Rachel Yates Hoyles Wins Leadership in Dementia Award at the UK Dementia Awards 2026
Skills for Care is proud to announce that Rachel Yates Hoyles, National Practice Innovation Lead, has been named the winner of the Leadership in Dementia Award at the UK Dementia Awards 2026.
The award recognises Rachel’s truly exceptional leadership, longstanding commitment, and profound contribution to improving dementia care across England. The Leadership in Dementia Award celebrates individuals who inspire excellence, drive positive change, and uplift others in the pursuit of better outcomes for people living with dementia, their families, carers and the wider adult social care workforce.
Rachel has worked across multiple sectors and organisations throughout her career, drawing on deep knowledge of dementia best practice. Most recently in her role at Skills for Care she has co-produced the development of a national suite of dementia resources which have are being used across the adult social care sector, supporting home care workers, care homes, community teams and family carers. These resources have been widely praised for being practical, inclusive and rooted in lived experience.
Alongside her national work, Rachel is also Chair of Trustees at Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing. The organisation was also recognised on the night, winning the Independent Small Provider Award.
Speaking about receiving the award, Rachel said:
Thank you to Marie Lovell for the nomination, my wonderful Skills for Care colleagues and everyone I’ve had the privilege to work with – it truly means the world. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of so many passionate people committed to improving the lives of those affected by dementia. Being guided by lived experience and championing person-led, compassionate care will always be at the heart of my work.
The judges praised Rachel’s impact in glowing terms, saying:
A truly exceptional, passionate and inspirational leader, who has worked across multiple sectors and organisations and drives demonstrable improvements in dementia care. In the roles she has undertaken, she's drawn on her deep knowledge of best practice in dementia care, to co-produce, develop and deploy a range of high-quality dementia care support resources. Her work has had profound, nationwide, far-reaching impact on people living with dementia, their families and carers, as well as the wider adult social care workforce.
The UK Dementia Awards, delivered by Dementia Community, celebrate the people, projects and partnerships making a meaningful difference to those affected by dementia. Judged by a panel of experts, including people with lived experience, the awards shine a light on leadership that is compassionate, inclusive and impactful.
Print this page