We’re delighted to announce St Mary’s Riverside as the winner of Care Home of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire.
This award recognises care settings that provide not only high standards of support, but also warmth, dignity and a genuine sense of home. St Mary’s Riverside is a very deserving winner. Nestled directly beneath the Humber Bridge on the banks of Hessle foreshore, this 61-bedded residential care home for the elderly offers residential care, dementia care and short respite breaks in a beautiful setting designed to support people in later life.
Since opening in March 2022, St Mary’s Riverside has quickly established itself as a place where exceptional care and a strong community spirit go hand in hand. As part of the wider St Mary’s Group, which has established homes across Yorkshire, the team set out with a clear goal: to offer outstanding care within a high-quality environment, driven by a real desire to make a difference in people’s lives. That ambition is clearly being lived out every day.
A care home built on compassion and quality
From the beginning, St Mary’s Riverside was created to be more than just a care setting. The aim was to build a home where residents feel safe, valued and genuinely cared for, while families feel reassured that their loved ones are in the right place.
That vision has shaped the culture of the home from day one. The team has worked hard to create an atmosphere that feels warm, positive and supportive, with care tailored to the individual needs of each resident. Whether someone is living at the home full time, receiving specialist dementia support or staying for a short respite break, the focus remains the same: compassionate care delivered with kindness and respect.
The surroundings play their part too. With its striking location on Hessle foreshore, St Mary’s Riverside offers residents a peaceful and uplifting environment. But it is the people inside the home who truly make it special. This award reflects the care, effort and humanity that the team brings to their work every single day.
What makes St Mary’s Riverside stand out
One of the key things that sets St Mary’s Riverside apart is that it is a high-performing home with low staff turnover. In care, that matters enormously. Consistency is so important, especially for older residents and those living with dementia, because familiar faces help build trust, reassurance and emotional wellbeing.
By retaining staff and fostering strong long-term relationships between team members and residents, St Mary’s Riverside has created the kind of continuity that makes a real difference. Residents are not simply looked after by a rotating list of carers. They are supported by people who know them, understand them and can build genuine bonds with them over time.
That level of connection helps create a more personal and comforting experience for residents and their families alike. It also speaks volumes about the internal culture of the home. A team that stays, grows and works well together is usually a sign of strong leadership, shared values and an environment where people feel proud of what they do.
Recognition earned early on
One of the most impressive milestones in the St Mary’s Riverside story came very early in its journey. Within just a year of opening, the home achieved an Outstanding outcome with the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
That is a remarkable achievement for any care home, let alone one so newly opened. It reflects not only the standards that were put in place from the start, but also the commitment of the entire team to delivering excellent care in every area of the service.
To earn that level of recognition so quickly takes hard work, attention to detail and a strong, resident-focused culture. It shows that St Mary’s Riverside did not just set out with good intentions. It backed those intentions up with action, consistency and exceptional delivery. This latest award is another clear sign that the home has continued building on that early success.
A team that goes above and beyond
When asked what they are proudest of, St Mary’s Riverside points straight to its staff. That says a great deal about the values of the home. Their team is described as going above and beyond to help and support residents, often exceeding their job descriptions and working tirelessly to improve the service.
That dedication has helped create a loving and positive culture within the home. It is the kind of environment where residents can feel secure and cared for, and where families can see that the people supporting their loved ones are deeply committed to what they do.
The home also recognises that these efforts extend beyond residents alone. In many cases, the team provides reassurance and compassion to extended family members too, especially during difficult emotional times. In care, those small acts of understanding and extra support can mean the world. They help families feel seen, supported and confident in the care being provided.
At the heart of the local community
Community links are a major part of life at St Mary’s Riverside. The home regularly hosts visits from local nurseries and schools, creating opportunities for residents to share stories, take part in crafts and enjoy valuable intergenerational connection. Those moments can be incredibly meaningful, bringing energy, joy and a sense of purpose into everyday life.
The team also hosts memory cafés and coffee mornings, offers facilities for local group meetings, and provides work experience placements for local students. Residents are encouraged to support local charitable initiatives too, helping them remain connected to the wider world around them.
That active role in the community is not just a nice extra. It is central to the home’s philosophy. St Mary’s Riverside understands that local links are vital for supporting mental health, reducing isolation and strengthening emotional wellbeing. By creating opportunities for connection, belonging and shared experience, the home helps residents remain part of a wider social network rather than feeling cut off from it.
What this award means
When St Mary’s Riverside learned they had won Care Home of the Year, the reaction was one of genuine happiness at the recognition. That response feels entirely fitting for a team whose work is so clearly rooted in care rather than fanfare.
For the home, this award is a testament to the tireless work ethic and dedication of their team. It reflects the daily effort that goes into making the home the best it can be, and the commitment shown by staff in delivering care with compassion and consistency.
They also believe their residents will feel immense pride and joy in seeing the home recognised. That is such an important part of this win. Awards like this do not just celebrate the staff and leadership; they also affirm to residents and families that they chose a home where quality, kindness and community truly matter.
Looking ahead, St Mary’s Riverside aims to continue investing in staff, moving beyond compliance and focusing on continuous innovation while fostering a best-in-class culture. That ambition suggests there is still more to come from a care home that has already achieved so much in a short space of time.
Congratulations to St Mary’s Riverside
At My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate organisations that make a real difference in people’s lives. St Mary’s Riverside is a wonderful example of that.
From exceptional care standards and a strong team culture to meaningful community connections and an impressive early track record, they have created a home that residents and families can be proud of. Their win is a reflection of the compassion, professionalism and dedication that runs through everything they do.
Congratulations to St Mary’s Riverside, a highly deserving winner of Care Home of the Year 2026.
A special acknowledgement also goes to their supportive regional manager, managing director and CEO, whose commitment helps ensure that residents remain at the heart of every decision.
And finally, a message from the team: “Thank you for your support and for voting for us.”
