What an unforgettable night of celebration, connection, and community spirit! Our Celebration Evening 2025 brought together people we support, their families, support workers, professionals, and friends of BuryILD for a night bursting with pride and positivity.
The evening was introduced and compared by our CEO, Maria Piper-Cotterill, and Registered Manager Charlene Howarth, with Managers Maria Van Der Kamp & Jenny Lomax delivering their individual service awards. Their humour, warmth and energy set the tone for a truly special event. Every single award was based on internal and external nominations, making the recognition even more meaningful — because it came straight from the hearts of those who see the impact of our work every day.
With 29 awards in total, everyone was a winner — and the cheers, laughter, and happy tears said it all! This year, the focus was all about the people — their achievements, courage, friendships, and the powerful sense of belonging that makes BuryILD so unique.
Two standout moments were the presentation of our special awards:
🏆 The Championship Award – Going to Debbie Raistrick above, who has been employed at BuryILD for several decades and who is retiring next year. Her dedication to the people at BuryILD over the years has been outstanding and she will be missed by us all!
🙌 The Community Contributor Award – recognising those who face challenges head-on with strength, determination, and a smile that never fades and still put 100% into supporting their community and friends.
Our trustees were also out in force this year — and they didn’t just sit on the side lines! They fully joined in the fun, helping present awards, cheering loudly, and even getting up to celebrate on stage. Their enthusiasm showed just how much the BuryILD family means to them and how proud they are of the community we’ve all built together.
The Managers’ Awards brought both smiles and tough choices — because when every member of staff goes above and beyond, deciding winners isn’t easy! Each award reflected the incredible dedication, compassion, and teamwork that make our services truly outstanding.
As the night came to a close, one question was on everyone’s lips: “How can we possibly top this in 2026?”
With a community as vibrant, caring, and full of life as ours — we have no doubt we’ll find a way!
Thank you to everyone who made this magical night possible.
#BuryILD #CelebrationEvening2025 #EveryoneAWinner #LivingLifeToTheMax #CourageAndResilience #InclusionMatters #CommunitySpirit #TogetherWeShine