An Oldham dementia worker has been recognised as a diversity champion for her work with local Global Majority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Sue O’Sullivan, a team leader at Oldham Dementia Support, was given the Diversity Award by her charity employer Making Space.

She was selected to receive the trophy after judges praised her enthusiasm for embracing the needs of members of local Black and Asian and LGBTQ+ communities who use the service.

 Sue was unable to attend the ceremony at Hilton Hotel in Liverpool, which had a keynote speech by motivational speaker and leadership expert Gavin Ingham, but manager Cath Magee was delighted to accept on her behalf. 

At the ceremony, the audience heard how Sue had tailored the one-to-one and group support available and taken “enormous steps” to ensure communities could share their knowledge with peers. 

Her line manager, Cath Magee, Making Space regional head of operations, said: “Sue and her team are passionate about ensuring people who live with dementia and their carers get the support they need and nobody is isolated.

“Sue recognised that nothing was being done for LGBTQ+ community in particular, and she worked hard to identify what needed to change and create essential support networks.

“Her efforts to get better services and support to Oldham’s BAME and LGBTQ+ communities have been quite rightly recognised and applauded.”

Sue: “I was invited to join the steering group to assist in the production of an online support group for people from the LGBTQ+ community for people living with dementia and their carers, due to the historic abuse this community has faced. 

"It has been a privilege to be involved in giving people a chance to come together and discuss their needs and feelings.”

Alison Everett, Skills for Care area manager, and Making Space trustee Katharine Wykes judged the Diversity Award. They selected Sue for “going out of her way to ensure her service is inclusive," adding “Sue knows she can’t provide all the answers by herself so she ensures she involves people with the appropriate skills and knowledge."

The Making Space Colleague Awards recognise and pay tribute to individuals and teams who inspire others, go above and beyond expectations and make a real difference to the lives of the people supported by the charity. Over 150 employees from all over England were nominated for an award.

The Making Space awards were sponsored by telecommunications provider Focus Group. The Diversity Award was sponsored by Peninsula.