Star Stories: Hammersley Homes & Founder Louise Hallett

We are delighted to celebrate Hammersley Homes and its founder Louise Hallett, who have both been awarded ‘Stars for Stars’ in our latest round of community nominations.

Our Stars for Stars awards are all about recognising the organisations and individuals who help make Southampton a kinder, more mental-health-friendly city. Every nomination comes directly from members of the public, making these awards particularly special. This quarter, the strength and sincerity of the four nominations for Hammersley Homes and Louise truly stood out.

Changing lives

Hammersley Homes was nominated for creating a space where people feel genuinely understood and valued. We repeatedly heard how the charity’s work changes lives for adults living with enduring mental illness, including those with complex needs, by offering compassion, consistency and long-term support. One nominator told us this was the first organisation where they felt truly seen and supported – a powerful testament to the charity’s impact.

‘Beating heart’

Alongside the organisational Star, we were also pleased to award a personal Star to Louise Hallett, described by one nominator as ‘the beating heart of Hammersley Homes.’ Her nomination highlighted the passion, commitment and leadership that have driven the charity forward since its foundation and the unwavering belief that people living with enduring mental ill health deserve dignity, stability and care for life.

Addressing a gap

Founded in 2018, Hammersley Homes was created to address a major gap in mental health provision – what happens to people who cannot simply recover or live independently.

Through long-term outreach support and its vision for fully supported homes for life, the charity focuses on safety, security, comfort and friendship for those who too often fall through the cracks.

Impact & dedication

Awarding two Stars like this in the same quarter reflects both the impact of Hammersley Homes as an organisation and the extraordinary dedication of the person behind it.

We are proud to recognise this contribution and grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate them. It is exactly this kind of compassion and community commitment that our Stars for Stars programme exists to celebrate.

Like to nominate your star or stars?

Put forward your star, or stars, today and help us make Southampton a brighter, kinder place for all. Please nominate them here! Nominations for our current quarter can be made until the end of June 2026.

You can also find out more about the scheme here.

From April 2026, we’ve made a small update to our Stars for Stars nomination guidelines. We ask that individuals don’t nominate themselves, or the organisation or place where they work.

Nominators may remain anonymous, but we do request contact details so nominations can be verified if needed. We warmly encourage service users, friends, family members, supporters and community members to submit nominations – your voices are what make this people-powered and meaningful.

Photo taken with thanks to Tim Kenyon Photography.