Getting involved in community events is a huge part of life at Godfrey Care.

MB, who lives at Dorset House in Chesterfield, certainly embraces every opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of local activities. She recently had a fantastic time at this year’s Barlow Carnival, a much-loved village tradition that brings the community together each year with its parade, entertainment, family activities, stalls, food and fairground rides.

This year’s carnival was bathed in sunshine as MB made the most of everything on offer. Taking a spin on the rides was a given, but she also had the unexpected pleasure of meeting some beautiful birds of prey, including a friendly barn owl which perched on her wrist. At one point, she even encountered a towering – but equally friendly – Transformer!

It was lovely to see MB getting involved and having such a memorable day out, enjoying everything from raptors to robots. She clearly had a hoot!

We’re delighted to announce that Godfrey Care has been named a finalist in the Excellence in Specialist Care category at this year’s prestigious LaingBuisson Awards.

It’s particularly special to be recognised in this category after being shortlisted for the same award in 2025, alongside Excellence in Supported Living, which we were incredibly proud to win.

The LaingBuisson Awards are now in their 21st year and celebrate excellence and innovation across the UK health and social care sector.

This recognition reflects the skill and dedication of our teams and their commitment to building futures together through highly personalised, specialist support for adults with complex needs. Our approach combines bespoke environments, multidisciplinary expertise and co-produced care to create opportunity, improve quality of life and increase independence.

Tracy Johnson, Managing Director of Godfrey Care, said:

“To be named a finalist in Excellence in Specialist Care for the second consecutive year is a fantastic achievement. We believe our teams represent the very best of social care and the genuinely life-changing impact it can have. We’re incredibly proud of the difference they make to the lives of the people we support.

“The LaingBuisson Awards recognise organisations that are raising standards across health and social care, so to be shortlisted again is a real honour. It’s wonderful to see the hard work of our teams recognised alongside some of the outstanding organisations across the sector.”

The winners will be announced at the LaingBuisson Awards ceremony on 19 November 2026 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

A huge thank you to everyone across Godfrey Care who continues to make this recognition possible.

Having access to enjoyable outdoor spaces is something many of the people we support value highly. The garden has become a particularly special place for MB, who lives at our Dorset House service in Chesterfield.

MB takes great pride in caring for her plants, spending time watering them and watching her garden grow. Through her care and creativity, she has transformed the space into a beautiful, peaceful environment where she can relax and enjoy being outdoors.

It’s also become a welcoming space for local wildlife. MB particularly enjoys watching the birds and squirrels that visit the garden and takes great pleasure in seeing nature thrive around her.

It’s wonderful to see MB making the most of the Dorset House gardens and having a space where she can spend time doing something she genuinely enjoys, at her own pace.

We all benefit from taking time to look after our wellbeing. At our Ashby House service in Burton-on-Trent, that’s something the team makes a priority every week.

Every Wednesday is Wellbeing Wednesday, giving both colleagues and the people we support dedicated time to slow down, check in with one another and focus on how we’re feeling.

Natalia Bloor, Service Manager at Ashby House, said:

“Wellbeing Wednesday is a tradition we’ve established at Ashby House. Every week, it gives everyone the opportunity to check in with one another, enjoy meaningful conversations and feel comfortable and empowered to talk openly about how they’re feeling. To make the day even more enjoyable, we provide free vouchers for drinks and snacks, and each week we introduce a fun activity to encourage laughter, lift spirits and bring everyone together. Last week it was a round of Would You Rather?, which received some interesting answers! Looking after our wellbeing is just as important as looking after each other, so I’ve been delighted to see how much it’s been embraced by the people we support and the team.”

Wellbeing can look different for everyone, but making time for it is important. We’re proud to see Natalia and the Ashby House team create space for everyone to feel heard, supported and able to take a moment for themselves.

At Godfrey Care, we believe in providing opportunities for people to explore their interests, develop new skills and find creative ways to express themselves.

The team at Pottery House in Stoke-on-Trent has been putting that approach into practice, supporting IDR to pursue his interest in art and develop his technique through dedicated tuition sessions. After showing an interest in art, IDR began tuition sessions organised by the Pottery House team, and he has been excelling ever since. He has shown fantastic focus, enthusiasm and determination during his sessions, producing some amazing artwork that is now proudly displayed around the service.

It has been wonderful to celebrate IDR’s achievements and see his confidence continue to grow. His hard work and positive attitude have really stood out, and his artwork is a brilliant reflection of the progress he is making.