The Only National Awards For Non-Medical / Non-Clinical NHS Staff & Volunteers

Don Tomlinson is the founder of max20, a supplier of specialist non-medical, non-clinical staff to the NHS. Over the past 20 years, Don and his team have been regularly impressed at how much great work is carried out, within the NHS, by non-medical and non-clinical staff and which often goes unnoticed.

So in 2015 we decided to create the Unsung Hero Awards, which is the only national event dedicated to celebrating the impressive achievements of all NHS non-medical, non-clinical staff and volunteers.

This year there is a new award for Public Choice and as a recent NHS patient himself, Don is proud to be the judge of this category.

Jackie has 30 years’ experience in the public sector, including 20 years as a senior director in the NHS. As a result, she has experienced a wide range of cultures and mental health impacts on staff. And having had great bosses and the occasional all shocking boss she had her own experience of the mental health impact of the workplace – both good and bad. She has taken all of this and now focuses on the development and training on practices, activities and policies that create a properly mentally healthy workplace.

Following a long period of both physical and mental health challenges I joined the Health and Wellbeing College at Pennine Care NHS FT as a student in August 2017. After only one term I became a volunteer, then within a year I was an Admin Assistant and finally a Peer Trainer in December 2018. As a person with lived experience, I supported our students to progress, watched their willingness to learn and fulfil their potential beyond their own mental health challenges. I also worked with colleagues, volunteers, students, and partners to co-produce courses. As a staff member I have become much more self-aware and started to realise just what I can achieve.

Kathy Cowell was appointed as Chairman of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in October 2017, having served as the Chair of the predecessor organisation, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, since November 2016 and a Non-Executive Director from March, 2013. A banker by profession, Kathy worked for Cheshire Building Society for 24 years prior to taking early retirement in 2006.

With a keen interest in local communities, Kathy’s past roles include: Chair of the Cheshire & Merseyside Courts Board and a member of the Lord Chancellors Advisory Committee on the appointment of Justices of the Peace.  In September 2016, Kathy completed a 9 year term as Chair of Your Housing Group (a social housing provider). In 2016-17, she was also High Sheriff of Cheshire. 

Kathy has held several Chair and Non-Executive roles in health, in both provider and commissioner roles, including Vice Chairman of Warrington Hospital NHS Trust, Chairman of East Cheshire NHS Trust, and, NHS Cluster/PCT Chairman.

Kathy is currently Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire, Vice Chairman of Cheshire Young Carers and Chairman of the Hammond School, Chester, Mentor of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, Chair of Health Academy at Wythenshawe.

She is also an Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments.

Antony Tiernan has been Director of Communications and Engagement at the London Ambulance Service since 2019, helping to lead the organisation through the COVID-19 global pandemic. Prior to this, he was a Director of Communications at NHS England, leading on a range of major initiatives, including the NHS’s 70th birthday in 2018. He has worked in the NHS for nearly 20 years, including at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. He has also worked in a number of charities including Breakthrough Breast Cancer. In 2018, he was named by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations as one of the UK’s top 70 PR people and is included in PR Week’s annual ‘Power List’. You can follow Antony on Twitter: @AntonyTiernan.

I have worked for the NHS for over 30 years and have loved every minute!

My current role is as a Housekeeper on Sally Sherman Ward in Eastham Care Centre. We care for patients who have a diagnosis of cognitive impairment and challenging behaviour.

The care we deliver is gold standard and I support the team in many different ways, every day is varied and different.

I arrange funerals when there are no families, deliver high levels of care, shop for patients clothing and items they need, order the meals and stocks, help lead on QI programmes, always provide a listening ear and support in any way I can.

I was thrilled to be nominated for Ancillary Leader of the Year in 2019, and winning on the night was the cherry on top!

Shortly after graduating, I joined the NHS over 20 years ago. I started life here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation as a IT Technician, progressing through various posts to my current role as the Head of Enterprise Wide Applications for the last 5 years. I am also Informatics Skills Development Network Lead for the Trust working alongside other NHS organisations to ensure we maintain best practices.

Richard Scarth is Director of Membership and Impact at NHS Charities together, where he has responsibility for the relationship with 240 member charities that support the NHS, together with the distribution and impact of the £150m Covid-19 appeal monies.

Prior to joining NHS Charities Together, Richard was Director of Operations at Royal Free Charity for five years before being promoted to Deputy Chief Executive. During Richard’s time at Royal Free Charity, he was responsible for significant growth in the range of services it offers and the development and growth of the pioneering volunteer network at The Royal Free, which is widely regarded and respected as one of the very best in the country.

Richard began his career in finance and has previously held senior positions within several large healthcare organisations.