Support worker wins Compassion Award at Merkel 3rd Sector Care Awards

Andrew Noblett has been given the Compassion Award at the 2023 Merkel 3rd Sector Care Awards.

Andrew, a support worker and team leader for St Helens Supported Housing, was named winner of the accolade, which “celebrates a team or individual that consistently demonstrates compassion to those they support, going above and beyond the responsibilities of their role to ensure people feel safe, respected and dignified.”

Last October, Andrew was also named Wellbeing Hero of the Year by adult health and social care charity Making Space, which operates the supported housing service.

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He was then shortlisted for the Great British Care Awards Care Innovator award the following month, for the initiatives he comes up with to support tenants in the Making Space supported housing and the surrounding community.

Unfortunately, Andrew was unable to collect his award in person at the Grand Hotel Birmingham ceremony.

However, Making Space CEO Rachel Peacock was on hand to collect the award from broadcasting legend Angela Rippon CBE on Andrew’s behalf.

Rachel Peacock collecting Andrew's award (Image: PR)

Rachel said: “Andrew consistently makes a positive difference in his community.

“He tirelessly seeks out partnerships and funding with local businesses to create projects that help to improve the lives of individuals and the wider area. Andrew works closely with tenants to find out what they’re interested in, so he can find the resources to help them to achieve their goals.

“In fact, Andrew was nominated for this award by a local business – Dunelm – because they were so impressed by his determination and dedication to the tenants.”

However, for Andrew, it’s all in a day’s work and he remains modest about his award success.

He said: “I’m a small part of a large team, and we all work together to ensure tenants at St Helens Supported Housing have opportunities that many of us take for granted.

“The projects we deliver with the generous funding of local businesses are mainly initiated and worked on by the tenants themselves - not just to improve their own lives, but for the benefit of the whole community.

“To receive an award for compassion is a great honour, but it also reflects all the work of everyone involved, who display compassion for themselves and each other on a daily basis.”

The Merkel 3rd Sector Awards are designed to reward the hard work, dedication, innovation and excellence of everyone working in the not-for-profit sector who is making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Organised by Care Management Matters, and developed in conjunction with the National Care Forum, the awards share the work of individuals who support those who need it most.