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CDS DS Wins Gold at the 2026 Learning Awards

We are incredibly proud to announce that CDS DS has been awarded Gold at the Learning and Performance Institute 2026 Learning Awards.

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A black and gold themed awards graphic titled “2026 People Development Programme of the Year Award Winners (Public Sector/Not for Profit).” Three large award badges are displayed across the center: a gold award on the left, a silver award in the middle, and a bronze award on the right, each featuring “The Learning Awards 2026.” Below the gold badge: “Home Office Asylum Mental Health and Wellbeing team, Hedroc & CDS DS.” Below the silver badge: “Child Mind Institute & Sponge.” Below the bronze badge: “British Red Cross.” The background is black marble with gold veining. In the top right corner, it reads “Headline Sponsor Microsoft,” and in the bottom right corner, “Sponsored by Ashorne Hill.”

We are incredibly proud to announce that CDS DS has been awarded Gold at the Learning and Performance Institute 2026 Learning Awards, alongside the Home Office and Hedroc, for our Trauma Informed Principles (TIP) project. The award was presented in the People Development Programme of the Year – Public Sector category. Winning Gold is widely regarded as the highest recognition in workplace learning and development, reserved for programmes that demonstrate exceptional impact, credibility and measurable results.

From Cultural Change to Gold Standard

Our TIP programme was designed to drive meaningful cultural change across Home Office Asylum Operations, embedding trauma informed practice into everyday behaviours, leadership approaches and operational delivery.

From the outset, the ambition was clear: to move beyond awareness and create sustainable, system-level change that would positively impact both colleagues and the vulnerable individuals they serve.

Over the past year, the programme has:

  • Equipped leaders and frontline teams with practical, trauma informed tools

  • Built internal capability to sustain and scale change

  • Strengthened psychological safety and reflective practice

  • Embedded people-centred principles into operational delivery

The result has been a measurable shift in confidence, behaviours and organisational culture, outcomes that were central to the judging criteria and ultimately led to this Gold award.

A Partnership Approach

This recognition reflects the strength of partnership working between CDS DS, the Home Office and Hedroc. The TIP programme has always been a collaborative effort, combining deep subject expertise, thoughtful programme design and committed internal sponsorship.

While awards are never the sole measure of contribution, external recognition at this level reinforces the significance of the impact achieved across a complex public sector environment.

This achievement also belongs to the many colleagues who helped make the project award winning. Their expertise, commitment and belief in the importance of trauma informed practice have been instrumental in achieving this outcome.

Raising the Bar for Public Sector Learning

The Learning Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in workplace learning globally. To be recognised at Gold level, particularly within the public sector category sets a new benchmark for what people development programmes can achieve when they are purpose-led, evidence-based and delivered with care.

For CDS DS, TIP represents more than an award winning programme. It represents the power of thoughtful learning design to drive lasting cultural change and the difference that makes to organisations and the people they serve.

If you would like to work with CDS DS on a future project Click Here.