The National Service User Awards are designed to celebrate service user led initiatives in mental health, learning disability and autism services across the country and service users involved in the shortlisted projects are invited to a black tie gala awards ceremony, where the winners will be announced.
The five projects that made it to the final included:
- Bierley Bulletin, Cygnet Hospital Bierley – Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Co-Production’ category
- Mural for Hope, Cygnet Churchill – Finalist in the ‘Recovery and the Arts’ category
- Music 2 Empower – ‘Dreaming’, Cygnet Hospital Woking – Finalist in the ‘Recovery and the Arts’ category
- Autism Awareness Day, Cygnet Elms – Finalist in the ‘Outstanding Service User Leadership’ category
- Music Session – Service User Led Performance, Cygnet Hospital Taunton – Finalist in the ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ category
The competition was particularly strong this year and although none of the above projects won their categories the projects from Cygnet Elms and Cygnet Hospital Woking did win the service user vote on the day in their categories to also make it through to the final of the Mark Britton Service User Choice Award.
Riccardo Brade, Activities Co-ordinator at Cygnet Elms, said “Today’s been really amazing, I’m really proud of the finalists. It has been really nice to come and hear everyone’s stories and all the fantastic work they have been doing in their units. Congratulations to everyone!”
Service users from Cygnet also contributed to the event in a number of other ways including several being members of the Service User Events team. Service users and residents from Cygnet Elms, Cygnet Hospital Derby, Cygnet Hospital Maidstone and Nightingale also played a part entertaining attendees through music, poetry and dance. David, a finalist in the ‘Recovery and the Arts’ category was also able to make an impromptu performance of two songs much to everyone’s delight.
Chris, a member of the events team said, “It has been fantastic. Not just with helping with the event itself but also being able to perform and challenging myself as well. It was the biggest audience I’ve performed in front of. It has just been a great day.”
A special mention goes to Amy-Louise, a resident at Nightingale. Amy-Louise was a member of the events team and was given a standing ovation when she sang and tapped along to ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten. As it was also her birthday Amy-Louise was given the honour of cutting the celebratory 10th annual awards cake.
Well done and congratulations to all the Cygnet service users and residents who took part in the awards and played such a big part in making it the most memorable National Service User Awards final to date.
To find out the winners please visit the National Service User Awards website.