The National Lived Experience Awards are designed to celebrate service user led initiatives in mental health, learning disability and autism services nation wide and service users involved in the shortlisted projects are invited to an exclusive awards ceremony, where the winners will be announced.
Together, a panel of head judges and lived experience judges, who attended the judging day on the 25th July, judged individual categories, and shortlisted each anonymous nomination. The judges focused on co-production, service user involvement, and the uniqueness of each project. They made difficult shortlisting decisions with great care and dedication, ensuring that every submission was evaluated fairly and thoughtfully.
The Cygnet finalist projects are:
How Music Helps Day-to-Day with Recovery, Cygnet Oaks, Lodge Ward, Cygnet Health Care – Finalist in the Community and Collaboration Award category
Music is one of the most popular forms of media in this day and age. For people in services, it can give them a chance to escape from how they are feeling. For this project, the service users have taken time to create music which has got them involved and part of a community. The project has also helped to support service users from a variety of sites to interact and find a new hobby.
Supported Living Social Club, Yorkshire Supported Living, Cygnet Social Care – Finalist in the Community and Collaboration Award category
During the residents’ People’s Council meetings, individuals asked for a Social Club that all could attend. Each month, the service votes for what theme they would like to see for the next event. The Social Club events are accessible to the services within Huddersfield and facilitates people from other services to meet in a safe space. Everyone has enjoyed attending, picking the theme and helping to decorate the venue. The night is always great fun for everyone.
Quality Improvement (QI) Project, The Orchards, Cygnet Social Care – Finalist in the Community and Collaboration Award category
Residents Johnathan, Daniel and David wanted to improve rundown facilities and environments that they use regularly in the local village for themselves, and the local villagers, to increase satisfaction. The positive effects have not only benefited the community and the wider perception of the service but also built on the friendships with the residents. This was Cygnet Social Care’s first resident-led Quality Improvement Project.
Jordan – Pines’ Football Player, Pines, Cygnet Social Care – Finalist in the Community and Collaboration Award category
Jordan attends weekly football sessions at Mansfield Town Football Club, which is put together for young adults with additional needs. When he joined, Jordan required a high level of staff support to manage his anxieties and behavioural needs and was not comfortable in a group setting. But due to how well Jordan has done and has moved on with his life, he has signed up to be a player. Since joining the team, he enjoys spending time in a group and has made new friends in the community.
Pines and Cherry Tree Pantomime, Pines and Cherry Tree House, Cygnet Social Care – Finalist in the Hope and Positivity Award category
During a resident’s community meeting, a resident stated they would like to take part in a pantomime, as they did not have the chance at school. Residents then co-produced a production of ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Buddy Elf’. Everything from the costumes, props, scripts and production was created and designed by the residents and staff.
Shaun – Peer Buddy Mentor and People’s Council Lead, Cygnet Fountains, Cygnet Health Care – Finalist in the Hope and Positivity Award category
As People’s Council Lead, Shaun is a natural advocate for co-production and developing a ‘Peer Buddy Mentor’ system, which helps others throughout their rehabilitation journey.
He values co-production and has been advocating as the voice for his peers. By working alongside staff members to improve attendance in the meetings, and encouraging the participation of others in ward meetings; this has positively impacted patient involvement and co-production throughout the service. Once discharged, Shaun would like to take on an Expert by Experience role to continue supporting others.
Social Hub, Cygnet Hospital Bierley, Cygnet Health Care – Finalist in the Innovation in Recovery Award category
What was once a dull ‘tuck shop room’ has since been transformed into a vibrant Social Hub. The service users and staff worked together during community meetings to discuss what they would like in the room. They created a wish list, then staff took service users out shopping to buy the items they wanted in the room. The Social Hub has since become the heart of recovery for service users across the service and the initiative is now being rolled out across services within Cygnet Health Care.
Lois – Healthy Living Project, Cygnet Hospital Woking, Picasso Ward, Cygnet Health Care – Finalist in the Outstanding Leadership Award category
Lois, an Expert by Experience, co-produced a ‘Healthy Living’ guide with the Operations Director and service users. The aim of this is to support service users in achieving weekly healthy living goals. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the group are evident and the service now shares this project across Cygnet sites. Lois is a positive and vibrant leader, she takes pride in working with people and proves repeatedly how important Experts by Experience are across the services.
We would like to congratulate all the service users and residents nominated for the above projects, they should be extremely proud. We wish them every success for the final on Tuesday 24th September at Doncaster Racecourse.
You can view the full list of all the National Lived Experience Awards 2024 finalists here.