life, Dave now has his own home, makes his own choices, and is shaping a future that reflects who he is and what matters to him. 

‘Megan’s approach with Dave is very patient and communicative. She spends a lot of time trying to understand him and understand where he’s coming from. I think the only reason that Dave is where he is at the moment is because there was someone in his corner who was explaining things to him, discussing things with him, and setting him up for success. Megan showed him that if he spoke up, she’d really listen and things would actually change.’ - Emma, Head of Behaviour Support 

Laurence Goldsmith 

Volunteer of the year 

When several of the people we support at Spencer Court expressed interest in a men’s book club, Laurie made it happen. He supported Chris to host the monthly event in his home, which boasts both fun stories and homemade cake! It’s become a lively and friendly get together which everyone looks forward to. Laurie has also developed a friendship with Michael, who we support at Spencer Court – he looks forward to seeing him every Monday for more adventures! 

‘I think it does wonders for Michael and it’s more expansive than any of us let on.’ - Brad, Senior Support Worker. 

*Name changed for anonymity.