Ellie Wins Carer Of The Year In National Care Awards 2025!

An outstanding Team Leader from a Sanctuary Care home in Birmingham has been named Carer of the Year at the National Care Awards 2025.

The achievement of Ellie Meredith, who works at The Beeches Residential Care Home in Northfield, celebrates her extraordinary dedication, compassion, and ability to enrich the lives of residents every single day.

Living with neurodiversity, 21-year-old Ellie initially found the unpredictability of care work challenging. Yet she has embraced the joy of her role and has certainly found her true calling. One of the residents at the not-for-profit Sanctuary Care home summed it up perfectly in Ellie’s nomination when they said: “This isn’t a job, it’s a vocation that Ellie was born to do.”

Following her win the home’s team organised a special party to celebrate with the residents, their loved ones and Ellie’s family. She said: “I’m really happy that I won Carer of the Year. My mom is really proud of me and I feel that I know what I want to do in life, which I didn’t know before I came here. I know I’m good at my job and I love being at work and making the residents happy.”

Home manager Francesca Lisle said:
“We are all so proud of Ellie – this is such a huge achievement. Despite feeling overwhelmed at first, she relaxed and enjoyed her special night, and we couldn’t be happier for her.

“Ellie has sometimes struggled with recognising emotions in the past, however she really understands our residents so well, comforting and hugging them and holding their hands, which is so wonderful to see.”