Two Macclesfield carers and their devotion to the town’s older people have been recognised by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a Garden Party hosted at Buckingham Palace.
Frontline social care workers, Laura Barsted and Caylie Jones of Belong Macclesfield received invitations in a mark of appreciation for their exceptional performances supporting residents at the Upton Priory dementia specialist, helping them to live as independently as possible.
The sunny spring day saw thousands of guests from throughout the country make their way to the palace for high tea with the Royal Family – almost a year to the day of Their Majesties’ Coronation. Joining the occasion were Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, with Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh; and the King’s first cousin once removed, the Duke of Gloucester, with the Duchess of Gloucester.
Speaking of her experience, Laura said: “We saw both the King and the Queen up close and had the chance to enjoy the gardens. What a fantastic day!”
Caylie added: “It was a great pleasure to be acknowledged for our hard work – a once in a lifetime opportunity!”
The pair of care team leaders were selected to attend along with invitees from other not-for-profit organisations, charities and societies, as well as people put forward by the government, armed services, the Church and other faiths.
Both Laura and Caylie have developed their careers with Belong which believes in championing the professional advancement of its colleagues in order to best support people in its care and the wider community.
Since joining the village six years ago, Laura has attained the City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and Social Care. Her dedication to her work and guiding colleagues’ own development has also seen her named as Mentor of the Year finalist at Belong’s annual employee recognition accolades, the Champion Awards.
Mother of six Caylie transferred her skills as a full-time mum to build a new career with Belong. Despite being new to care, her capabilities shone through, and she swiftly climbed the ranks in seniority whilst developing her own team to an ‘exceptional standard’.Cheryl Davies, general manager at Belong Macclesfield, commented: “We are very pleased to congratulate Laura and Caylie on this special recognition. They are shining representatives of our village and indeed, the social care sector, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that they’ve had the opportunity to celebrate their success by rubbing shoulders with royalty!”
