Congratulations to our REACH Award winners 2025!
On Thursday 25 September, 180 members of staff gathered at the Holiday Inn Norwich North to celebrate excellence across NCH&C.
The evening began with live music from Bill Down during the drinks reception, giving colleagues a chance to catch up and connect. Guests were then welcomed into the main room, where long service awards were presented before everyone sat down to enjoy a meal together.
The main awards followed, with Executive Directors and event sponsors taking to the stage to announce the shortlisted nominees, share their inspiring achievements, and present each winner with their award.
It was fantastic to see colleagues and teams celebrating one another and the incredible work they do every day.
CEO Matthew Winn shared his reflections on the night:
"It was a privilege to celebrate the outstanding contributions of our colleagues. Their commitment to care, innovation, and teamwork is what makes our Trust so special. Every nominee and winner is a shining example of the values we hold dear.
Congratulations to all our winners and nominees, and thank you to every member of staff who makes a difference every single day."
Well done to all our finalists and a big congratulations to all our amazing winners.
Here's our 2025 REACH Award winners:
The Living our Values Award
The first award of the night went to our Community Nurse: Ashleigh Graham and Zoe Waterson-Howcroft, for the Living our Values Award. They showed exceptional compassion, creativity, and leadership in supporting a highly vulnerable young patient with complex mental health needs.
The Respect Award
Paul Findlay, Healthcare Assistant, won the Respect Award.
Paul consistently goes above and beyond to support his colleagues, often volunteering to attend joint visits to help lighten their workload.
The Staff Experience Award
Congratulations to Poppy Elsegood, Continence Team Lead, for winning the Staff Experience Award. Colleagues within the continence team nominated Poppy for significantly improving team morale and being a caring and approachable leader who listens, takes concerns seriously and makes everyone feel valued.
A huge thank you to Birketts for sponsoring this award.
The Patient Experience Award
Winning the Patient Experience Award this year was Community Nurse, Katie Yule.
Katie learnt basic sign language in her own time to communicate more effectively with patients who are deaf or have additional needs. Feedback from patients has been extremely positive and Katie is now sharing her skill with her colleagues to help improve the patient care.
The Improvement Award
Congratulations to Suzanna Grimes, Lead Podiatrist for winning the Improvement Award.
Suzanna has exemplified strong leadership by guiding the podiatry team through a summer of development. Through innovative approaches and compassionate delivery, she empowered individuals to reflect on behaviours, challenge norms, and embrace change.
A huge thank you to G4Sfor sponsoring this award.
The Quality Award
Mark Dobson was our Quality award winner. Demonstrating exceptional ownership and pride, Mark consistently exceeds expectations, both in daily duties and through self-initiated improvements that benefit staff, patients, and visitors.
The Integrity Award
Huge congratulations to Kunal Ruchaya, Head of Corporate Finance, on winning the Integrity Award.
Kunal has shown exceptional integrity and commitment while handling a highly challenging and confidential work matter over many months. Throughout it all, he led with compassion, regularly checking in on his team, supporting colleagues, and taking on extra responsibilities to ensure nothing was missed.
Despite immense pressure, Kunal continued to deliver with professionalism, resilience, and care. This award is a true reflection of his dedication and the positive impact he has on those around him.
The Learner of the Year Award
Congratulations to our Learner of the Year Award joint winners, Alice Belshaw and Alison Jordon.
Alice, HCA Apprentice on Beech Ward, has shown remarkable adaptability, positivity, and professionalism, quickly becoming a valued member of her team. Her commitment to learning and compassionate care shines through in everything she does.
Alison, Nursing Degree Apprentice at North Place, has demonstrated outstanding dedication to patient care while also championing learner voices as a Regional Student Quality Ambassador. Her leadership and compassion make her a true role model.
The Volunteer of the Year Award
The winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Grant Long.
Grant received an overwhelming number of nominations from services and colleagues across the Trust. Grant has been a dedicated volunteer at Norwich Place for six years. His empathy, creativity, and unwavering dedication make him an irreplaceable asset to both research and patient communities.
The Patient Choice Award
Winning the Patient Choice Award is NN4 Community and Therapy and Urgent Community Response (North) teams.
They were nominated for the outstanding, compassionate end-of-life care they provided, ensuring dignity, comfort, and support for both patient and family.
A huge thank you to NCH&C Charitable Fund for sponsoring this award.
The Team of the Year
Congratulations to the Starfish+ team on winning Team of the Year.
Each year, they reduce admissions, improve school attendance, and strengthen family relationships through proactive, child-centred interventions, influencing national best practice and setting a benchmark for integrated, person-first care.
A huge thank you to Merit for sponsoring this award.
The Employee of the Year
Suzanna Grimes was our Employee of the Year!
Chosen by our CEO, Matthew Winn, this award recognises Suzanna's exceptional contribution and the way she consistently embodies our values and behaviours. Suzanna's impact has been felt across the organisation, inspiring others and driving meaningful change. This award reflects our deep appreciation for Suzanna's outstanding contributions and the difference she has made every day.
The Special Recognition Chair's Award
The final award of the evening was the Special Recognition Chair's Award, presented to Graham Nice.
Personally selected by our Chair, Lynda Thomas, this award celebrates exceptional dedication, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the values of the NHS. Graham was honoured for his remarkable service spanning nearly 50 years -an extraordinary career that has left a lasting legacy on patients, colleagues, and the wider community. He embodies the very best of what it means to serve in healthcare, and this award is a heartfelt thank you for the difference he has made, every single day.
Congratulations again to all our finalists and winners. What an incredible night, filled with amazing people from NCH&C.
A huge thank you to everyone that bought a raffle ticket and helped raise £886 for NCH&C Charitable Funds. Congratulations to all of you that won a raffle prize.