The Wigan Borough Palliative and End of Life Care Awards 2024 have recognised Atherton experience coordinator, Kim Calland, as the area’s most innovative staff member.

Ms Calland, part of the Belong Atherton team, is responsible for designing the care village’s experiences programme.

Her role involves understanding residents’ preferences, backgrounds, and hobbies to create activities and entertainment that align with personal interests.

The programme often invites the community to join Belong’s residents, apartment tenants, day care, and home care customers.

Recent events have included Bollywood banquets, virtual reality experiences, and a care home Olympics.

Residents have also taken part in excursions such as plane spotting at Manchester Airport, walking the promenade in Blackpool, and attending Wigan Pride.

Earlier this year, Ms Calland made headlines when she arranged for two Mods clubs to surprise a fellow Mod in receipt of palliative care at the village with a visit.

The clubs took the resident on a scooter ride around the area, talked shop, and shared memories.

Speaking about her award, Ms Calland said: "I feel happy and proud to have won this award – it really was unexpected.

"I’m also very passionate about my job and love what I do; a smile from a customer is all I need.

"Of course, my job wouldn’t be possible without them and my team, so this is a big ‘thank you’ to everyone, too."

The award recognises the team or person who maximises choice for their residents by forming strong connections, taking the time to discover what is important, and finding innovative ways to promote their wellbeing.

Debbie Jones, practice development team lead at Wigan & Leigh Hospice, said: "It is such a humbling experience to celebrate the tireless work of all our health and social care settings in the borough.

"It is a chance to say thank you to staff who go that extra mile every day, to ensure that the people they care for have the best end of life care possible.

"It really is an uplifting night, and it is so important that we ensure that our local workforce is valued, and their contribution acknowledged."

Alongside Ms Calland’s award win, Belong Atherton colleagues received several finalist nominations, including Ioana Chioran, Dawn Flannery, Kelly Haddock, Tom Henry, Nicola Johnstone, Sam Pitchford, and the village’s Front of House team.