We are 3rd Sector Care Award Finalists!

Huge congratulations to our Darlington Road team who were recently announced as finalists for the prestigious Compassion Award at the 3rd Sector Care Awards.

Headed up by Service Manager Lisa Livingstone, a number of Real Life Options representatives attended the Central London Awards ceremony in December. Hosted by Dame Esther Rantzen, the Awards showcase the innovation and care excellence of the not-for-profit care and support sector. The fantastic afternoon saw more than 250 people come together to celebrate and enjoy live music from The Beathovens, the only band in the UK whose members are all on the autism spectrum and are living in full time care.

Lisa was joined at the awards ceremony by support staff Rebecca Almond, Anthony Harkin, Jacqui Pitt, Diane Rudd, Rob Royds and Julie Williamson, as well as Chief Executive David Sargent, Executive Director Vivien Simon and Area Manager Tracy Connelly.

Lisa Livingstone said, “It is a privilege and honour managing such an amazing team who go over and above their job role to ensure that the people we support are at the centre of everything we do’.

I’m so proud of the team,” added Tracy Connelly. “Just the fact we were at a major awards ceremony as finalists is a fantastic achievement and really reflects all the hard work everyone has been putting in all year round.”

The Darlington Road staff team were runner up in last year’s Real Hero Awards and were nominated for the Compassion Award due to their exceptional work in embracing new systems of working and actively improving the service, whilst supporting a new manager. The staff proactively organised a raffle, which raised enough money to introduce a multi-sensory room and have also initiated informal coffee and cake chat days to better connect with families.