National social care charity Making Space brought people from across its services together at the iconic Sheffield City Hall Ballroom for its Our People Event 2026 – celebrating personal achievement while giving people who draw on support a voice in the future of social care.
Held on 16 September during National Inclusion Week, the event brought together people who draw on Making Space support, alongside colleagues and volunteers, for a day focused on personal growth, connection, inclusion and belonging.
Hosted once again by mental health campaigner and comedian Jake Mills, founder of Chasing the Stigma, the event combined celebration and entertainment with opportunities for people to share their experiences and have their voices heard.
Celebrating personal growth
This year, Making Space moved away from its traditional awards format to recognise a wider range of individual achievements.
Twenty people who draw on support received Personal Growth Awards, celebrating progress over the previous year.
The achievements recognised were as individual as the people themselves, from overcoming anxiety and developing greater independence to improving health and wellbeing, learning new skills, volunteering, sustaining employment and taking steps towards personal ambitions.
Among those celebrated was James from Bracken Court, who has grown in confidence and independence since moving into his first tenancy and is now volunteering as he works towards his ambition of becoming a support worker.
Bradley from Bright Street was recognised for growing in confidence and purpose through volunteering and becoming an Oliver McGowan trainer, using his lived experience to help educate professionals.
Ian from Greengate House was celebrated for his personal growth, developing his independence, successfully managing his own bank account and embracing new opportunities, including learning to play guitar.
The approach reflected a simple message at the heart of the event: every achievement matters.
Joining the Big Conversation on Care
Alongside the celebrations, Making Space used the event to create an important opportunity for people who draw on support to contribute to the Big Conversation on Care.
Making Space Deputy CEO Phil Orton led the charity’s first Big Conversation session specifically with people who draw on its support.
Participants explored 10 of the 45,000 proposals already submitted through the campaign, discussing which issues they believed should be prioritised, what mattered most to them and whether anything important was missing.
The session was the first in a series of conversations and roadshows Making Space will hold to ensure people across its services have opportunities to contribute.
Their experiences and feedback will help shape the priorities Making Space champions through its own open letter to the Prime Minister, as well as contributing to its wider involvement in the Big Conversation on Care.
Inclusion, connection and belonging
Taking place during National Inclusion Week, the event also provided an opportunity to demonstrate what inclusion can look like in practice.
Guests enjoyed an interactive ballroom dancing session, an Elvis singalong and afternoon tea, alongside activities including henna, a photo booth and an artist creating miniature watercolour portraits.
Making Space’s main event sponsor Nourish Care donated £4,000 to support the day, enabling every person attending who draws on Making Space support to choose a gift from a dedicated Nourish gift stall.
Kyle Haggis and Alisha White from Nourish also attended the event, helping on the gift stall and joining in with activities throughout the day.
Making Space CEO Rachel Peacock said:
“Our People Event is always such a special day because it brings together people from across Making Space to celebrate what really matters – people, their achievements and their voices.
“This year felt particularly special. Hearing so many stories of personal growth and seeing people recognised for achievements that mean something to them was incredibly powerful. I’m also proud that we created space for people to have their say about the future of social care through the Big Conversation.
“Our ambition is to go beyond simply including people. We want to create places and communities where everyone feels that they genuinely belong, and days like this show what that can look like.”
The Our People Event forms part of Making Space’s wider commitment to ensuring people with lived experience are not simply included in conversations about care and support but have meaningful opportunities to influence them.
By combining recognition and celebration with opportunities to listen, the charity hopes to ensure the experiences and priorities of people who draw on social care remain at the heart of discussions about its future.
