Honoured to Be Recognised: Highly Commended at the First Carers UK Awards

Young at Heart ULO CIC is delighted to share that we were Highly Commended in the Community Award: Community Group category at the first-ever Carers UK Awards, held on Thursday 16 October 2025 at Plaisterers’ Hall, London.

With more than 650 nominations submitted nationwide and just five finalists shortlisted in each category, this recognition is a heartfelt acknowledgment of the power of community-led support for unpaid carers. The awards, supported by Phoenix, marked the first time Carers UK has hosted a national celebration dedicated solely to recognising the individuals, organisations, and initiatives that make life better for those who care for others.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, wrote:

“On behalf of all of us here at Carers UK, I want to express my congratulations on your well-deserved highly commended recognition at The Carers UK Awards. It was a pleasure to celebrate your achievements with you, and I hope that you enjoyed the event as much as we did. Congratulations on your award once again, and thank you for helping to make our inaugural awards a real success and for continuing to raise awareness of what unpaid carers do throughout the country every day.”

For Young at Heart ULO CIC, this commendation represents far more than a trophy or title. It is a celebration of the unpaid carers who inspire, guide, and shape everything we do — and a reminder that even the smallest, most local efforts can have a national impact.

A Humbling Night of Connection and Celebration

Hosted by actor Stephen Mangan, who shared his own experiences of caring for both of his parents, the Carers UK Awards brought together a beautifully diverse mix of family carers, volunteers, grassroots organisations, and national providers. The evening radiated empathy and pride — a rare opportunity to honour those who give so much of themselves to others.

A highlight of the night was the Johnnie Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Tiggy Walker to Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE. Her moving speech traced how far society has come in recognising the vital role of unpaid carers, while reminding us that there is still more to do. In her speech, Baroness Pitkeathley acknowledged that Stephen Mangan had stumbled over the word carer earlier in the evening, accidentally saying career — a slip that drew laughter from the audience and served as a timely reminder that only in recent years has the autocorrect function on most word processors finally stopped making the same mistake.

Alison Watson-Shields, Founder and Director of Young at Heart ULO CIC, attended the ceremony on behalf of the team.

“I knew we weren’t going to win,” Alison said with a smile. “We were seated at the same table as the first winner of the evening — and they never sit multiple winners together unless they’re from the same company! That meant I could simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere.”

When Young at Heart ULO CIC was announced as Highly Commended, Alison described the moment as “proud, confusing, humbling, and mind-blowing all at once.”

“While I had the honour and privilege of attending the ceremony in London, it really should have been each and every one of our carers who were there receiving that recognition. Every carer we’ve supported since our inception in 2010 has moulded and shaped the kind of service Young at Heart has become.

We’ll continue to work with our carers to shape the future of our In Our Shoes dementia carers’ peer-support group and everything else we offer — because caring for the wellbeing of carers helps them to care for the wellbeing of others.”

Alison summed up the experience with one line that perfectly captured the spirit of the evening: “I was the happiest loser in the room.”

Our Journey and Impact

The Community Group Award celebrates grassroots organisations that stand at the heart of their communities — those who ensure carers feel connected, understood, and empowered through accessible, inclusive, and practical support.

As one of only five shortlisted organisations, Young at Heart ULO CIC stood proudly alongside peers such as City Carers Community, Stronger Together Carers, The Lodge Carers, and We All Are One Carers Support Group (Doncaster), who were the overall winners of the category and received a £3,000 cheque.

Lynne Amos, Director and former carer of Young at Heart ULO CIC, reflected prior to the awards night:

“This shortlist is a tribute to unpaid carers’ resilience and love — and to the power of community to stand beside them. Everything we deliver is co-produced with carers and people living with dementia, ensuring that the support we offer is shaped by those who know best. When we listen first and build together, support becomes simpler, kinder, and more effective.”

That philosophy underpins all we do. In 2024 alone, Young at Heart ULO CIC:

• Supported around 70 family carers of people living with dementia.
• Delivered 12 carer talks on dementia awareness, communication, and wellbeing.
• Trained 18 family carers through the Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Getting to Know Dementia programme.
• Facilitated around 150 peer support sessions across three settings, equating to over 225 hours of dedicated carer engagement.
• Trained 163 dementia care professionals in PAC-developed skills for care.

