The Wall of Fame is a staff recognition scheme which throughout the year selects staff for awards where they have achieved outstanding work by: contributing the most creative idea to improve services; being the most supportive colleague and providing the most outstanding support for an individual.

These awards are linked to Kingdom’s ‘CARES’ values  which focus on the Customer, Accountability, Respect, Efficiency and being Supportive.

The annual awards ceremony was held at Garvock House in Dunfermline and the group celebrated together on a lovely sunny day in a beautiful setting.

Norah Smith, director of KSC, introduced the event and welcomed the guests, paying tribute to the achievements of all award nominees over the year.

Bill Banks, Kingdom Group CEO, presented the awards and gave a summary of the work of each winner. He also praised the staff recognition scheme itself, along with the work of ‘The Voice’, the staff consultative group who devised and implemented the scheme.

The winners throughout the year were: Margo McBennett, Darren Pearson, Emma Paterson, Margaret O’Brien, Lisa Beveridge, Jayne MacDonald, Alison Adamson, Trisha Craigie, Krsitina Ansell and Lynn Russell.

The overall winner of the year was announced, with the award going to Darren Pearson from the Balfarg Service.

Darren was selected from all the winners for this special award for his outstanding support to an individual. He showed determination, commitment and initiative in his work which ultimately led to a better life for the individual client.

Presenting the award to Darren, Bill said: “Darren has shown exceptional commitment to his everyday work. An example of this can be demonstrated through the steps he took to challenge a benefits system decision, which resulted in a supported individual having her benefits reinstated.

“To achieve this Darren worked extremely hard to assist the person to attend various appointments, to link her into services which could help and to speak on her behalf in a formal setting. This not only resolved a very worrying issue, but through ensuring that having proper benefits entitlement in place, she can once again manage her finances and live the life she wishes. Darren should be very proud of his achievements.”

Darren was surprised and delighted to be the overall winner of the year.

He said: “I am very grateful to have been invited to the Wall of fame employees’ recognition awards. Although nominated, I had no expectation of winning the overall award but regardless of the outcome I would still have enjoyed the event because it gave me the opportunity to meet other great staff members whose contribution to Kingdom was no less than my own. I think my strongest impression was that although the event was held in the grand surroundings of the Garvock House Hotel, I found the atmosphere very warm and friendly. I think it is great that Kingdom Support & Care values its staff and can bring them together like this.”

Once the speeches and presentations were concluded, all those attending, including nominees, winners, managers and The Voice members, enjoyed afternoon tea and the chance to chat and reflect on the positive and successful work that KSC and its staff do which ultimately improves the lives of the people supported.

Staff attending the event said that it had made them feel valued.

Summing up on a successful day, Norah added: “All who came had a lovely afternoon and it was great to spend time with staff who do such good work day in and day out. The awards let staff know that we value all the work they do and are a small token of our thanks.

“We hope that we will continue to build on the success of the staff recognition scheme in the coming year and look forward to the award ceremony next year.”