Platform Housing Group’s chief executive, Emma Palmer, has received a Silver Award in recognition of her work to promote accessibility, inclusion and positive change for disabled people and carers.

Emma was recognised in the Inspirational Individual category at the inaugural Harry’s Pledge Awards, held in Chester on 29 October.

The category celebrates people who use their voice, experience or platform to influence policy, raise awareness and create lasting change for carers and disabled people.

Emma, who joined Platform as chief executive in September, has worked in housing and local government for more than 30 years. Alongside her role at Platform, she serves as the Disability and Access Ambassador for Housing and has been a longstanding advocate for accessible homes, inclusive services and ensuring lived experience shapes decision making.

Emma said: “I am genuinely honoured to receive the Silver Award. Accessibility and inclusion have been central to my work because they shape whether people can live independently, whether carers feel supported and whether our homes and services genuinely work for everyone.

“No recognition like this belongs to one person. I have learned so much from disabled customers, carers, colleagues and partners who have shared their experience and challenged us to do better. This award reflects their contribution too.

“Harry’s Pledge turns words into practical commitments and I am proud to support it. I look forward to continuing this work at Platform and through my role as Disability and Access Ambassador for Housing.”

Meanwhile, social landlord Greatwell Homes received the gold trophy for ‘Carer-Friendly Employer of the Year’ for their work in embedding support for carers into its culture and integrating carer support into its policies, including flexible working arrangements, carer’s leave and time off for dependants. They have also included a section on caring responsibilities within their one-to-one process to ensure managers are able to provide the appropriate support.

Carers UK estimate that one in eight adults in the UK are carers, with one in five of those juggling work and unpaid care. Their polling in 2026 found that 1.1 million people have left employment to care in the past two years.

During National Inclusion Week in September 2026, Greatwell Homes launched their new Inclusion in Action campaign which brings together all strands of their equality, diversity and inclusion work, including their commitment to carers and people with additional responsibilities.

In a testimonial from a Greatwell Homes employee, they said: “Without the flexibility at Greatwell, returning to work alongside my child’s medical needs simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

Jo Savage, chief executive at Greatwell, said: “I am so proud of everyone within Greatwell Homes who is living and breathing the commitments and promises we made when we signed up to the pledge. It is a fantastic tool for organisations to improve their support for those with caring responsibilities, but we wanted to go one step further and to embed it into our culture and make an invaluable difference to carers throughout Greatwell Homes. Our Inclusion in Action campaign is about recognising and celebrating difference, listening to diverse voices and creating an environment where everyone feels they belong.

“Hearing the stories and experiences from so many influential people and organisations was the highlight of the afternoon. It was genuinely inspirational to hear the efforts that are happening to ensure people who are caring for a loved one with additional needs also gets the help and support that they deserve. I want to thank Harry’s Pals for shining a light on such an important cause and for all their support in our own ambitions of providing a carer friendly community.”

Greatwell also received the silver award for ‘Excellence in Professional Care’ after using Harry’s Pals Carer Friendly Audit as an opportunity to listen to carers and make meaningful improvements rather than simply achieving an accreditation.

Frania Hayes, HR and payroll manager at Greatwell Homes, said: “Since signing up to Harry’s Pledge in 2020 we have embedded support for carers into the heart of our culture and have listened to colleague’s lived experiences to help us do this.

“Our fantastic Carer Champions offer colleagues with additional support and promote a carer friendly community within Greatwell Homes. The Carer Champions also run events across the organisation such as ‘neurodiversity drop-ins’ which has created a safe space for people to share experiences, offer advice and be able to listen to others.”

Launched in 2020, Harry’s Pledge brings organisations together to improve life for people who need care and those who provide it.

Its commitments include becoming more supportive employers for people with caring responsibilities, creating accessible homes and workplaces, supporting parent carers and promoting care as a valued profession.

More than 100 organisations have backed the campaign, which works alongside Harry’s Pals, a charity providing emotional support and counselling to parents of seriously ill and disabled children.

The awards celebrated individuals and organisations making a difference across five categories, with proceeds from the event supporting Harry’s Pals.

To find out more about Harry’s Pledge and the awards, visit www.harrys-pledge.org.uk.