Aqeela tops twentieth You’re a Star awards ceremony

In and amongst outstanding role models, passionate people who stepped up, and teams leading their field, North Community Mental Health team’s Assistant Psychologist Aqeela Hussain (pictured right) broke new ground at Bradford District Care Trust’s twentieth You’re a Star Awards this week. She became the first person in two decades to take home awards in two of the Trust’s 14 categories.

Aqeela won through against stiff competition and a high number of nominations in both the Mental Health Services’ Teammate of the Year and Unsung Hero awards. “Deeply committed, endlessly compassionate, and profoundly impactful,” Aqeela is known for being “a shining example of how dedication behind the scenes can transform services, empower teams, and change lives”. Her teammates describe her as “the team mate every team dreams of – helping others shine, because that’s what matters most to her.”

There were 42 finalists for the Trust’s You’re a Star Awards 2025, which were held at the Midland Hotel, Bradford on Thursday 2 October. The awards honour and celebrate the work of clinical and non-clinical staff, service users, carers and volunteers at the Care Trust.

Volunteer Activity Leader Sue Stewart (pictured left) won the Service User, Carer and Volunteer Contribution award for her work running the Sing 4 Joy group, which brings people together to tackle social isolation and loneliness and includes those who are visually impaired and have learning disabilities and dementia.

Practice Education Leads Adele Humphrey, Julie Crabtree and Vicki Connell won the Working Together award for their work with five higher education institutions to provide gold standard, respectful, inclusive practice learning environments for allied health professions and nursing services’ students.

Claire Ingle (pictured right), Head of People Matters at the Trust, took the Corporate Services Teammate of the Year award for “leading by example and always having our backs” and Podiatry Team Leader Leeroy Golding was celebrated as Community Health Services’ Teammate of the Year not only for being “an exemplary leader but also for his work with the Trust’s Aspiring Cultures Staff Network, which offers support and represents the interests of Black, Asian or minority ethnic staff. 

From Community Children’s Services, Vulnerable Children Information Team Practitioner Toni Brady took the Teammate of the year for being an “invaluable asset” supporting her team with dedication, compassion, kindness, professionalism and genuine care for the wellbeing of others. Specialist Public Health Nurse for Children in Care Becky Badon won the Unsung Hero award for always volunteering for new projects and advocating for care-experienced children, as well as running a journal club, tuck shop and the Betty award (Because Everyone Thinks That You are fabulous) for her colleagues.

 In the Team of the Year categories, the Community Dental Service’s General Anaesthetic team won the Community Health Services’ award for their forward-thinking, patient-centred approach and exemplary teamwork. The People Services team won the Corporate award in a difficult year which saw them working “with quiet compassion and steady support, handling practical and emotional matters with care and showing exceptional resilience, teamwork, and commitment.”

Having already achieved UNICEF’s highest accolade – the ‘Gold’ Baby Friendly Award – earlier this year, the Community Infant Feeding Team (pictured left) was the Community Children’s and Administrative Services’ Team of the Year winner.

Dementia campaigner ‘Big Ian’ Donaghy who hosted the awards ceremony was particularly interested to hear about the work of the Dementia Assessment Unit team (pictured below right) in managing individuals with high-risk behaviours and bringing fun, laughter and enjoyment to service users every day. The team took Mental Health Team of the Year for their proactive approach to understanding needs and increasing engagement and therapeutic interventions.

Commenting on the You’re a Star Awards 2025, the Care Trust’s Chair Dr Linda Patterson said: “It was a real privilege to meet our finalists and see our winners crowned at this week’s awards ceremony. I saw so many examples of exceptional service, teamwork and care.”

Chief Executive Therese Patten agreed: “Every year I’m thrilled to hear what individuals and teams have achieved, sometimes against the odds. And every year I come away from our awards ceremony feeling so proud of the work our Trust is undertaking to make lives better in communities across Bradford District, Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale.”

Each winner took home an award and a hamper.  The You’re A Star Awards 2025 were kindly supported by headline sponsors the Better Lives charity, long-standing sponsor Sovereign Health Care, and P+HS Architects and Pineapple Furniture.