Great British Care awards for Cornwall Care team

Margaret Lovell, Jayne Torrano and eleven-year-old Mia Richardson are category winners in the South West finals of the Great British Care Awards.

Margaret Lovell won the Dementia Carer Award, Jayne Torrano scooped the Care Planner Award and Mia Richardson, who has raised more than £22,000 for Blackwood House in Camborne, was presented with the Unpaid Carer’s Award.

Margaret and Jayne both work for Cornwall Care and Mia is the charity’s Young Ambassador.

Another eight members of the Cornwall Care team walked away with Highly Commended accolades after coming second in their respective categories. They are carer Ana Lourenco (Redannick in Truro), home manager Victoria Somerville (Blackwood in Camborne), chef Justin Priestley (The Green in Redruth), activities coordinator Sharon Bennion (Trevern in Falmouth), ancillary worker John Bulley (St Martin’s in Camborne) and dementia carers Samantha Winter, Carrie Cutts and Laura Goodwin (Trevarna in St Austell).

Margaret Lovell has worked in care for 45 years – the last 25 of those with Cornwall Care where she is currently employed as a specialist dementia tutor. Her citation says ‘she clearly understands her clients’ needs with dementia’ and that ‘she will always share her knowledge with staff’.

Jayne Torrano had to shield through most of the pandemic but ‘worked tirelessly at home and maintained a very crucial part of Cornwall Care with her coordinating and planning.’

During lockdown, Mia Richardson spent lockdown running the distance between Land’s End and John O’Groats on her family’s cross trainer to raise money for Blackwood House, where her mother works as a carer. Having raised £22,361 during that marathon effort, she is now working on a Christmas auction to raise yet more funds.

“I am hugely proud of everyone who has won a Great British Care Award on behalf of our charity,” said Cornwall Care CEO Anne Thomas. “Our sector has been hit exceptionally hard by Covid. Staff have had to work long hours in very difficult circumstances and that, of course, has taken its toll on an emotional as well as a practical level.

“Yet, as these awards prove, individuals have stepped up to the challenge in remarkable and quite outstanding ways. Our winners are representative of everyone who is working hard to make sure people in need of care and support are having their needs and wishes met. They really are amazing.”

The 2021 Great British Care Awards national final will take place on 18 March 2022.