Home Instead Greenwich & Bexley are celebrating their double success after members of the team were recognised for their dedication and passion for helping others at this year’s WAGS (Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care) Awards.
The awards which were held in November at London’s Marriott Grosvenor Square, recognise accomplishments at all levels of leadership, from across the whole of the social care sector, promoting and celebrating the incredible achievements of our female workforce.
Belle Sarah Thapa (17), daughter of the Home Instead Greenwich & Bexley franchise owners, Fatta and Sonia Thapa, was named winner on the night of the ‘Inspirational Volunteer Award’, having followed in her parent’s footsteps at the tender age of 11, on a mission to help others.
Notably, Belle’s involvement in her local community includes delivering food to those living in poverty, supporting marginalised communities, particularly of Nepali Gurkha origin, and delivering PPE to those in need during the COVID pandemic, for which she achieved a civic award in March 2022, due to her outstanding contribution.
Her fundraising efforts and innovative ideas have seen her raise over £100k since 2015 for causes such as the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.
Her mother, and owner of the Home Instead Greenwich & Bexley franchise, Sonia Thapa, commented: “We are so incredibly proud of Belle and all that she has achieved already at such a young age. She is a true ambassador of what we do here at Home Instead and has used the knowledge she’s learnt in order to support a community in need”.
Currently an aspiring solicitor, Belle commented: “I am on a mission to create a safe space for families in need and use the example of my parents as inspiration in all that I do. I am really overwhelmed to have won this award”.
Triumphant Belle wasn’t the only reason for the Greenwich & Bexley franchise to celebrate on the night. Their Cancer Support Team achieved ‘highly commended’ status in ‘The Girl Power Award’, an award recognising outstanding support amongst a team that creates a real impact.
The remarkable team was created following a breast diagnosis of one of the team’s longest-serving care professionals, Karen Roots. Recognising the limitations of traditional expressions of sympathy, the team established a GP Cancer Support Group, drawing from personal experiences and becoming powerful cancer ambassadors.
Engaging in various fundraising activities, the group realised the importance of offering private, confidential support for saying goodbye to loved ones.
The group recently launched their own ‘Karen Roots Awards’ in loving memory of their dearly loved and much-missed colleague and friend, in order to keep her memory, positivity and legacy alive.
Owner of the Home Instead Greenwich & Bexley franchise, Fatta Thapa, commented: “We are incredibly proud of the great work of our Cancer Support Group and it’s true testament to the fact that the Home Instead franchise network is a family, supporting one another through the good and the bad whilst still providing outstanding care to the people who need it”.
Fatta continued: “Karen is a huge loss to us here, but achieving this accolade as well as launching the awards in her name, truly keeps her wonderful spirit alive”.