Celebrating our 2025 Star Awards!

We held our STAR Awards at the Apex Hotel in Dundee in October 2025 to celebrate the significant achievements of our colleagues and the amazing people we support across the country. The event also marked Cornerstone's 45th anniversary since being founded in 1980. 

Huge thanks to the talented Chris Scott Photography for volunteering his time and capturing the celebrations perfectly!

Over 80 colleagues from across the country were recognised for either their ten, twenty, twenty-five or thirty years long service, representing a cumulative 1,260 years of dedication and commitment! 

A number of very special Mary Williamson Awards were presented to the people Cornerstone support by the Lord Provost of Dundee, Bill Campbell. 

The Mary Williamson Awards were founded in memory of the late Mary Williamson, who was supported by Cornerstone for over 23 years and left a generous legacy to the charity. Mary enjoyed dressing up, holidays and parties and she was much loved. The awards pay tribute to her zest for life and are designed to recognise the personal goals and achievements of the people Cornerstone support.  These goals include;  

• A personal health challenge or fitness goal 

• A fundraising event  

• A training course or employment opportunity  

• A new craft, hobby or activity  

• Facing a fear 

• An act of kindness to others 

The winners, runners up and highly commended for the Mary Williamson Awards 2025 were; 

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Scottish Borders

Winner - Darren Thomson  

Runner-up - Malcolm Baxter

Moray 

Hazel Brown, Chief Executive of Cornerstone commented:  

“Huge congratulations go to all our long service colleagues, award winners, runners up and those awarded highly commended.  What a wonderful day, with a very apt, ‘1980s’ fancy dress theme to commemorate the founding of Cornerstone, 45 years ago! It was great to be able to gather together and celebrate the great work we do, share stories and celebrate success and achievements.

Many thanks to our main event sponsor CNR International for their very generous donation and to Barry Duncan Managing Director & Vice President (Finance) for announcing our inaugural Leader of the Year award”. 

A total of seven colleague awards were also presented to:  

The HR team

"The HR team has delivered outstanding impact by reducing colleague turnover, lowering sickness absence, decreasing reliance on agency staff, and improving new joiner retention. Their success stems from a strategy focused on a positive employee experience, supported by robust policies, well-trained managers, and a collaborative, supportive culture.

Specialist initiatives, such as the Menopause Awareness Project and enhanced wellbeing and attendance policies, demonstrate a person-centred approach to staff support, earning external recognition and accreditation. The HR team has strengthened Cornerstone as a values-driven, high-performing, and sustainable organisation”. 

Congratulations to all other winners who were unable to attend the ceremony including:

Helen Jaconelli

Colleague of the Year

(Operations - South)

Carly Nesvat

Leader of the Year

Alice Sawyer

Fundraiser of the Year

And a huge thanks to Gemma Stevenson who travelled all the way from our Ayrshire Branch to provide us with some fantastic, live entertainment on the day!

Congratulations go to all of our 2025 Star Award winners, runners up, highly commended and nominees. You are all stars!