Newbury care home team member shortlisted for national award

 

A care home in Newbury is celebrating one of its team members being shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Vicki Lambourne, Customer Relations Manager at Care UK’s Winchcombe Place, on Maple Crescent, has been nominated for the ‘Social Change Agent Award’ at this year’s Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards. 

The award recognises women that have positively influenced change, leading to a meaningful impact for the sector and people receiving care services. 

Vicki has been praised for thinking outside the box when it comes to community engagement at Winchcombe Place, having been responsible for several successful projects at the home.   

As part of Vicki’s new ‘Generations of Change’ programme, she has created a curriculum of bi-directional learning around sustainability and biodiversity. The programme links residents in Care UK homes and schoolchildren as they work through 25 lessons covering topics such as rivers, recycling, food waste and sustainable buildings.

This intergenerational learning allows the older generation to share their knowledge and experience to children to help make a greener future. The programme, piloted in West Berkshire, is now being expanded nationwide.

Vicki said: “Being nominated for this award is such an honour, I’m truly humbled. What I love most about my job is the opportunity to build meaningful connections and make a real difference in the lives of residents and the wider community. 

“The Generations of Change project grew from my passion for supporting our senior community and promoting sustainability. Seniors hold such a wealth of knowledge, particularly around caring for the planet – it’s incredible to see how children embrace and learn from their wisdom.”

Since joining Care UK in 2019, Vicki has also supported local businesses by offering practical information to employees whose lives are touched by dementia. 

With Vicki’s help, hundreds of employees have learned how to recognise the signs and symptoms of dementia in those around them – helping to make Newbury a more dementia friendly town. 

Claire Cullen, Home Manager at Winchcombe Place, said: “We are thrilled to see Vicki shortlisted for this prestigious award. 

“She is extremely passionate about building relationships both within the home and with the wider community. She is a force to be reckoned with, bringing a unique blend of expertise and skills in the care sector, inspiring others to raise the bar too – we are so lucky to have her and wish her luck from all of us at Winchcombe Place!”

The winner will be announced at a special ceremony in London on Thursday 28^th November. 

Winchcombe Place is designed to deliver the very best standards of care, and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The homes offer a range of services including residential, nursing, dementia and short-term respite care.