PaCC Awards 2022 – a way to celebrate people and organisations who have supported SEND families in 2022
Every year, PaCC gather Brighton & Hove SEND communities to thank, celebrate and recognise some of the people and organisations who went that extra mile to be there for you, as a parent carer, and for your family.
At PaCC we are fully aware of the many challenges our families and their children experience every day; we also know that there are many restraints around provision of SEND services. These PaCC Awards take on an additional meaning – a way to say THANK YOU to individuals and organisations in the education, social and health care voluntary sector who have been there for you during 2022.
We received lots of fantastic nominations, thank you to all of you who sent one! A panel formed by four PaCC Reps and a PaCC member, had the difficult task of shortlisting all the nominations we received – click here to find out how PaCC chose the award winners.
We are now very excited to present the PaCC Awards at a public event which will be on Friday 16 June from 11am to 1pm in the Auditorium at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road BN1 1YD. Join us to cheer the winners, find out more about PaCC Partner groups and eat some lunch! More information to come soon…
A PaCC Awards 2022 certificate and an accompanying letter was sent to those individuals and organisation who were nominated but didn’t receive an actual award.
Read the list below of the 2022 PaCC Awards winners and why they were nominated:
| Nominee: | Parents who nominated them said: |
| 1) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Education Sector 2022 Presented to Sam Kaiser, SENCO a Downs Junior School, Brighton: | Sam has a really lovely approach and is the epitome of what a true SENCO partner and collaborator should be, along this journey of caring for a child or young person with additional needs. She supports, provides safe space, is constantly seeking to improve the provision in school, looking for new and creative ways to expand the help available for our young people and families. Sam has at all times walked beside us on this journey and never once questioned or doubted that needs had to be met. She’s never made us feel like we had to convince her of an issue that needed input and has always campaigned to ensure knowledge and communication is shared with the right professionals. |
| 2) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Education Sector 2022 Presented to Amanda James, Maths teacher KS4 at PRU, Brighton | Amanda has supported my child and gone over and above, building their confidence by showing understanding, taking the time to understand them. Encouraging them in a nurturing way. |
| 3) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Education Sector 2022 Presented to Sandy Farrow, TA/Inclusion Team at St Martins Nursery and Primary School, Brighton:
| Mrs Farrow has made a huge difference to my daughter and with support to our family. Knowing our daughter has that kind of support at her school makes the world of difference to our family and my daughter’s wellbeing. Recognising the emotional needs of young siblings isn’t recognised as much as it should be but her school and Mrs Farrow have gone the extra mile with support” “Sandy works hard and she is kind caring and compassionate. She promotes positive behaviour, social development, and high self-esteem. She has always been warming and taken care of them when they have needed any extra support. |
| 4) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Education Sector 2022 Presented to Nicola Raven, Head of Mathematics at Varndean School, Brighton | Nicola has set up a gardening group to support my son’s inclusion and relationships entering year 7 following some challenging events and interrelationship upsets with fellow peers. This went from my son feeling isolated from his group of friends, to being included in birthday celebrations by those who were isolating him. Nicola always goes the extra mile for my son, engaging him, listening, giving up her time to understand his issues, looking to talk with fellow teachers where my son is struggling, and generally making her role his 1:1 support worker even though this is far beyond the boundaries of her position, and considering she has the role of Head of Mathematics at the school. |
| 5) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Health Care Sector 2022 Presented to Lalli Howell, Autism Advisor Child Development Team at Seaside View, Brighton | Lalli did the autism assessment for my daughter. Lalli took such care and did such a comprehensive assessment. Her deep understanding of autism allowed her to use the assessment as an opportunity to share knowledge with me and my daughter’s grandfather as well as simply gathering information. She was exceptionally kind, and the process helped to ease the potential difficulty of diagnosis. |
| 6) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Health Care Sector 2022 Presented to Dominic Feeley, Wheelchair Services Engineer, Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, Brighton | Dominic is amazing and has been working with my daughter since she was 4 years old. He recently went above and beyond to get her electric chair fixed and back on the road again. He gets my daughter and her needs and nothing is too much trouble for him. |
| 7) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Social Care Sector 2022 Presented to Sean Redgrave, PA/Carer, Hove
| Sean has cared for my son for several years. He always goes out of his way to help myself and my son and they have the best time when they are out together, due to my mobility needs Sean is such a help with physical tasks regarding my son. He’s flexible, laid-back, professional, and fun. We would be lost without him!” “Sean is so much fun and my daughter loves spending time with him watching movies, playing computer games. He is like a big brother to her. |
| 8) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Social Care Sector 2022 Presented to Luke Grant, Social Worker Specialist Community Disability Services, Wellington House, Brighton | Luke has supported a sibling within his Social Care remit. The sibling is not in education and as a teen in adolescence has multiple SEND diagnosis/additional needs too alongside his brother with a more specialist disability diagnosis. Luke has been there to listen and support the whole family with authentic and dedicated approach. He shares the same racial identity and brings a shared understanding and perspective as well as professional excellence. Luke has made a huge difference to best outcomes for my family and most importantly made life a little easier in testing times. |
| 9) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Voluntary Sector 2022 Presented to Darren Walker, Co-ordinator of Dads’ Group, Hove | Darren has been organising the Dad’s Group for several years. The group provides a unique meeting place and online space for dads of SEND children. The range of dads and their children’s disabilities are wide, but the group provides us with a place where we know others will understand what we’re going through. We all know blokes are often not good at sharing feelings, so this unique group has been essential. I personally have benefited from being able to unload at the group, and have made new friends through it, something that middle aged men I think also have trouble with. Darren has a strong empathy for and interest in mental health issues. |
| 10) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Parent Carers Customer Service Sector 2022 Presented to Gemma and Katy, Home To School Transport Team, Brighton | Gemma and Katy have gone above and beyond to make my daughter’s route and journey accessible, meet her needs, and she even did a dance when she saw her transport vehicle and met her team last Autumn. I’ve never seen her so happy and ready to begin her college/school year before. Whatever the issues – and there are many – Gemma and Katy resourcefully listen, know what to do, and react with great integrity and enduring calmness that leaves me feeling empowered and my daughter’s needs understood and met at all times. |
| 11) PaCC Award for Excellence in the Parent Carers Community Engagement Sector 2022 Presented to Paolo Boldrini, Parent Carer Participation Worker, PaCC, Brighton | Whenever I’ve needed help either for myself or my son, Paolo will do his best to help. He’ll call, message or speak face to face and will promptly look for solutions or relevant information and support I need. He’s made me feel so welcome to be part of the Sunflower Group. Paolo is a lifesaver, always cheerful and smiley. Always attentive to our needs, always being proactive and organising information events for us. |
| 12) PaCC Special Award for Outstanding Achievement to SEND families in Brighton & Hove 2022 Presented to Diana Boyd, formerly PaCC Chair, Brighton | Diana Boyd has been chosen to receive this award by the PaCC steering group in recognition of her years of commitment to PaCC and most importantly to parent carers. When describing Diana and the huge contribution and difference she has made for so many, there are so many words to use – dedicated, expert, strategic, skilled, calm, patient, supportive, diplomatic, professional, challenger… For those of us on the PaCC Steering Group, the list of words is longer still – mentor, role model, leader, rock, supporter, friend. We would like to thank Diana for the positive difference she has made for for so many families in the city and for being such an important part of PaCC. |
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