Since the start of 2025, we’ve expanded further, introducing new digital and wellbeing support. Our confidential WhatsApp carers’ group provides instant connection for those who need a listening ear, and our weekly Carers’ Meditation Podcast, launched during Carers Week 2025, has already reached listeners in North America, South America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia with over 150 downloads to date.

We’re also proud to partner with our local Multibank, helping carers access practical items free of charge — from night lights and continence pants to reusable water bottles, notebooks, and wellbeing hampers. During Carers Week 2025, every carer received a thoughtfully curated hamper containing personal care and “me time” items such as books, toiletries, and tea, serving as a small reminder that they, too, deserve care.

Gratitude and Community Roots

This commendation provides a timely opportunity to express gratitude to the people and partnerships who make our work possible.

We extend heartfelt thanks to each of our Directors, all of whom have cared — or continue to care — for someone living with dementia. Their shared experience ensures that Young at Heart ULO CIC remains grounded in empathy, understanding, and lived experience.

We are especially grateful to Miriam and Shirley, whose commitment to both behind-the-scenes and front-line support has been instrumental in the organisation’s continued growth. From maintaining carers’ WhatsApp groups to offering personal encouragement, they embody the compassion and leadership that define our community.

Our sincere thanks also go to every funder and donor who has contributed to the sustainability and expansion of our carers’ support programme, including those who have helped us extend our reach through the Male Carer Support Group.

We would like to acknowledge Alderman Maurice Perry and Laraine Perry, who, during their term as Mayor and Mayoress in 2017, helped us launch the carers’ support programme during Carers Week that same year, and to thank present Deputy Mayor Cllr Bob Cook and Mayoress Sandra Cook, who joined us for our recent Carers’ Afternoon Tea Celebration. It was a privilege to host them and to share the achievements and stories of the carers who make Young at Heart such a special community.

Celebrating Together at Home

While the London ceremony offered national recognition, our local Carers’ Afternoon Tea Celebration captured the spirit of Young at Heart ULO CIC perfectly — intimate, joyful, and peer-led.

The event brought together carers, volunteers, and supporters to reflect on their collective achievements, enjoy each other’s company, and celebrate their contribution to the community. We would also like to thank GoldLeaf Catering of Norton for providing the individually boxed afternoon teas prepared for each and every one of our carers — reports were that they were delicious and very generous!

It was a heartfelt afternoon filled with laughter, conversation, and gratitude — a true expression of what this commendation represents: a community of people supporting one another with empathy and strength.

Looking Ahead

With funding secured until Summer 2027, Young at Heart ULO CIC is preparing to introduce at least 12 new training offerings in the coming months, continuing our commitment to upskilling both carers and professionals.

We are also taking steps to prioritise carer wellbeing, with the introduction of a bi-monthly Sound Bath Experience designed to provide rest, relaxation, and mindful recovery for carers. Alongside this, we will be consulting with carers to identify new areas of need, ensuring that every future initiative is shaped by their voices and experiences.

Our mission remains simple: to continue building community-led, compassionate, and inclusive support that allows carers to thrive — not just survive.

Why Recognition Matters

Being named Highly Commended at the first-ever Carers UK Awards is a source of immense pride and encouragement for our entire community. But more importantly, it shines a light on the extraordinary contribution of unpaid carers across the country — the quiet heroes whose care sustains families, friendships, and communities every single day.

This recognition helps raise national awareness of the realities of caring — the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that so often go unseen — while celebrating the dedication, creativity, and love that underpin it all.

It also reinforces the vital role of grassroots, community-based organisations, whose lived experience and peer support networks are often the first and most trusted sources of help for carers.

As we look to the future, this commendation stands as both an honour and an inspiration — a reminder that every act of care, every conversation shared, and every bit of support offered truly matters.

Together, we will continue to create spaces where carers feel seen, valued, and never alone.

Join Us

Young at Heart ULO CIC continues to deliver dementia-friendly activity groups, carer support sessions, training programmes, and wellbeing initiatives across Stockton-on-Tees and beyond.

To learn more about our work, take part in upcoming training, or support our carer wellbeing initiatives, please visit www.youngatheartulo.org.uk or contact our team directly.

Together, we can continue building a community where carers are not only recognised — but celebrated.