The Forward Trust Staff Awards 2026: Celebrating excellence across our teams

Around 50 staff gathered at The Old Library, Birmingham, where 10 awards for a range of achievements were presented to an incredibly worthy selection of winners. It was an amazing day full of celebration for those who go above and beyond in their roles at Forward.

Each category received dozens of nominations, which had been whittled down to a final three by an internal panel. The long list of nominations is a testament to the brilliant staff we have across the organisation at Forward – the judging panel’s job was not easy at all. Each finalist was invited to the event today in recognition of their incredible achievements.

Jason Moore, Chief Operating Officer, was our wonderful host for the staff awards, and provided a warm welcome to attendees that matched the scorching weather outside! The first half of the awards were presented by Carwyn Gravell, Executive Director for Research and Business Development, and Dame Benita Refson DBE, Trustee, with Mike Trace, Forward CEO, and Ivor McKay, Trustee, led the presentations in the second half of the event.

On the event, Jason said:

“Throughout the day, we heard examples of the great work we do across the organisation up and down the country. The work we are doing is changing lives, and every single one of our staff members deserves to feel proud of what we do. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this year’s awards, and a massive congratulations to all of our finalists and winners.”

A huge congratulations to all staff who were nominated. We are incredibly grateful to the whole Forward team for the hard work and passion each and every one of them delivers across the organisation. Here’s to the next 12 months of life-changing work!

Full list of winners and nominees

Team of the year

Winners: Dependency and Recovery London Team​

Winners: East Kent Housing Team

2^nd place: HMP Coldingley Substance Misuse Team​

3^rd place: Dover Day Programme Team​

Leadership and Inspiration

Winner: Dean Cussons, The Bridges​

2^nd place: Stacey Hitchcock, Canterbury Hub, East Kent Community​

3^rd place: Beth Shelford, East Kent Housing Team​

Excellence in Service Delivery

Winner: David Marr, HMP High Down

2^nd place: Sue Logan, Clinical Team, HMP Downview​

Joint 3^rd place: Joshua Brown, Employment Services​

Joint 3^rd place: Samantha Basing, HMP Send Substance Misuse (family services)​

Rising Star Volunteer

Winner: Stephen Ransley, Recovery Support and Forward Connect​

2^nd place: Andy Thomson, The Bridges

3^rd place: Mark Leckey, Recovery Support and Forward Connect ​

Collaboration and Partnership

Winner: Essex Reconnect

2^nd place: Richie Dowdall, East Kent​

3^rd place: Continuity of Care Coordinator Team, Surrey and London Prisons​

Innovation and improvement

Winners: Mary Hayman, HMP Downview

Winners: Sarah Storrie, HMP Bronzefield​

2^nd place: Kilian Harvey, Risk of Rough Sleeping Team, Canterbury,  East Kent​

3^rd place: Matthew Haxby, Fundraising​

Unsung hero

Winner: Lisa Stanley, PIE team

2^nd place: Lily Johnson, Connections at HMP Millsike​

3^rd place: Lynn Selby, Business Development

Volunteer Impact in Peer Support and Lived Experience

Winner: Jazz Singh, Recovery Support ​

2^nd place: Nigel Howe, Southend

3rd place: Charlie Clarke, Recovery Support

Volunteer of the year

Winners: Diane Johnston, Southend​

Winners: Gillian Blogg, Family Service - ReNew Hull​

2^nd place: Samantha Taylor, Recovery Support and Forward Connect​

3^rd place: Emily Morfitt, ReNew Hull

Living our values

Winner: Paula Lee, BRIC Co-ordinator, STARS Southend​

2^nd place: Simon Bantges, The Bridges​

Joint 3^rd place: Libby Coulon, Community Clinical Nurse in East Kent

Joint 3^rd place: Lisa Harris, Community Clinical Nurse in East Kent​

Joint 3^rd place: CJIT Team East Kent ​

Joint 3^rd place: Emma Dimond, Community Clinical Nurse in East Kent

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