The day was dedicated to celebrating workers in healthcare, local government, and emergency services who have been pivotal in supporting communities during challenging times.

Councillor Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, praised the contributions of public sector employees and highlighted their critical role in society.

“Champions Day is an important reminder of the incredible work our public servants do daily, often without the recognition they deserve,” said Councillor Logue.

“From care homes and supporting people in their own homes to our classrooms, these workers are the backbone of our communities.

"North Lanarkshire Council is proud to support this initiative and highlight the work of many unsung champions in the public sector.”

As part of Champions Day, workers from various sectors were recognised for their dedication and outstanding contributions.

And Unison representatives used the day to promote our home support workers.

John Watson of Unison North Lanarkshire said: “Home support workers need to be skilled in so many ways to undertake this challenging and fast-paced role. Diplomacy, empathy and compassion are just a few of the personal attributes these workers must possess.

“Couple this with a sense of humour, patience and personal resilience to start realising that there is more to their job than meets the eye.  Having a genuine interest in people and treating everyone as they would want their own family to be treated cannot go without mention – kindness, caring, selflessness, discipline, honesty, and courage must also be highlighted.  

“It takes dedication, professionalism and commitment to perform the role these workers carry out daily. The job of a home support worker should never be underestimated; it is so much more than being ‘just a carer.’     

“We are incredibly proud of what our home support workers achieve and how they have embraced the many challenges they have faced through the last few years.”