The Meath Epilepsy Trust, entering the Surrey Care Awards for the first time this year, won two of the categories on the night. The Awards form a tribute to the exceptional contributions made by individuals and teams across the whole of Surrey’s care sector.
Pat Beswick, who has worked at the Meath for twenty-seven years, won the Surrey Care Association Chairman’s Award for longevity and quality of service. The Charity completely agrees with the Chairman’s verdict! Whether she is accompanying people horse-riding, carriage driving, swimming or organising group outings, Pat’s boundless energy and enthusiasm rubs off on everyone.
The ARTHOUSE Meath team scooped the team award for the Most Innovative Activity Programme for their social enterprise that has established an art studio where people using the Meath’s services work alongside professional artists to fulfil their own individual creative potential. The designs they create are then made stylish products which they then sell or exhibit to maintain and develop the business.
‘Queen of Shops’, Mary Portas, has purchased their quirky stationery range for her shop in House of Fraser, Oxford Street, while many of their canvases adorn the walls of offices across London and the south east as a result of their corporate art programme. The team is currently busy preparing for their move into Godalming High Street at the end of 2011. “Winning this award has definitely been the icing on the cake for us,” said Becky Sheraidah, Executive Director of ARTHOUSE Meath. “It’s been a very busy year for the team, and I am delighted that their remarkable efforts have been recognised in this way.”
Joe Collins, the Meath’s hardworking handyman, also achieved a nomination for Ancillary Worker of the Year, but was pipped to the post on the night in this very hard fought category. However, the Meath’s Chief Executive Mike Keighley was resolute in his verdict that Joe’s input over the years has been exemplary and that Joe was definitely the Meath’s Man of the Year!