Mersey Cares nominated at Trust's annual Star Awards
16 December 2024
The charity's lead, Joanne Watson was nominated by the Trust's Wellbeing Team for support across a number of initiatives
Celebrating Excellence at the Mersey Care Star Awards 2024
Every year, the Mersey Care Star Awards provide a platform to recognise the hard work, dedication, and outstanding contributions of staff across Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. The 2024 awards ceremony, held at the iconic Titanic Hotel in Liverpool Docks, was a night to remember with staff members honoured across 14 categories including the Shining Star Award, Employee of the Year, Team of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Mersey Care Star Awards are not just about celebrating individual achievements but also about highlighting the collective strength and commitment of teams across the Trust. From clinical staff to those working behind the scenes, every nominee exemplified the Trust's core values and exemplified excellence in their dedicated field.
Mersey Cares Shortlisted: Valued Partner Award
Those shortlisted for each award were selected from more than 800 people who were initially nominated for their exceptional efforts in supporting the community, delivering high-quality care, and driving innovation across the Trust.
This year, we were thrilled to see Joanne Watson, our charity's lead, nominated for the prestigious Valued Partner Award. Her steadfast dedication to supporting the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team in the development and delivery of numerous wellbeing initiatives for NHS staff throughout 2024 was recognised by Joanne earning a place on the shortlist, standing out among more than 20 nominees and teams in this category.
Wellbeing Projects Funded by NHS Charities Together
The charity's support of the wellbeing team throughout 2024 has been made possible thanks to funding from NHS Charities Together. The funding has brought to life projects to impact the wellbeing of staff across the Trust - and have received some incredible feedback. They include:
Wellbeing on Wheels: A mobile service bringing mental health support and wellbeing activities directly to staff at various locations across the region.
Wellbeing Through Wildlife: A programme delivered alongside Knowsley Safari Park to provide staff with opportunities to reconnect with nature, improve mental health, and enhance overall wellbeing through nature-based activities.
Pause for Thought: A menopause campaign that focused on raising awareness and providing support for staff experiencing menopause-related challenges, which was also nominated for a national award at the Menopause Friendly Work Awards for its outstanding engagement efforts.
A Night of Celebration and Gratitude
The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool provided a stunning backdrop for the evening, where colleagues, friends, and families came together to celebrate the amazing work being done across the Trust. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and admiration as winners were announced, and guests also enjoyed a three-course dinner and dancing into the night.
Workplace Wellbeing Manager, Bernadette McGrath, explains why she nominated Joanne:
"The Health and Wellbeing Team have had the pleasure of collaborating with Mersey Cares, Joanne and her team to develop and deliver a variety of innovative initiatives to support our staff community’s health and wellbeing. Joanne and team recognise the importance of our workforce’s wellbeing and the crucial role this plays in providing excellent care to the communities we serve. We appreciate and value Mersey Cares as a pivotal partner in our work and look forward to future projects and the positive impacts and added value they will create for the Trust."
Our Charity Star Awards Raffle
The wider charity team were also in attendance at the event, and we were delighted to host a raffle that raised an incredible £1,300 for Mersey Cares to support projects into 2025. The raffle featured some amazing prizes, including electronic equipment, luxurious hampers, and overnight stays at some of Liverpool’s most popular hotels. Among the sought-after prizes were stays at the Novotel Paddington and, of course, the Titanic Hotel itself – the event's host venue.
A huge thank you to everyone who bought tickets and donated prizes. Your generosity helps fund initiatives beyond the scope of the NHS across the Mersey Care footprint for NHS staff, volunteers, and patients across the region.
We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year’s Mersey Care Star Awards – what a fabulous team effort!
