National Service User Awards 2015

On Wednesday 11th March 2015 Silverstone race course played host to the 2015 National Service User Awards, sponsored by Cygnet Health Care. Over 175 service users and staff from NHS and independent sector services joined together from all over the country to celebrate the achievements of service users in mental health services.

dsc_4235

The judging for the 2015 Awards was initially undertaken by a panel of ten service user judges before the winners were picked by a judging panel made up of Ian Callaghan (National Service User Lead – Recovery and Outcomes), Rosie Ayub (Patient and Public Partnerships Account Manager, NHS England), Anne Beales (Director of Service User Involvement, Together for Mental Wellbeing) and Mary-Ann Doyle (Programme Director Specialised Mental Health, NHS England). Each member of the juding panel attended the event and presented an award to the winner of each category.

dsc_4225

As well as the five main categories a new addition to this year’s event was a ‘Service User Choice Award’. This was voted for live on the day, the selection being made up of the runners-up from each category. The ‘Service User Choice Award’ was presented by guest judge Olivia Butterworth (Head of Public Voice, NHS England).

dsc_4222

All of the finalists had inspirational stories to tell but the overall winners for each category were as follows:

Community, Social and Vocational Initiative

Thornford Park Service User led Enterprise, Priory Group

Innovations in My Shared Pathway

‘Getting on with People’ Card Game, Adult Forensic Service, Edenfield Centre Medium Secure Unit, Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust

Reducing Stigma / Tackling Discrimination

Change UR Mind, Youth Focus: North East

Physical Health and Wellbeing

Recovery Murals Project, St Andrews Birmingham

Outstanding Service user Achievement Award

Ravenswood Recovery Steering Group, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Service User Choice Award

Joint Winners:

Wyvern Ward Social Enterprise Charity Group, Cygnet Hospital Derby

“Taking Back My Life”, Service User from Cygnet Hospital Bierley

In between each award presentation attendees were entertained by some beautiful musical performances from service users from Cygnet Hospital Ealing, St Andrews Birmingham, The Spinney and Cygnet Hospital Bierley. Service users from the Ashworth High Secure Hospital were represented by recordings from their Musicians in Residence Group and an amazing display of some of their work in the exhibition area.

dsc_4618

Congratulations to the winners and all the finalists for helping make it such a special day. A huge thank you also to the Service User Events Team for planning such a successful event and to our comperes who hosted the day in style!

Share this article