CMM’s sincere thanks go to everyone who entered this year’s awards; the judges faced the challenging task of creating a shortlist of finalists and winners from the exceptional nominations received. As the ceremony approaches, CMM is pleased to confirm that Sally Lindsay will be returning to host the awards in 2025.
About the awards
Over the last 11 years, the awards have grown and become a highly respected fixture on the care sector events calendar. CMM is looking forward to welcoming everyone at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham on Friday 14th March 2025, where the ceremony will take place.
The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards were originally created to celebrate the work of small, not-for-profit providers who did not necessarily have a PR team or lots of resources to dedicate to showcasing the positive influence they were having on people’s lives. CMM and the National Care Forum (NCF) came together to work on the concept, giving national recognition to the care workforce in a different way.
The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards focus on creative arts, community engagement, innovation, quality improvements, integration, technology and governance. These categories and the entry criteria have always been based on specific strategies – from Government and the sector – and have evolved over time to maintain relevance in an ever-changing landscape.
The awards shine a spotlight on so many worthy individuals and organisations that improve the lives of people with tremendous challenges up and down the country. The entries demonstrate the diversity and capability of organisations in the voluntary and/or not-for-profit sector, all of which do so much good for so many different people.
The awards’ judging day is a highlight of the year for the CMM team and offers judges and sponsors the opportunity to step inside the lives of those working in the 3rd sector and hear the raw and honest accounts of their experiences. The judging panel included experts from Choice Support, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Association of Mental Health Providers (AMHP), the Royal Hospital Chelsea (RHC) and more.
Thank you to all the judges who joined CMM on Friday 24th January 2024 to meet the finalists virtually and to hear about their incredible achievements.
New for 2025
This year, the Campaigning for Change Award has been renamed to the Dame Esther Rantzen Campaigning for Change Award, in honour of the journalist and broadcaster who hosted the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards ceremony between 2014 and 2019.
Dame Esther Rantzen recently revealed a terminal lung cancer diagnosis and has been actively campaigning in support of assisted dying. MPs have since voted in favour of Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, which took place in November 2024. The legislation will now be scrutinised in more detail by a committee.
Meet the sponsors
Markel UK will once again be the headline sponsor of the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards. CMM is delighted to have the sponsorship of Markel and others so that free ceremony tickets can continue to be offered to finalists, as well as keeping the awards free to enter. Markel UK is a dedicated supporter of the care sector with 10,000+ charity and third sector clients. Markel UK also has insurance, legal, tax and consultancy capabilities. This includes its specialist care consultancy, Markel Care Practitioners, which helps clients with a range of issues including risk management, inspection preparation and continuity planning.
Swift Management Services is a leading health and social care consultancy, partnering with providers of all sizes – from independent care facilities to large NHS Trusts. It offers expert guidance on various regulatory matters, from launching new services to navigating complex compliance issues for existing operators. Swift’s flexible consultancy services include short- and long-term support, helping providers maintain governance systems. It also provides interim management solutions to help providers maintain operations while filling key roles.
Social Care People is passionate about helping sector organisations recruit more effectively. Specialising in the social care sector, Social Care People offers free training on the crucial aspects of recruiting in a challenging market. Social Care People is committed to supporting the sector in overcoming its recruitment challenges and building strong, capable teams for the future.
Care Choices is a multi-media publisher, event organiser and podcast producer. Care Choices works alongside industry governing bodies, local authorities and care providers to publish impartial information for individuals and their families or carers – from paying for care to assistive technology and legal guidance. Its expanding portfolio includes publications, websites and events for senior executives in care and support, care seekers and their close relatives, families of children with additional needs and the practitioners who work with them. With 30 years’ publishing experience, the largest portfolio of care and support directories in the UK, and over two million page views annually, Care Choices is the perfect route for care providers to reach people actively seeking care and support.
CMM’s 2025 finalists
The Dame Esther Rantzen Campaigning for Change Award
- Intergenerational Music Making and Intergenerational England.
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the National Stalking Consortium.
Collaboration (Integration) Award
- Palliative Care Urgent Response Service – DHU Health Care CIC.
- Abi Sweet and Linda Hodgkinson – the Sanctuary Square project team and Alive Activities/Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI).
- New Vision Bradford and Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
Community Engagement Award
- Brighton & Hove Music for Connection.
- The Connect Hub and Café Connect.
- Deaf & Sensory Network.
Compassion Award
- Bernadatte Charehwa – Woodleigh Community Lifeline.
- Emma Kiss – Outlook Care.
- Rosemary Stephen – Making Space.
Creative Arts Award
- Intergenerational Music Making.
- The Wey Aye Lego Man Exhibition – Ngage NE.
- Belong Chester Intergenerational and Experience Day Teams.
Dementia Care Award
- Alzheimer Café Isle of Wight.
- Janet Griffiths – Making Space.
- Bromley Dementia Hub Team.
Development and Innovation Award
- Uk3 Lions CIC.
- Apax
- Guy Manchester – The Hoppiness Project and Alive Activities.
End of Life Care Award
- Palliative Care Urgent Response Service.
- Gaynor Millson – St Luke’s.
- St George’s Nursing Team – Outlook Care
Leadership Award
- Jill Davies – DHU Healthcare CIC.
- Neal Williams – Aspire Living.
- Sam Avery – Thera South West.
Making a Difference Award
- Edward Dean – Anxious Minds.
- Bernadatte Charehwa – Woodleigh Community Lifeline.
- Tracey Dennis-Andrews – Encompass Care.
Social Care Nursing Award
- Jan-Axle Enabore.
- Helen Cowan.
- Emma Brannan.
Technology Award
- Crossroads Care Surrey.
- Apax
- The Tech Lending Library – Alternative Futures Group.
Book your tickets
Join CMM as the winners are announced in a face-to-face lunchtime ceremony at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on Friday 14th March 2025. Book your tickets on the awards’ dedicated website. Please also talk to CMM about sponsorship, another fantastic way to be a part of the celebrations. Sponsorship opportunities allow you to showcase your organisation amongst some of the sector’s leading associations, alliances and thinkers.
You can take a look at last year’s winners and finalists to see what truly makes the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards such a special event. To stay up to date, don’t forget to follow the awards on X: @3rdsectorcare #3rdSectorCareAwards. For more information, visit the awards’ dedicated website.