Carer Ambassador nominated for Carer of the Year award

We are wishing our wonderful ambassador Steve Beasant the best of luck after he was successfully shortlisted for a prestigious Carer of the Year award. 

Steve, who has been caring for wife Carol for two-and-a-half years after she was diagnosed with osteoporosis and dementia, will find out if he is a winner at the Health and Care Excellence Awards ceremony this evening, hosted by the North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership. 

Since Carol’s diagnosis, the couple have attended the hospice's weekly dementia wellbeing group, joining in 2025 after learning about the support available for both patients and carers whilst attending the hospice's annual Light Up a Life service.  

Steve said: "If it wasn't for places like the hospice, caring would be very difficult. Even though we come for Carol, it gives me two hours of freedom, and I get the chance to talk to the other carers about the experience that I've gone through. The staff are amazing; they always support Carol really well - the whole organisation is amazing. People think of the hospice as this miserable place where people come to die, but it's not. It's absolutely amazing, and I really appreciate the work they do." 

Recognised for his outstanding commitment to his wife’s care, Steve was initially put forward for the award by the hospice's Deputy Chief Executive, Lesley Charlesworth-Browne. Reflecting on the nomination, Steve said: "I'm so proud of the fact that I've been shortlisted. The award is a credit to everyone nominated regardless of whether they win. Carers do so much, they're saving the government thousands and thousands of pounds every single day because it stops people from going into a care home, and I feel so proud. If I win it, I don't know what I'll say but it's absolutely incredible." 

"I think it's being recognised as somebody, but all the people caring, in my opinion, deserve an award. At times I feel so low, I have suffered with mental health, I've been very tired. It's just recognition that somebody is thinking about us." 

"It's hard work, it's tough, it's lonely at times. You plan your day out, and it never turns out that way. To be a carer, you've got to be very tough yourself. It is very, very difficult, but it's so rewarding. I love my wife, and I wouldn't want to see anybody else doing it, I love it."