Cedar Foundation Focuses on Inspiration and Impact at Employee Awards We recently held our biennial Showcasing Talent, Achieving Results (STAR) Awards for staff and volunteers at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. The event has focused on Showcasing Talent, Achieving Results (STAR) Awards since 2018. Cedar staff, volunteers, and service users from sites across and services across the region meet to celebrate those involved in our organisation who consistently go ‘above and beyond’ in order to achieve Cedar’s Vision of ‘An inclusive society for all’. The awards were opened by Pamela Ballantine who noted that the nominations were truly exceptional, reflecting the high standards and commitment to excellence that define Cedar. The agenda was diverse and full. Myrna Evans, Executive Committee Chairperson, described there was a 35% increase in nominations from the previous ceremony. Myrna commented: “This in its own right demonstrates the value that staff see in recognising and rewarding the achievements of those who go above and beyond in their roles.” She added: “The quality of nominations we received truly highlights the exceptional standards upheld at Cedar. Each submission reflected a deep commitment to excellence, showcasing remarkable talent, creativity, and dedication. The nominations were a testament to the high standards that define Cedar, where excellence is not just encouraged, but consistently achieved.” Elaine Armstrong, CEO, spoke about the impact of the work being delivered to support disabled people on a daily basis by referring to the most recent Impact Report. Elaine said: “The figures continued in the Impact Report are not simply numbers. They translate into the time staff spend with people delivering expertise in order to support improvement in their lives. It is a demonstration of Opportunity, Choice and Inclusion in real terms and encapsulates how their dedicated work and unwavering commitment to our vision of creating an inclusive society for all is highly impactful.” Taking the opportunity to speak on the Inspirational aspect of the awards, Ciara Allen, Communications Officer, delivered a personal testament to the importance of Cedar services and the people that provide them. Describing her experiences of acquiring a sudden brain injury in the past she explained that the expert knowledge and support provided by Cedar elevated her confidence in navigating the significant barriers she faced in her bid to access employment. Ciara said: “As a communications professional, I am privileged to receive positive feedback and many success stories regarding Cedar staff. Not only do they touch the lives of people they work with but also whole families and the wider community. They consistently shine in inspiring others to rethink any stereotypical attitudes that may have inherited towards disabled people by always being open and engaging. When it comes to Cedar staff their purpose is truly profound.” After the speeches the presentation ceremony began. Winners included: Excellence in Bright Ideas Award: The "Excellence in Bright Ideas" award recognises those who brought innovative solutions and creative thinking to their work, making a noticeable difference in the lives of the people they support. Winner: Ardkeen and Hillmount Team Leaders Excellence in Valuing People Award: This award celebrates those championing respect, dignity, and inclusion for all, fostering a culture of true belonging. Winner: Keri Hughes, Karuna Winner: Sinead Drummond, SkillSET Southern Excellence in Collaboration Award: Teamwork and collaboration were celebrated with the "Excellence in Collaboration" award, highlighting the power of partnership in achieving goals. Winner: The Mews Team (Eoin Devenney and Team) Excellence in Volunteering & Community Service Award: Winner: Ballymena User Forum – Disability Awareness Training (Mark McShane, Girvan Hickinson and Pawel Skurzewski) Stefan Hughes, User Forum regional Chair, presented the “Excellence in Volunteering & Community Service Award and offered a "heartfelt thank you to the dedicated volunteers, who were recognised". Innovation in Co-production: This award showcased the incredible work being done to empower service users to shape services actively, demonstrating commitment to genuine partnership and collaboration. Winner: Nicola Rawson, Croft Day Services Innovation in Digitalisation: This award recognised the transformative power of technology, with iPlanit and Cascade revolutionising how Cedar works and deliver services. Innovation in Digitalisation Individual Award – iplanit Winner: Alana O’Neill Innovation in Digitalisation Team Award - iplanit Winner: iplanit Champions (Alex Divers, Breeda Doherty, Tara Reddin and Kerry Nicholson) Innovation in Digitalisation Individual Award - Cascade Winner: David Sheppard, Living Opptions Innovation in Digitalisation Team Award - Cascade Winner: HR, Payroll and Chris Turkington Innovation in Health and Wellbeing Winner: Health and Wellbeing Team Long Service Awards: This award honours those who have dedicated years of service to Cedar; their loyalty and commitment are a testament to the strength of our organisation. We were grateful to the amazing Pamela Ballentine, who presented each award. Following the awards ceremony, Stephanie McCutcheon from Investors in People made a special presentation to officially Cedar has retained its IiP Platinum status. The coveted Platinum accreditation recognised Cedar’s positive workplace culture, based on the standard set by Investors in People. Stephanie said: “This award recognises that Cedar has a culture built on trust, transparency and teamwork. Staff have conveyed a sense of pride in working for the organisation, highlighting how the organisation values innovative development and embraces staff development. Staff also exhibited confident resilience when discussing how the organisation faces challenges. This is an outstanding outcome and a testament to all the staff across the organisation.” Stefan Hughes, UF Chairperson closed the event with the words: “The User Forum have always been represented on the panels judging the STAR Awards, and it has been a pleasure to do this. We feel the Awards are especially important in recognising the hard work of the staff, volunteers, and User Forum members. It is obvious from the comments of the judges that not just the winners but all those shortlisted make a fantastic contribution to the organisation, to our services but more importantly to those who use Cedar.”