Celebrating Outstanding Contribution to IPS at the Black Healthcare Awards 2026.

I’m Leah Richardson, IPS Grow Regional Manager for the East of England. As a proud woman of mixed heritage who has worked in the world of IPS for over 10 years, I was incredibly pleased and proud to be working in an IPS service supported by IPS Grow when the IPS Grow Race Equity Action Plan was launched. Launching this plan, which may seem a bold move to some, only further cemented in my mind that Social Finance are an organisation willing to make the big moves and speak out when they see injustices.

Since joining the IPS Grow team at Social Finance in 2024, it has been both a personal and professional drive for me to help propel the amazing work of the global majority working within IPS into the mainstream.  Following a chance encounter at our first IPS Grow Conference in 2025 with Christina, an IPS Team Leader, who looked around the auditorium at the British Library, brimming with people from the IPS community and said to me, (oh so casually), ‘Wouldn’t this be amazing if this room was filled with Black and Brown people all celebrating each other and their successes in IPS?’ I was unable to get that comment out of my head and kept thinking, ‘Well, why not?’ (I have since told Christina the impact her comment had on me and, alas, she did not remember saying this but was very glad she created the impetus needed!).

After a discussion with our Chief Executive, Caroline Gadd, in which she introduced me to the partnership between Social Finance and CAHN (the Caribbean and African Healthcare Network), the idea of an IPS award at CAHN’s Black Healthcare Awards 2026 was born.

CAHN created and held the first-ever healthcare awards ceremony to recognise Black healthcare professionals within the UK in 2024 specifically. The NHS was established in 1948, and yet, despite over a quarter of current NHS employees coming from an ethnically diverse background, this was the first time a Black Healthcare Awards had been held. I didn’t want to have to wait that long for an IPS award!

It felt like a natural extension of the already existing partnership between Social Finance and CAHN for Social Finance to create and sponsor the first-ever Outstanding Contribution to IPS Award for Black healthcare professionals.

On the evening of 4^th July 2026, Caroline led a group of Social Finance/IPS Grow representatives and our 3 incredible finalists to our table at the Black Healthcare Awards. DJ Nathan was on the decks, the steelpans were in full flow, there were bottles of hot sauce on the tables. We were ready.

There was an undeniable air of excitement in the room as members of CAHN took to the stage to welcome us all to the awards. I had tried to prise the winner’s name from Caroline earlier in the evening, but she had assured me she would only know when she was handed the gold envelope when on stage.

The moment arrives. The Outstanding Contribution to IPS category is announced. Caroline heads to the stage. Headshots of the 3 finalists are shown on the screen. Chantelle is threatening to drag me on stage with her if she wins. Caroline presents the category and is handed the gold envelope. A slight pause as she reads the words in front of her. ‘Two winners! We’ve got two winners!’ Caroline exclaims before announcing, ‘the first winner is Mr Kenneth Kwogyenga!’ Our table erupts into cheers as Kenny goes on stage to collect his award. ‘And the second winner is Miss Chantelle Dillon!’ At this point, I have to credit Chantelle’s plus 1 with the loudest scream we heard all night (and I can confirm Chantelle was unable to drag me on stage with her). Christiana Odogiyan is recognised as a highly commended IPS professional. Our table is cheering, clapping and screaming in pure jubilation at the first-ever Outstanding Contribution to IPS Award for Black healthcare professionals.

I turn to Kenny and I can see how much it means to him written on his face. I look at Chantelle who, though overwhelmed, is beaming. I think I am still processing the impact this award has had. Not just on the individual nominees and winners on the evening. Not just on having an IPS award as part of a healthcare awards night and for IPS to be acknowledged alongside award categories such as: Midwife of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement in Black Health Award. But the impact this has on IPS and all of those from the global majority working within IPS. I am struggling to put into words how I felt, and still feel, after the awards so I shall instead finish this blog with the words of one of the winners of the Outstanding Contribution to IPS Award, Kenneth Kwogyenga:

Let the work on the ground speak for itself. Diversity is a great strength for we all understand each other in our own unique way. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. Thank you for taking that step. Onwards and upwards.

Get to know more about our Nominees

My name is Kenneth Kwogyenga. I am a Lead IPS Employment Specialist working within Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The Black Healthcare Network Awards is an event which is beyond “fantastique”. Experiencing it is the only way I can describe it, for no amount of words would do it any justice. I fully and excessively enjoyed it. Giving a platform and recognition to Black people for their contribution to Healthcare Excellence in the UK is culturally inclusive and goes to signify the immense difference diversity makes, as we are all connected in one way or another.

It is a privilege to be recognised for supporting people with Severe and Enduring Mental Health difficulties into paid employment. I dedicate this award to my family, the IPS Employment Service, GHC NHS FT, our clients, and thank Social Finance/IPS Grow for recognising the contributions of Black and Ethnic Minority people in advancing Race Equity within Supported Employment.

My name is Chantelle Dillon. I am an IPS Service Manager working within the East London NHS Foundation Trust.

I began my employment support journey in 2013, supporting people with employment, volunteering and training opportunities. Seeing the impact paid work had on confidence, wellbeing and recovery inspired me to become an IPS Employment Specialist, and I now support colleagues and the wider service as IPS Employment Service Manager.

The awards evening was a truly special and memorable experience. It was wonderful to celebrate the achievements of so many inspiring people and to see the important work within IPS recognised. Winning the award was a very proud moment for me, and I felt incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey.

Receiving the Black Healthcare Award for Outstanding Contribution to IPS Employment Support was an incredibly proud and meaningful moment for me. It gave me the chance to reflect on my journey, the people I have supported, and the wider importance of recognising Black professionals and the IPS workforce for the valuable work being done to support people into meaningful paid employment.

The Judging Process

I’m Gary Johnston, Director of Research and Innovation at IPS Grow. Supporting the judging process for the Outstanding Contribution to IPS Award was a real privilege, and something Carina Thomas and I both took very seriously from the start. As we began reviewing the nominations, it quickly became clear just how important this role was for not only in recognising individual achievement, but in reflecting the strength and passion across the global majority of the IPS community.

We were provided with a comprehensive judging pack by CAHN, including clear scoring criteria, category guidance, and evaluation questions, alongside anonymised nominations shared via a detailed spreadsheet. This allowed us to focus fully on the substance of each application and approach the process as independently and fairly as possible.

Given the volume and calibre of nominations, we each set aside dedicated time to review and score them individually before coming together to compare our scores. What followed was a pretty lengthy moderation process and narrowing it down to just three finalists was really difficult. We spent a long time deliberating, revisiting applications, and discussing the nuances of impact, leadership, and contribution. We both felt it was an honour to be trusted with the judging role. We were also joined in the wider process by the CAHN judge, Professor Patrick Vernon OBE, who scored separately and our score and his score determined the finalists and this was all managed by CAHN with the aim that none of us know who the winner is and all is shared and celebrated at the awards dinner on 4^th July. Reflecting on the experience, Carina shared: “I really enjoyed the experience and would love to be involved again next year.” My sentiments exactly! This was a great reminder of the people driving IPS forward and the importance of creating spaces to recognise and celebrate their contributions.

To find out more about CAHN’s Black Healthcare Awards and see all the 2026 winners, you can visit their website:

Learn more here.