NLCBF Personal Advisor Awards 2025: And the winners are…

On Thursday 13th November 2025, we hosted our annual Personal Advisor (PA) Awards during the PA Celebration Event. This occasion honoured and showcased the remarkable efforts of Personal Advisors who support young people aged 16 to 25 as they transition from care. Each year, this event continues to spotlight the dedication and positive influence of Leaving Care Personal Advisers.

This year saw an unprecedented number of exceptional nominees, making the judges’ decisions especially challenging. We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated, nominated a Personal Advisor, and contributed to the ongoing work that transforms the lives of young people.

There were four award categories, with the winners and runners-up highlighted below.

PA Team of the Year

Congratulations to the Lichfield PA team in Staffordshire for winning PA Team of the Year!

Members of Lichfield PA Team receiving their certificate from NLCBF Manager Hannah McCowen (Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend)

Lichfield’s Personal Advisors have been nominated for their exceptional support of care-experienced young people, notably through organising the area’s first care-experienced holiday. The team’s dedication — from fundraising to hands-on delivery — made a lasting impact. For many, it was the first chance to relax and feel valued since leaving care. One young person shared, “We got to socialise, have a laugh and relax like adults — not just parents — for what feels like the first time since E’s been in our family!” The initiative strengthened bonds, deepened trust, and inspired a new culture of ambition and inclusion. There are already plans in place for an even bigger holiday next year. The team’s nomination emphasised that, “The PA team didn’t just organise a trip — they created a milestone moment that will stay with these young people for life.”

Wiltshire Leaving Care Team was the runner-up for the award.

Member of Wiltshire’s Leaving Care Team receiving their certificate from NLCBF Manager Hannah McCowen (Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend)

Wiltshire’s Leaving Care Team was recognised for the opening of their new hub which had young people at the heart of the design and structure. “Our hub opened in January 2024, a dedicated space for our young people. It is welcoming and cosy, they told us what they wanted and were involved in decorating it and choosing furnishings. It is a safe space where young people can meet their PA or socialise, it is staffed by PAs 3 days a week and they can ‘drop in’ if they need support, attend training courses or events, take a shower, do some washing or cook a meal as well as use the facilities to develop independence skills.”

Rising Star 

Congratulations to Hayley Hankinson from Blackpool (pictured below) who was the winner of the Rising Star award.

Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend

Hayley’s support is consistently described as life-changing by both young people and professionals. She builds relationships rooted in understanding, advocacy, and emotional presence, always showing up, always listening, and always responding with care. Young people speak of Hayley as their “rock, someone who helps them feel seen, heard, and never alone”.

Sarah Kitchen from Bradford was the runner-up for the award. Sarah has created safe and supportive environments where young people feel heard and valued. Her consistency and availability have helped care leavers into more stable living situations and supported several care leavers facing challenges and risks to feel safer and achieve better outcomes.

Lifetime Achiever

Congratulations to Sabit Jakupovic (MBE) from Hertfordshire (pictured below) for winning our Lifetime Achiever award.

Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend

Sabit Jakupovic received the Lifetime Achiever Award for pioneering a Life Story Work intervention, which has profoundly helped care leavers understand their experiences and identity. Feedback from young people leaving care at age 25 highlights the lasting and positive impact of this approach.

There were two runners-up for the Lifetime Achiever award — Helen Broad from Cheshire (pictured below with our inspirational speaker from the day, Carl Brown) and Sophie Williams from Warwickshire.

Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend

Helen has supported many young people at university and travels the country to see them. She has helped move young people into university and college, including supporting those not allocated to her as PA.

Sophie’s culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach has transformed the lives of many Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) who previously struggled to engage due to poor mental health, unfamiliarity with life in the UK, distrust of authority, or learning needs.

PA of the Year

Congratulations to Nicole Brooks from Staffordshire, the winner of the PA of the Year award (pictured below with last year’s PA of the Year, Sam Neath).

Photo credit: Rylee Dickenson – YPBMF Legend

Nicole has been described as “a really strong corporate parent; she advocates for our young people and always supports them like she would her own. Nicole is young-person-centred and really focussed on achieving the best possible outcomes for young people. She is hard working and very much hands on, a great role model for young people”.

Pete Nicholson from Stoke-on-Trent was the runner-up for this award. Pete founded a football team for care-experienced young people, providing regular training and friendly matches. The team’s participation in a tournament at Wolverhampton’s Molineux stadium this year created unforgettable memories for those involved.

We know that Personal Advisors offer life changing support to young people across the country, and we hope that these awards will continue to celebrate, highlight, and amplify the contributions that Personal Advisors make.