Hospice Gardener Wins Prestigious Ancillary Worker Award at the 2025 Palliative and End of Life Care Awards

Hospice Isle of Man is delighted to announce that Tracy Connor, Hospice’s much-loved gardener, has been awarded The Ancillary Worker Award at the 2025 Palliative and End of Life Care Awards, an accolade that recognises outstanding individuals who provide exceptional support services and help create a welcoming, therapeutic environment for people receiving palliative and end-of-life care.

This national award celebrates dedication to promoting wellbeing, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth delivery of meaningful ancillary services that contribute to holistic care. Tracy’s devotion to the gardens at Hospice Isle of Man embodies all of these values and more. Her work has created a peaceful, restorative space that brings comfort to patients, families, and staff alike.

Speaking about her win, Tracy said:

“I’m completely honoured and privileged to have won The Ancillary Worker Award.  I absolutely love my job, and honestly, our garden wouldn’t look like it does without the incredible hard work of our volunteers. It’s extra special to receive kind donations from various beneficiaries and those extra gifts have made such a huge difference in making sure our gardens look beautiful for our patients and their families.

A heartfelt thank you to Vanessa Smith and Sarah Falconer for nominating me, and to John Knight for supporting me every step of the way! I’m so grateful to Anne Shorrock, a fabulous boss, and to my amazing team – I love working at Hospice.

I am so honoured to have represented Hospice Isle of Man and to have won this award on behalf of the charity. Thank you all for your kind words and good luck wishes – your support truly means the world and I still can’t quite believe it!”

“We are incredibly proud of Tracy,” said Anne Shorrock, Head of People, Culture and Support Services, “Her love for what she does shines through every inch of our gardens, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her extraordinary impact on Hospice life.”

Tracy’s win highlights the vital role of ancillary workers in delivering compassionate, person-centred care in hospice settings across the UK and beyond.