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When it comes to submitting a nomination for the MyPorter Awards, the quality of the nomination will make a difference. A strong nomination stands out, tells a compelling story, and gives the judges everything they need to understand why your nominee is a worthy winner. Here’s how you can ensure your nomination shines...


1. Understand the basics

Before you start writing, take time to read the award category descriptions and the terms and conditions of submitting an entry. Understand the purpose of the award and the qualities or achievements the panel is looking for in a nominee. This will help you tailor your nomination to align with what they value most.


Be sure to cover who the nominee is, their role, why what they do is outstanding, and what impact they have had.


2. Tell a compelling story, and be specific

A successful nomination is more than a list of achievements. It’s about telling a story that demonstrates your nominee’s impact and why they deserve to be recognised.


Do they consistently go above and beyond? Have they overcome external challenges or difficult personal circumstances? Or do they do great things for great causes?


Whatever it is, make sure your story is engaging, factual, and reflects the significance of your nominee’s contributions.


General statements like "They are a great leader" won’t stand out. Instead, support your claims with specific examples. Describe particular projects, achievements, or instances where the nominee has demonstrated excellence. Ensure they align with the award you are nominating them for.


3. Be passionate

It’s important that your nomination is professional, but your passion for your nominee should shine through. Stick to the facts, but present them in a way that is a real celebration of the nominee and their work.


4. Don’t forget the deadline!

This may sound basic, but make sure to meet the deadline of 8th January. While it may seem some time away, it will fly! Of course, spend some time getting your entry where you want it, but don’t leave it too late. You may wish to ask your comms team for some help, in which case it’s important to get them involved early.

 

How to submit your nomination

Ready to submit your nomination? It couldn’t be easier - all entries must be submitted online, here: https://airtable.com/appEKBPZLn7Mvqzvt/pagBHD3kvhouC2Doh/form


Complete the form step-by-step, and you’re sorted!


Our judges can’t wait to read your entries.

 


NHS ‘Community Hero’ Scoops National Porter Award

A new national award-scheme recognising the work and dedication of NHS hospital porters has today announced its first winner and a special posthumous award.


The MyPorter Awards recognise the work and dedication of NHS portering teams, who, like many NHS staff, have taken on extra responsibilities, worked additional shifts and gone the 'extra-mile' to help hospitals cope with the pressures of the Covid pandemic.


The awards attracted entries from across the UK, with many hospitals nominating more than one individual and, in some instances, entire teams.


The winner of the first MyPorter Awards for 2020 is Claire Blackhall, a Chargehand Porter at Wansbeck General Hospital, Northumbria. Despite suffering the personal loss of family members, single Mum, Claire, continued to work full-time, not taking a single day off. She performed her role with extraordinary humanity, listening to patients and helping wherever she could, despite her personal agonies. On top of all her hard work, Claire is also training to become a volunteer coastguard – something she has chosen to do as a means of giving back to her local community. Tracey Smith, Hotel Service Officer Facilities for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, commented, “This is a fantastic achievement; I am immensely proud of Claire's approach to work and the support she gives not only to our patients but to the wider team and staff at Wansbeck General Hospital."


Claire wins the MyPorter Award 2020 trophy, and a donation of £250 will be made to a charity of her choice. A further £250 charity donation goes to the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust’s charity partner, ‘Bright Northumbria’ https://www.justgiving.com/NHCCF)


A further special posthumous award will honour the late Dennis Southern, also a porter with the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust from 2007 to 2021.


Sadly, Dennis passed away on 1st February 2021, leaving a legacy of dedication, hard work, respect and compassion. For these reasons, the judges have created the Dennis Southern Award – for endeavour, which will be presented to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital where Dennis worked.


The Dennis Southern Award will be awarded annually to an outstanding individual in addition to the awarding of the annual MyPorter Award.


Claire and Dennis’s stories personify putting the needs of others before their personal difficulties. The following notable entries, each deserving special mention, show just how difficult the judges found the job of choosing only one worthy winner.


Richard Barrow and Mark Sadler from George Eliot NHS Trust were typical nominations. Whilst transferring a patient receiving end-of-life care, they overheard the patient asking his wife if he could have a taste of his favourite ice-cream one last time. Richard and Mark promptly went to the local shop, bought the ice-cream with their own money and took it to the patient. This small act of kindness created a precious moment of joy for the patient and earned Richard and Mark the family's gratitude.


Lauren Ross represents the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Lauren deserved special mention for her vigilance when she noticed that a patient she had previously delivered for an X-ray had deteriorated, becoming unresponsive. Lauren raised the alarm; a crash call was made, and the patient transferred to the resuscitation unit. Had Lauren not been so attentive or quick-thinking, a very different outcome may have resulted. Paul Hynes from the Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital has been an unsung hero to his colleagues and patients. Despite having been very poorly with Covid himself, Paul returned to work as quickly as he was able to help his colleagues. He has covered additional shifts, plugging gaps in the team numbers in whatever ways he could. He's also been a wellbeing champion, supporting staff who have struggled with the emotional strain of dealing with Covid patients, day-in, day-out. He has been recognised for professionally and compassionately supporting his colleagues.


Commenting on the reasons for introducing the awards, Richard Iveson of GlobalView, creators of MyPorter, explained, "Porters are often the unsung heroes of the NHS, and they put in a lot of gruelling hours of hard, physical and emotional work. If you took the porters out of a hospital, nothing would work; it would grind to a halt. They’re a vital cog in the machine for every hospital, none more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic. We wanted to create an opportunity for NHS Trusts to honour their porter heroes publicly." Runners-up, included: Paul Hynes, nominated by Sharon Hindley (Liverpool Heart & Chest hospital), Richard Barrow & Mark Sadler, nominated by Paul Sylvester (George Eliot Hospital) & Lauren Ross, nominated by Nikki O'Brien (Leeds General Infirmary). Notable mentions go to: David Beattie, nominated by Phil Hall (Hexham General Hospital), Joe Cooper, nominated by Martyn Abbott (Maidstone Hospital) & Michael Rainbird, nominated by Mark Lepine-Williams (Frimley Park Hospital).


We've had plenty of great entries into the MyPorter Awards and having heard from many others who wish to enter but can't due to workload caused by the surge in Covid-19 cases, we have decided to extend the deadline until February 15th to allow you all the extra time to get your nominations in.

Remember, you can nominate a porter or member of a portering team you feel is deserving of the MyPorter Award 2020.

They will win:

The MyPorter Award 2020

£250 charity donation to a charity of their choice

£250 charity donation to their trust's chosen charity partner

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