Celebrating Success Awards 2022

Surrey Choices Celebrates Disabled Adults’ and Partnership Working at Celebrating Success Awards Ceremony

On Tuesday 17 May 2022 Surrey Choices celebrated disabled people and partners at their first ever Celebrating Success Awards at Denbies Wine Estate. Family, friends, and colleagues came together to recognise this year’s winners in beautiful surroundings.

Celebrating Success

The Celebrating Success Awards highlight the achievements of people supported by Surrey Choices. The judging panel was comprised of disabled people and colleagues from Surrey Choices. They were impressed how each of the winners had overcome challenges, achieved new goals and were inspired by the way they demonstrated the values at Surrey Choices.

The awards also recognised employers and organisations Surrey Choices works with in the community who have created supportive and inclusive environments, where the winners and many others have improved their skills and wellbeing.

Among the attendees were Steve Hook, Assistant Director, and Councillor Sinead Mooney, both representing Surrey County Council. While Stefan Nahajski, Non Executive Director, represented the Surrey Choices Board.

“It was such an honour to be involved in the Celebrating Success Awards. The stories of people learning the skills to live more independent lives through travel, work, friendships and engaging in their local communities, were inspiring”, said Stefan Nahajski, Non-Executive Director

Winners

Winners were recognised in one of four award categories: Health and Wellbeing, Independent Living and Life Skills, Friends Relationships and Communities, and Employment, Volunteering and Vocational Learning.

Mark was one of the award winners for Independent Living and Life Skills. He wanted to be able to travel independently and manage his money. He was supported by Surrey Choices to break down the individual tasks and worked on them until he was ready to move onto the next step. Now, for the first time in his life, he has been able to travel without assistance. This has made Mark feel more freedom in his life than he has ever felt before.

The awards also recognised some the many businesses, schools and colleges which Surrey Choices works with. One of the partnership winners, Stripey Stork, collects donations for babies and children and then re-homes them with families experiencing hardship across Surrey. They are extremely understanding of the needs of disabled and autistic people and make adjustments to support everyone to work. They use visual aids to help volunteers know what tasks to do. The team listens to the needs of each volunteer and comes up with solutions to ensure that everyone can join in.

“We have heard so many inspiring outcomes for the people we support, and the ways in which employers and organisations we work with have gone above and beyond to support individuals.” – Mette Le Jakobsen, Managing Director, Surrey Choices

Reaction

“I felt privileged to be able to attend Surrey Choice’s Celebrating Success Awards, and it really was a tremendous event. I think one of the biggest highlights was the number of people who attended, and it was so wonderful to be able to get together after all this time and be able to meet face to face“ – Councillor Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Impact

The Celebrating Success Awards 2022 had a profound impact on everyone in the room. From tears of joy, cheering, and laughing, the guests walked away feeling inspired. The Awards shone a light on people’s personal achievements, development and fulfilment with Surrey Choices. The videos, pictures, and stories from this year’s awards will inspire other people to continue with the dreams that they have. Next year their story could be told at the Surrey Choices Celebrating Success Awards 2023.

You can hear from all our winners here: