National social care charity Making Space, which is headquartered in Allen Street, Warrington, is celebrating the achievements of its colleagues after recognising outstanding staff and volunteers from across the country at its annual Colleague Awards 2026.
Held at The Queens Hotel in Leeds on Friday 10 July, the awards celebrate the individuals and teams who go above and beyond to make a real difference to the lives of the people they support.
With more than 1,000 colleagues and over 100 volunteers, Making Space received more than 250 nominations this year, highlighting the exceptional compassion, creativity and dedication shown across the organisation every day.
Among the national winners was Annette Taylor, Property Services Manager based at Making Space’s Warrington Head Office, who received the Behind the Scenes Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to colleagues and services across the charity.
Annette works with teams throughout the country to ensure Making Space’s properties remain safe, welcoming and well maintained for both the people who draw on support and the colleagues who work within them. Alongside her day-to-day responsibilities, she has become a passionate supporter of the charity’s fundraising activities, building relationships with suppliers, encouraging sponsorship and volunteering her own time to help raise additional funds for Making Space.
The judges praised Annette’s passion, commitment and genuine care for colleagues and the people the charity supports, recognising the important role she plays behind the scenes in helping services provide the highest quality environments and support.
Annette said: “For me, being nominated was special. Knowing that I am doing a good job means the world to me. I have to say, I am still quite overwhelmed and humbled by the cheers that I received on Friday. Never in a million years did I expect that. The whole process was amazing and I am very proud to have won the award.”
Keri Smith, Chief of Business Strategy & Development at Making Space, said: “The reaction from colleagues at the awards was fantastic, and Annette’s success clearly resonated with everyone in the room. She was visibly moved by the recognition she received on the day, which was wonderful to see. As Property Services Manager, Annette plays a vital role in ensuring that the environments where we deliver support are safe, welcoming and maintained to the highest possible standards. She leads with passion and a relentless focus on quality, always striving to ensure the people we support enjoy homes and services that are of a standard we would want for our own family and friends.
“Annette’s work is often carried out behind the scenes, but its impact is seen every day across our organisation. This award is a fitting recognition of the care, expertise and dedication she brings to her role.
“I would also like to thank Annette’s Property Services team. This recognition reflects not only her leadership, but the hard work, professionalism and commitment of the colleagues she works alongside every day.”
Alongside Annette’s success, colleagues from across the North West were also recognised at the awards. Rivacre House in Ellesmere Port celebrated a double success, winning Team of the Year, while Annie Alexander was named Learner of the Year. Joanne Lee, Activities Co-ordinator at Kingshill Residential in Standish, received the Community Integration Award, Cerys Gaffney from St Helens Family Support was named Volunteer of the Year, and the Palmyra Team in Waterloo, Liverpool, received the Diversity & Inclusion Award. Lincolnshire colleagues also enjoyed an outstanding evening, collecting four awards, including Inspiring Leader, Outstanding Contribution, Wellbeing Hero and Newcomer.
Alongside the main awards, 22 learners were recognised for their commitment to professional development and 28 colleagues celebrated long service milestones ranging from 10 to 35 years.
Phil Orton, Deputy CEO at Making Space, said: “Every year our Colleague Awards remind us just how extraordinary our people are. Behind every award is a story of kindness, compassion and dedication that has made a genuine difference to someone’s life. We’re incredibly proud that Annette’s contribution has been recognised nationally. Like so many colleagues across Making Space, she consistently goes above and beyond, often without seeking recognition, and her work helps ensure our services provide safe, welcoming environments where people can thrive.”
The awards ceremony brought together finalists, colleagues, volunteers, sponsors and guests from across the organisation to celebrate excellence in social care. Making Space extends its sincere thanks to headline sponsor Ad Alta Consulting and award sponsors Montane Insurance, Procurem, Advanced Water Technologies Ltd, Solid State Security, Countrywide Healthcare and Neuven, whose generous support helped make the celebration possible.
If you are looking for rewarding career where you can make a real difference, where you will be truly valued, explore opportunities at makingspace.co.uk.
