1st September 2023
Each year we host a Challengers Summer Party at our Guildford Centre in Stoke Park to celebrate and recognise our amazing staff members and their accomplishments over the year. Our 2023 celebrations were held on Friday 1st September, where staff gathered for pizza (kindly provided for free courtesy of Franco Manca in Guildford), fun and games, before finding out the winners of our Staff Awards.
Staff Award Winners 2023
We had a fantastic 84 nominations across five categories, with 17 staff members receiving recognition for both their achievements and the demonstration of the Challengers Approach – the set of five values which define our organisation. The winners of each award were:
Truly Inclusive Award winner – Harry Gill
“If you could put inclusion, fun and advocacy in one person you would have Harry. He’s forever fighting for rights of others and supporting those who need it.”
Serious about Play Award winner – Ellie Wallis
“Ellie is always keen to engage in play experiences with children whether it’s on a 1:1 basis or with a group of children. Ellie follows the child’s lead in the responding sensitively and positively to their thoughts, ideas and directions. She will discreetly add in learning opportunities and ways to reinforce children’s knowledge where ever possible.”
Person Centered Award winner – Jo Tappin
“Jo respects each member of the team and is able to promote, encourage and get the best from each person. Jo treats all parents/carers and children as individuals and an approaches them with total respect for how their individual life experiences, levels of knowledge and understanding.”
Trustworthy Award winner – Jade Monks
“Jade runs a high pressured scheme supporting disabled children and young people in crisis who have been excluded from education. She does this with a calm, efficient, fun and confident demeanour. Over this year her passion has seen her present to funders, and work with authorities. Jade can speak in detail about every singly young person on her scheme – seeing her in action is very motivating.“
Ambitious Together Award winner – Alex Devoy
“From starting at Challengers through the government Kickstart scheme to now being new in her fundraising role, Alex continues to grow so much. This year we have seen her bringing in funds, stewarding our supporters, smashing her targets, being an expert on our CRM and a whizz at design. She working cross team so effectively there is now even an office phrase named after her – because this office doesn’t need to “ask Alexa” we can just ”ask Alex”!”
As Chair of the Board, Russell also made an Extraordinary Award won by Cress Robinson, who was nominated across the categories for being an exemplary role model of the Challengers Approach as a whole.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate and congratulations again to our six wonderful winners!