Michelle Alexander, founder of Aka Life Coaching, with 28 years of experience she established the service 7 years ago to support unpaid carers, families, and employees balancing caring responsibilities alongside work and everyday life. Aka Life Coaching focuses on life coaching, family support, and employee wellbeing, shaped directly by lived experience and community need.

In October 2024, Michelle launched a free monthly community support event designed specifically for unpaid carers and families who are unable to pay for and or access weekday services. At that time, she was receiving at least five calls each week from friends of friends seeking advice, guidance, and emotional support. Feedback from those attending the sessions made it clear that carers were not only struggling in silence but were also feeling overlooked.

This led to the creation of the #ShowMeYouCare initiative, created to raise awareness of unpaid working carers who are often forgotten and don’t look like traditional carers. Michelle’s motivation is deeply personal. As a former unpaid carer herself, while working in social care, early help services, caring for family, and running her own business, the cumulative pressure took a severe toll on her physical and emotional well-being. Although services technically existed, they were rarely available at times that worked for someone who was both working and caring.

ShowMeYouCare Awards: December Celebration

On Saturday, 13 December, the community came together to celebrate the second ShowMeYouCare Awards, recognising extraordinary carers, families, and young people. The evening honoured courage, resilience, advocacy, and selflessness across the caring community. There were 35 nominations and 9 awards presented.

The judging panel on the night included Michelle Alexander, Councillor Jassal, and youth support mentor Jamie Green.

Stories Shared on the Night

  • Cllr Jassal opened the night with her deeply honest story of being an unpaid carer and the sacrifices that she had to make.

  • Selina Johns shared her ongoing journey advocating for her autistic daughter to receive an Education, Health and Care Plan. The lack of timely support led to significant mental health challenges, highlighting the emotional cost families face when systems fail them.

  • Pankhuri and Siddharth were recognised for over a decade of devotion to their son, Spasht, who was born with a congenital heart condition. Living with constant vigilance, they carefully navigated medical decisions surrounding his Ventricular Septal Defect. Despite her own health challenges, Pankhuri became the emotional anchor of the family while Father Siddharth stepped away from his career 11 years ago to become a full-time carer, allowing Mother Pankhuri to continue working.

  • Louise John, a sandwich carer, was honoured for caring for her late father during his cancer journey, advocating tirelessly for her son with additional needs, and working as a deputy manager in a children’s home supporting vulnerable young people. Louise shared how the monthly support group has changed her life.

  • Sandra, who was honoured for her lifelong commitment to supporting her two adult children with SEN needs broke into tears and explained how founder Michelle Alexander noticed her family outside at the bus stop at Perivale Hive (library) and invited her and her SEN children into the session, and she has been receiving support ever since. Sandra brought hope into the space, highlighting that she never gave up on her Autistic adult children with SEN needs. Her son Seun reported that he completed a degree and is now volunteering at Perivale Hive( library), and her adult daughter, who is non-verbal,l continues to enjoy attending arts and craft sessions.

Award Winners and Recognitions

People’s Choice Awards

Working Unpaid Carer of the Year 2025

  • Natalie Quilter, Working Carer Ambassador of the Year 2025 recognised for her exceptional advocacy for carers across workplaces. Drawing on her own experience caring for her mother, Natalie has supported over 350 colleagues directly and influenced thousands more through awareness, guidance, and compassionate leadership.

Parent Carer of the Year 2025

Fradeshas Joseph: For demonstrating resilience and supporting her family through trauma and changes in family dynamics.

Family Carer of the Year 2025

  • Sharon Brookshaw was recognised for her selflessness and continued support for family, friends, and others, even after overcoming a life-changing accident.

Young Person of the Year 2025

  • Ria John Thompson, a neurodiverse (ASD and ADHD) young person who attends a SEN school, was recognised for her resilience, creativity, and compassion. Despite mental health and daily challenges, she is completing her GCSEs, writing her own book, supporting peers, advocating for those who struggle to communicate and recently applied to the Brit School, which is her dream.

Unpaid Carer of the Year 2025

  • Miranda Lee – For 3 decades of Care: Caring for her late brother, mother and caring for her niece and nephews when her sister passed away suddenly: Spirit of Determination & Courageous Heart

 Sandwich Carer of the Year 2025

  • Louise John, was celebrated for balancing professional care work, parenting a child with additional needs, and consistently showing resilience, warmth, and dedication even during her own most difficult moments.

Young Carer of the Year 2025

  • Grace Spinola, recognised for growing up in a neurodiverse family environment and demonstrating maturity, patience, strength, and resilience far beyond her years.

Male Unpaid Carer of the Year

  • Siddharth was recognised for over a decade of devotion to his son, Spasht, who was born with a congenital heart condition Award presented in recognition of outstanding commitment and care.

 
 

Ambassador Awards

Ambassador of the Year 2025

  • Councillor Jassal, honoured for shining a light on unpaid carers after many years caring for her son with a heart condition and later for her parents.

Commendations

Bravery Award

Awarded to Spasht, who showed extraordinary courage during open-heart surgery. Despite his fears, he focused on reassuring his parents, faced every procedure with determination, and recovered with remarkable strength, fundraising and being discharged in just four days.

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Sandra and Pamela, honoured for their lifelong commitment to supporting their two adult children with SEN needs.

 
 

The ShowMeYouCare Awards stand as a powerful reminder of the unseen strength within unpaid carers, families, and young people. Through community, recognition, and shared stories, Aka Life Coaching continues to ensure carers are seen, heard, and valued.