We had a fantastic time at our Celebration and Thank You Party to honour the hard work and dedication of our team.
Around 60 staff members and their families enjoyed an afternoon letting their hair down and celebrating the wonderful work they do caring for people in our community.
Everyone had lots of fun and particularly enjoyed the photo booth and the heads and tails game. Even the food was a real family affair, cooked by Maria Alice, the sister of our care service manager and wellbeing facilitator Monica Tavares, and served by Monica, her mum Hirondina and sister Carmen. Thank you to them all for such a delicious selection of food.
Carers of the Year and long service awards
The event also featured the announcement of our Harrogate and Ripon Carers of the Year. Lorand Szucs and Emma Ayton were voted for by their colleagues and the people and families who use our services, and are well-deserved recipients of the accolade.
Long service certificates and badges were presented to staff, with flowers given to Helen Walker, the longest serving member of our team at 27 years. Helen is due to retire in December, shortly after another long-standing employee Lynda Parker, who has been a carer with us for 24 years.
Addressing the guests, area manager Mike Herrington thanked all the staff for their hard work, dedication and everything they do for the people that use Continued Care’s services.
He added: “We really appreciate what you do for us and for our clients. You are an absolutely brilliant team; you work together really well and you make sure our clients get the best care.”
Fantastic fundraising
Mike himself was presented with a surprise award in recognition of his fantastic fundraising efforts. All of Continued Care’s staff are encouraged and supported to help raise money for local causes including our Charity of the Year, which is currently the Alzheimer’s Society. This year, Mike has raised the most money out of all of us from activities he has organised and taken part in, including a fishing competition and a hike in the Yorkshire Dales.
Mike has also started a walking group for staff, which meets at weekends. Everyone is welcome and it’s been great to bring people together and strengthen bonds between our team, as well as improving wellbeing and mental health. Fittingly, on the evening after our Thank You Party, Mike and his wife Sandra headed off on a walk in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research.
The presentations also featured a special mention for Nichola Noble, one of our care assessors who, outside of her day job, carries out tireless work supporting vulnerable people. Among many things, Nichola runs the Boston Spa Homeless Community Project, helps homeless people in Leeds, and delivers food parcels to families in need.
Thanks and bouquets went to Monica and Continued Care’s director Samantha Harrison, while £170 was raised from the raffle for the Alzheimer’s Society.
A wonderful team
Speaking after the event, Samantha said: “It’s been really lovely to have this party and say thank you to our staff for everything they do each and every day. We wanted it to be a celebratory family event, and it was wonderful to see the partners and children who joined us.
“It has brought everyone together and reminds us that we are all part of a wonderful team.”