Mitchell Street team’s win at the Stars of Social Care – Teams Awards 2026

Published 14 May 2026

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the Making Space Mitchell Street team, part of the Clitheroe & Accrington Supported Living and Outreach service, who were named winners of The Joy Makers Award at the Stars of Social Care (Teams) Awards 2026.

Held at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on 8 May and hosted by ITV This Morning’s Josie Gibson, the awards celebrate collaboration, compassion and shared success across the social care sector, recognising the teams who make a lasting difference in the lives of the people they support every day.

The Joy Makers Award recognises teams who consistently create moments of happiness, positivity and connection, bringing comfort, laughter and belonging to the people they support through creative, person-centred care, and the Mitchell Street team truly embody this in everything they do.

In their feedback, judges said:

The Mitchell Street Team lives up to the name ‘Joy Makers’ in every sense. Through warmth, humour and endless creativity, they create a vibrant and inclusive environment where people feel connected, empowered and celebrated. Their passion for bringing happiness into everyday life shines through everything they do.

Supporting adults aged over 18 with mental health conditions and learning disabilities, the team were recognised for creating a vibrant, welcoming environment where people feel genuinely valued, connected and supported to thrive. Through meaningful activities such as chess, dominoes, meal clubs, outings, football, gym times, walking groups and group sessions, the team helps people build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. Their approach goes beyond traditional support, creating a community where people feel safe, included and able to be themselves.

The impact of this support is clear. One individual regularly chose to travel more than 11 miles independently to spend time at Mitchell Street, despite having support options much closer to home, because of the warmth, trust and connection they experienced there.

The team were also recognised for the compassion and reassurance they provided during a recent flooding emergency, when tenants had to be urgently evacuated from their homes. Team members acted immediately to ensure people’s safety, packing belongings, arranging temporary accommodation and providing ongoing emotional support through visits and phone calls. What could have been an incredibly distressing experience was handled with such care and compassion that individuals felt safe, reassured and supported throughout.

Making Space Service Manager, Corinne Riley, talked proudly about the win:

We are incredibly proud and honoured to accept this award together as a team.

This recognition truly belongs to every member of the team because we all go above and beyond every day. The compassion, dedication, hard work and commitment shown across the team never go unnoticed, and we feel very lucky to work alongside one another.

What makes our team so special is that we work as equals. No one is above any task, we all roll our sleeves up, support one another and get stuck in together. There is a real sense of teamwork, respect and care between us all, and we genuinely believe that is what makes us successful.

One of the greatest strengths within our team is the trust we have in one another. We know that when one person is not there, the team will continue to work to the high standards set by both ourselves and Making Space. Every member of the team consistently shows professionalism, kindness and dedication, and that is something we are all incredibly proud of.

This award means so much because it reflects the heart of our team and the difference we make to people’s lives every day. We could not ask for a better group of people to work alongside, and we are truly grateful to be recognised together.

Jenny MacLeod, Making Space Regional Head of Operations for the area, added:

We are incredibly proud of the achievements of the Clitheroe services. Corinne and the team consistently go above and beyond to deliver a truly high-quality service, always looking for innovative ways to ensure the people we support feel included, connected and valued. The team works tirelessly to promote inclusion and combat loneliness, creating regular opportunities for people to come together, build friendships and share meals in a welcoming environment. Their ethos is very much ‘can do’, and nothing is ever too much when it comes to meeting the needs of the people they support.

Corinne has built a passionate, dedicated and connected team, ensuring staff regularly support and empower one another, while creating an environment where everyone feels valued in their role.

Rachel Peacock, Making Space CEO, concluded:

Huge congratulations to the Mitchell Street team on this brilliant achievement. Their compassion, creativity and dedication to the people they support truly reflect our Making Space values in action. They create genuine connection, belonging and joy every single day, often during some of the most difficult moments in people’s lives.

It was wonderful to spend the evening celebrating with the team and seeing their incredible work recognised on such a special stage. We are all extremely proud of them.

The evening was also an opportunity to celebrate our other shortlisted finalists, whose dedication and teamwork continue to make a meaningful difference across our services:

• Greengate House Team, St Helens – finalists in The Amazing Activity Team Award
• Huddersfield Road Young Person Support Service – finalists in The Supported Living Team Award
• Open Door Team, Stockport – finalists in The Mental Health Team Award

We would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners recognised at this year’s awards and thank our teams across Making Space for the compassion, teamwork and commitment they show every day.