Rebuilding Lives Awards
Our Rebuilding Lives Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the spinal cord injury community, who inspire others through their work, volunteering, services, support or raising awareness.
2026 award categories
– Campaigning for Change Award
This award celebrates someone who drives bold, courageous advocacy, grounded in lived experience, to campaign for change and improved outcomes for people with SCI.
Frank Williams Academy SCI Educator and Mentor Excellence Award
Honouring an educator, mentor, or supervisor whose guidance, inclusive teaching or collaborative support nurture excellence across the SCI sector. This award celebrates the inspirational aspect of learning and growth within a professional setting.
Outstanding SCI Team of the Year Award
This award is presented to a team that has made a significant difference to SCI care, treatment, or the lives of spinal cord injured people, whether it’s in a clinical setting (healthcare, rehabilitation, behind the scenes staff) at community groups, via legal or support services, or at another other SCI setting. The team should be 10 people or less.
SIA Rising Star Award
This award is for someone who is relatively new to the sector but already shining. It will be presented to someone who has gone above and beyond in their role, in a specialist SCI setting. To qualify as a ‘rising star’ they cannot have worked in the sector for more than five years.
The winners were announced at the Rebuilding Lives Awards and dinner on the evening of Thursday 1 October 2026. Attendance at the awards and dinner is included in the conference ticket price.
2026 winners and nominees
Campaigning for Change Award
- WINNER: Iwan Sadler, myeleopathy.org
- Will Behenna, Beach Access Project
- Vivien Mills, Sabre Trust
Frank Williams Academy SCI Educator and Mentor Excellence Award
- WINNER: Firas Sarhan, NSIC Clinical Education Lead, National Spinal Injuries Centre
- Jennifer Holdsworth, Spinal Practitioner, University Hospitals Sussex
- Katrina Salter, Clinical Training and Development Lead, Active Care Group
Outstanding SCI Team of the Year Award
- WINNER: Acute SCI Inreach Team, John Radcliffe Hospital
- Backup Trust Family Team
- Matt Hampson Foundation Team
SIA Rising Star Award
- WINNER: Sophie Wilson, Matt Hampson Foundation
- Jenna McCusker, Mental Health and Me Podcast
- Sophie Slate, IQ Warriors
Past Winners
- 2025 Baroness Masham award – Allison Whitehorn (CESCI)
- 2025 Frank Williams Academy healthcare professional of the year award – Chris Paton
- 2025 Outstanding team of the year award – Aspire Welfare Benefits Team
- 2025 Champion of the year award – Dani Czernuszka-Watts
General rules
Previous winners can be nominated but cannot win a category they won the previous year. They can, however, win a different category. If you’re unsure when nominating please go ahead – the judging panel will be aware of previous winners.
Please note, current SIA staff aren’t eligible to win Rebuilding Lives Awards. If they’re nominated, they won’t be shortlisted but will be notified of the nomination.
We know that so much incredible work is going on out there – in order to properly judge the awards please provide as much information as possible about your nominee and their work. Without examples, or figures when prompted, nominations may not be shortlisted.
The awards categories and nominations uphold SIA’s values – collaborative, compassionate, courageous and inclusive – and represent some of the many heroes supporting the vision in our 2030 strategy for a fulfilled life for everyone affected by a spinal cord injury.
