In October NAPA celebrated the dedication, innovation and compassion of their members with the NAPA Member Awards, the afternoon was a glitzy afternoon held at The Museum of Brands, where the finalists gathered with friends and colleagues to find out the winners of various awards. The afternoon started with the Grow Old Disgracefully Award going to 100-year-old Joy who was surprised just before her birthday with a ride on the back of a Harley Davidson! Winners were also announced for the Activity Personality, Activity Team, Inclusion, Leadership, Year of Connected Communities, Arts in Care Homes and Lifetime Achievement. The afternoon was punctuated with a lively auction raising funds for NAPA’s positive ageing campaign: Living the Dream. The most prestigious award of the afternoon was left until last, the Margaret Butterworth Activity Provider of the Year 2023.

This accolade was awarded to a deserving Engagement Lead at St. Matthews Care Home of B&M Care Homes, Kate Buckle. Kate describes her role as being the person who is responsible for the welfare and happiness of your residents.

What makes an Activity Provider stand out from the other nomination? Here are some of the examples offered in her nomination:

When she overheard a resident Trudie asking her family to take her swimming, she took matters into her own hands. Kate took Trudie to Westminster Lodge for some swimming, and she absolutely loved it. “Trudie is 98 years old so seeing her thriving and living her life to the full is truly a pleasure” said the family member. Kate knows that activities and engagement don’t just happen between the hours 10am and 4pm so she is always on the lookout for things for residents to experience outside the normal times. Kate took Margaret, a resident, who was having a hard time adjusting from living independently to living in a care home. Kate believes that people should not just stop living or trying new things just because they have moved into a care home, so she decided to take Margaret to on a special movie date at Luton Hoo to watch the film Clueless. Kate even took Margaret as her ‘plus one’ when she was nominated for the Hertfordshire Care Awards recently.

Kate is such a great role model for engagement leads that she has been asked by head office to take on the role of Shadowing Host to offer shadowing sessions in her care home for newly inducted activity staff from other homes. Kate has gone the extra mile in her role as Shadowing Host that she has organised several events and canal boat outings with other care homes, so residents and staff can socialise with each other.

Kate is always singing, she often dressed up as Jack Sparrow, or a chicken – whatever the occasion requires! Kate is passionate about her role of Activity Provider and that filters through in the creative person-centred care, support and dedication she gives to residents in her care home. Congratulations Kate, a well-deserved winner.

Beth Lang

Communications Officer/Clerk to the Board

National Activity Providers Association (NAPA)