As well as winning two awards Courtney was runner-up in the Unsung Hero category. She said it had been an incredibly challenging year. “We were contacted by more and more families who were struggling with food, laptops, plus a big increase in people who were shielding and isolated. Not only was the immediate issue physical items, but an increase in the decline on mental health - particularly in the older age group. Part of giving the weekly food boxes was an opportunity to check in on those people. Even a five-minute chat made such a difference.” Courtney, who lives in Didcot with partner Pedro, a neo-natal intensive care nurse, said: “I won’t lie, the past 12 months have been busy and very emotional at times. I am driven always by the spirit of my great-grandmother Elsie who the charity was founded in memory of, and her motto of ‘the gift of giving’.”
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Home manager at Larkrise Care Centre in Banbury She said: “I never in a million years expected to be nominated, let alone be a finalist. I am passionate about health and social care and proud of the warm, safe and comforting home that Larkrise offers to our residents. From the bottom of my heart thank you for the nomination and thank you to my team for all of their hard work.” She was nominated by her colleague Fiona Mayfield, who said: “Lyndsay is an out and out leader. She guided us through the hardest year of our lives and we have reached the other side as strong as ever.
Vlad Leca He said: “I would like to thank everyone that made this possible and I am most grateful for the appreciation. I hope the right person wins.” He was nominated by his life manager Zafar Iqbal, who said: “He should win the award for Unsung Hero as he quietly goes about his work unnoticed, but always provides an excellent and efficient service. He is always willing to look into jobs even when they don’t fall into his technical area, getting support and guidance from other contractors to swiftly resolve issues and keep Oxford’s health facilities safe and open. The work that he does is essential and he deserves to be celebrated. Vlad doesn’t really see how he has helped with the Covid effort and he thinks keeping the NHS running and open was all down to the clinical frontline teams; but if buildings are unsafe to use, then patients can’t receive care. He has been a real unsung hero in the pandemic fight. He has a very positive frame of mind and no ask is t