London Social Enterprise Wins National Care Award | London World

How a local social enterprise in South East London is finding new ways to support wellbeing

On 24 March 2025, London World reported that the VR Wellness Programme by Apax, a supported housing social enterprise based in Sydenham, South East London, had won the Development and Innovation category at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2025. It was a proud moment for everyone involved, and above all for the residents who helped to shape the programme.

The story is about more than one award. It is about what happens when a local organisation, rooted in its community, looks for new ways to help people move from crisis towards a settled, independent life.

Rooted in South East London

London World introduced Apax simply as a London social enterprise celebrating a national award. That local description matters. The work happens in South East London, close to the neighbours, services and streets that residents know as home.

Local roots shape how support is offered. Knowing an area well means understanding its pressures and its strengths, from the cost of housing to the community groups, faith organisations and local services that help people feel connected.

For residents, being supported close to familiar places can make a real difference. It allows them to keep links with family and friends, stay registered with local services and build a life in a community they already recognise.

The Award in Brief

The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, now in their 11th year, are organised by Care Management Matters (CMM) and developed with the National Care Forum. They recognise the hard work, dedication and innovation of people in the not-for-profit sector who make a positive difference to others' lives.

The 2025 ceremony was held at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham and hosted by actress and television presenter Sally Lindsay. You can read more about Apax winning the Markel 3rd Sector Award for Development and Innovation in our Awards section.

For a local team, seeing their work recognised on a national stage is a reminder that what happens in one corner of London can be useful to others far beyond it.

Bringing Calm Through Immersive Technology

The VR Wellness Programme combines immersive guided meditation with AI coaching. It is designed for people facing homelessness, depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges, DELETE (end the sentence at 'other mental health challenges.').

As London World described, the programme aims to help people with emotional regulation, ease symptoms of depression and build resilience. These are the foundations that make it possible to take the next steps towards independence and stability.

The idea behind it is simple. A few quiet minutes in a peaceful setting can help someone to feel steadier, and feeling steadier can make the practical tasks of daily life feel a little more within reach.

Wellbeing and Housing Go Hand in Hand

A safe place to live is the starting point for rebuilding a life, but it is rarely the whole story. Many people who come into supported housing are also carrying the weight of poor mental health, isolation or difficult past experiences.

Supporting wellbeing alongside housing means looking at the whole person. It means recognising that confidence, mood and resilience shape how someone manages a tenancy, builds relationships and plans for the future.

By weaving wellbeing support into everyday life, supported housing can become a place where people do not simply stay, but grow. Small, steady improvements in how someone feels can add up to lasting change.

Technology With a Human Touch

Speaking about the award, Neil Galjaard, divisional managing director at Markel, said the programme had boosted mood, increased engagement and motivation, supported practical accomplishments and enhanced wellbeing for both residents and staff.

He described it as an example of innovative technology being used to create a positive human experience. That phrase captures something important, because technology is only ever a tool. Its value comes from how thoughtfully it is offered and how well it fits each person's needs.

The relationships between residents and the people supporting them remain at the heart of everything. Technology can open a door, but it is trust, patience and encouragement that help someone walk through it.

A Shared Achievement

Anousha Vahdaty, director at Apax, told London World: “We’re incredibly proud to have won a Markel 3rd Sector Care Award.” The pride is shared by the whole team, and by the residents whose openness made the programme possible.

Israa Qaddourah, who led the programme from an initial idea, paid tribute to the team and to the residents who embraced it. Trying something new takes courage, particularly for people who have faced difficult times, and their willingness to do so has shaped every stage.

Thanks are also due to Markel, CMM and the National Care Forum, and to London World for sharing the story with readers across the capital.

A City of Shared Ideas

Recognition is welcome, but the real measure of any programme is the difference it makes in people's daily lives. That will always be the focus, and there is still much to learn from residents about what helps them most.

Across London, local organisations are finding new ways to support mental health, reduce isolation and help people build independent lives. Every idea that is shared openly makes it easier for neighbours across the city to try, adapt and improve on it.

You can read the full story, including further comments from Apax and Markel, in London World: London social enterprise wins national care award.