Award pride for Northamptonshire housing association after picking up two accolades for supporting parents and child disability charity

The Harry’s Pledge Awards from charity Harry’s Pals celebrates the work being done to improve lives for carers and children with disabilities.

The charity was set up by Hayley Charlesworth, who had received the devastating news that her newborn son, Harry, who had suffered significant brain damage caused by two strokes, and was surprised at the lack of emotional support offered for parents of children with disability.

Harry’s Pals works to occupy that space by providing emotional and mental health support to parents who have received a life-changing, severe or terminal diagnosis for their child.

Greatwell Homes received the gold trophy for the ‘Carer-Friendly Employer of the Year’ for their work supporting parents, including offering flexible working arrangements, carer’s leave and time off for dependants.

In a testimonial from a Greatwell Homes employee, they said: “Without the flexibility at Greatwell, returning to work alongside my child’s medical needs simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

The housing association, based in Wellingborough also took home the silver award for ‘Excellence in Professional Care’ at the award ceremony held on October 29.

Jo Savage, chief executive at Greatwell Homes, added: “I am so proud of everyone within Greatwell Homes who is living and breathing the commitments and promises we made when we signed up to the pledge.

“It is a fantastic tool for organisations to improve their support for those with caring responsibilities, but we wanted to go one step further and to embed it into our culture and make an invaluable difference to carers throughout Greatwell Homes. Our Inclusion in Action campaign is about recognising and celebrating difference, listening to diverse voices and creating an environment where everyone feels they belong.

“Hearing the stories and experiences from so many influential people and organisations was the highlight of the afternoon. It was genuinely inspirational to

hear the efforts that are happening to ensure people who are caring for a loved one with additional needs also gets the help and support that they deserve. I want to thank Harry’s Pals for shining a light on such an important cause and for all their support in our own ambitions of providing a carer friendly community.”

During National Inclusion Week in September 2026, Greatwell Homes launched their new Inclusion in Action campaign, hoping to bring together all strands of their equality, diversity and inclusion work.