Suffolk Care Awards 2026 Sponsor Spotlight: Orwell Housing Association
This week’s sponsor spotlight is Orwell Housing Association. They are a provider of quality homes and support. Their mission is to make a positive difference to the quality of life and future opportunities of our customers, colleagues and communities. Sponsoring the Wellbeing at work award, they tell us what it means to them and why they think it is vital within social care.
What does your organisation do that you would love more people to know about?
Orwell Housing Association is more than a housing association – we are committed to supporting people. We manage 14 extra care schemes, 11 learning disability services, 6 homeless services and 2 domestic abuse services.
What makes your organisation or your team special?
The entire organisation encompasses our values: people-focused, ambitious, collaborative, and effective. With these values at our core, we support more than 8,200 people across our services and provide more than 800 jobs to local people.
What does social care mean to your organisation?
Social care for us means providing care and support in an individualised, respectful and person-centred way: enabling people to live their best life.
What do you think is special about the people who work in social care?
People working in social care are committed to supporting people to live their best life: making a difference to the lives of so many through a true vocation that has enormous impact. They so often put others’ needs before their own and are truly inspirational.
Is there a particular person, experience or moment that has shaped your connection with social care?
Our connection with social care has been shaped less by a single moment and more by the countless examples we've seen of the difference that great care and support can make to someone's life.
At Orwell, we have worked alongside people with care and support needs for many years, providing homes that are designed around their aspirations, independence and personal choices. As a housing provider, we saw first-hand how the right environment, combined with high-quality care and support, could transform lives. We watched people gain confidence, develop new skills, build relationships and achieve levels of independence they did not always believe were possible. Seeing those outcomes inspired us to become a care and support provider, enabling us to offer a fully integrated service that supports both a person's housing and care needs.
What continues to shape our connection to social care today is seeing the extraordinary commitment of our colleagues. Every day they support people not only to live their best lives, pursue their goals and maintain their independence, but also to navigate some of life's most difficult and challenging moments. Whether helping someone take an important step towards greater independence, supporting a family through a period of uncertainty, or providing dignity and reassurance at the end of life, our teams make a profound difference.
We have the privilege of hearing these stories regularly. They are powerful reminders that social care is about far more than meeting needs; it is about enabling people to live the life they choose, with dignity, choice and control. Seeing the impact our colleagues have on the people we support is a constant source of inspiration and reinforces our belief that social care is one of the most important and rewarding professions there is.
If you could change one misconception about social care, what would it be?
We would change the misconception that there are limited opportunities for career progression and shout about the fact that care as a career is an amazing opportunity to undertake fantastic roles and have a rewarding career. At Orwell, we ensure our colleagues have the tools and opportunities to develop new skills and progress in their careers, if this is their choice. One colleague as a Care Assistant and is now Head of Extra Care, and another Care Assistant worked her way up to be the service manager of one of our schemes.
Why did you decide to sponsor the Suffolk Care Awards this year?
The people involved in social care work tirelessly and selflessly to support and improve the lives of others in our communities. We believe they should be celebrated and, with services across Suffolk, the Suffolk Care Awards is a great way to do that.
Why did you choose to sponsor your chosen award?
We are committed to creating a supportive environment with wellbeing and inclusivity at its core and an embedded part of our culture. Wellbeing is vital for all. We are a Suffolk Gold Good Health at Work organisation and have a very clear focus on wellness. We are people-focused and believe supporting wellbeing is essential for quality of life, both professionally and personally.
What does it mean to you to help recognise and celebrate people working across Suffolk's care sector?
People working across Suffolk’s care sector do amazing work and we think it should be shouted from the rooftops. Sponsoring the Suffolk Care Awards helps us to do this.
What would you like to see more of in Suffolk's social care sector?
We would like to see is real recognition for all the amazing people that work in care nationally.
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We’re very grateful to Orwell Housing Association for supporting this year’s Suffolk Care Awards.
Find out more about Orwell on their website here.
Check out their social media below & hit follow.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrwellHousing
Instagram: @Orwellhousing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orwell-housing-association/
Stay tuned for our next sponsor spotlight!