Championing Social Care is on a mission to inspire a wider and deeper public understanding, appreciation and respect for social care. This mission alongside their huge appetite for fun was exactly why they launched Care Sector’s Got Talent this summer!
It would be hard not to recognise how, since the global pandemic took hold, that restrictions in visiting care homes has impacted those living and working in the care sector. Without families to visit and the ability to bring entertainers and outside agencies in, life could have felt isolated but the vast talent from care teams and service uses has kept everyone’s spirits high. From Tik Tok dances to brilliant original songs we have seen incredible talent everywhere.
Care Sector’s Got Talent was the perfect opportunity to celebrate that with individuals from across the sector submitting audition tapes in the hope of being invited to the live final. From magic to singing in a bin we truly saw it all! The independent shortlisting judges commented on how incredible it was to see such diversity in acts, including a great mix of those living and working in the sector.
Our ten shortlisted candidates performed live in front of our incredible judging panel. Angela Boxall, COO Majesticare and Championing Social Care Founding Patron said ‘the final was spectacular, every single day we see how incredibly talented our sector is but this event provided everyone with the perfect opportunity to celebrate that and Sparkle for Social Care.’
All the outstanding finalist upped their game for their live performance and while all the performers were truly outstanding The Stronger Together Community Choir lead by the amazing Kevin Phoenix was crowned the 2021 winners. Kevin, Music and Activities Coordinator at Future Directions’ lead his team to victory with his original song. The group formed during the first lockdown meeting on Tuesday mornings on Zoom, performing their favourite songs, their members come from across the north of England, all supported by Future Directions.
The group truly ‘wowed’ judges with their incredibly catchy song but also they demonstrated exactly what both this event and the whole care sector is about, supporting each other as we are stronger together.
Speaking about the song, Kevin Phoenix said: “Stronger Together is a song of unity, hope, thanks and a reminder of these historic times we are living in. That we are and were Stronger Together.”
This incredible group won a £500 of Love to Shop vouchers, which they will be using to bolster their activities over winter and six months access to Oomph! Wellness On-Demand, kindly donated by the Oomph! Wellness Team. Kevin and The Stronger Together Community Choir will be performing at both the Care Show and the Leaders in Care Awards in Birmingham on the 13th of October, we can’t wait to see them perform live again!
Championing Social Care cannot wait to put the event on again in 2022 and would like to say a huge thank you to our programme sponsors, Oomph! Wellness and Bevan Brittan.
