Connect Becomes Multi-Award-Winning Community
Just when we thought we couldn’t be any prouder of TACT Connect, our care-experienced ‘community for life’ has followed their first award-win earlier this month by picking up ANOTHER trophy!
This time, they’ve got the proud title of being the winners of the Leaving Care Award from Children & Young People Now.
Connect members Sam, Jac and Otis looked super glam as they attended the event with our Connect Lead, Nicola, at the awards ceremony in London on Thursday 28th November.
Connect members Sam, Jac & Otis, along with Connect Lead, Nicola – at the Children & Young People Now Awards.
And what a night it was, networking with other inspiring charities, enjoying a delicious three-course meal, and celebrating alongside a room full of supporters!
All four of them went up onto the stage, with Sam collecting the trophy and Jac proudly accepting the plaque. All the 200+ Connect members were held in their hearts and minds as they celebrated at the event – in the beautiful words of Otis: “co-creation made us all feel like we won, members and staff alike”.
This award (and the Technology-Enabled Lives and Innovation in Practice Award that Connect received at the Social Worker of the Year Awards earlier this month) belongs to each and every Connect member that has co-created this amazing community for life – and we are so proud of them all.
Here’s what Sam, Jac, Otis and Nicola had to say about what it felt like to attend the event, to represent Connect, and pick up their second trophy of the month…
“It was exciting and everyone was so willing to applaud everyone. Learning what everyone had done over the year was a privilege. I was in shock that we won – I was like, ‘are they sure?’ I couldn’t hear much because of the applause and the fact that I was like ‘ok, don’t trip going up the stage’.
“But I do remember them saying about the community that we have built together and it being built by the members to shape it to what we want – offering us a safe space to grow and develop for however long we want to. And that it was for people still in care but mostly the importance of recognising the impact when we also leave care, and that as adults it’s important to still have people who understand us.
“I was immensely proud to be representing Connect to collect the award and that the community we have built has now got that recognition is incredible.”
Sam, Connect Member And Previous Connect Intern
“When I arrived at the awards ceremony, I felt that this year’s event was going to be a very high-end networking and recognition event. Some big sponsors were involved to make everything happen and the hotel was impressive.
“My favourite part of the night was to be with Sam, Jac and Nicola. We all looked really good in our outfits and looked elegant, and also seeing everyone so happy to be considered and win each award. It felt like all of us won that night: co-creation made us all feel like we won, members and staff alike.”
Otis, Connect Member And Previous Connect Advisor
“We met some interesting people representing a huge amount of different organisations, and it was a pleasure to chat with them and learn about what they do, and to chat with them about Connect and let them know about this amazing community we have co-created.
“We ended the night on a high, after winning the Leaving Care award. Shock, excitement, thrill, proud – these are the words I would use to describe my feelings. I jumped out of my seat, let out a little whoop, and headed straight for the stage. It was an amazing sense of accomplishment, to be recognised for what we have co-created.
“The event as a whole was an amazing thing to be part of and to experience. With the awards and the entertainment, it was a fabulous evening. I also enjoyed spending time and sharing this experience with other Connect members and, of course, our Connect Lead, Nicola.
“Holding the trophy brings a sense of achievement to life and makes it feel real. It feels truly amazing that we have created this community for life.”
Jac, Connect Member And Co-creator
“Seeing Sam, Otis and Jac’s reactions when we won was my favourite part of attending the event! They were so different and all showed so much joy! We also shared a moment before the awards talking about the journey of Connect – which was wonderful too. It really brought home how far we have come in the last six years!
“We all went on stage together and hugged and thanked one of the judges, who told us that he’d researched Connect and thought it was ACE! He said that there is nothing else like Connect – and that this Community for Life is unique, supportive and fun. WOW – just wow! Connect is multi-award-winning!”
Nicola, Connect Lead
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