Nico won the award for his art project “Wonders of our colours helps us through our day.” Working with the support of the Occupational Therapy team Nico transformed the communal areas on Madison Ward with a series of fantastic wall murals, all of his own design.
Nico said, “I have always found art and painting as a way to escape from the troubles and trauma in my life. A safe place I can call my own…in my own little world. When Paul O’Keefe, my Occupational Therapy Assistant, recommended we should put an entry into the National Service User Awards 2020 for my work I refused point blank. Not because I didn’t want to but because I have never won anything in my life and couldn’t face the disappointment or the feeling of rejection. Paul was persistent and encouraged me to face it as a challenge. Eventually I agreed reluctantly.”
The team helped Nico put together this short video as part of his entry submission in the Recovery and Arts category.
The final of the National Service User Awards was originally scheduled to take place earlier this year but was delayed due to the pandemic. Ultimately it was held as a virtual event on Tuesday 10th November.
Describing his feelings on the big day Nico said, “I got dressed up for the day and was very nervous but excited. It felt important to me and felt I was representing my ward which I was proud of. Spending many years away I don’t have many memories of being proud of myself.
“Just being nominated as a finalist made me feel on top of the world so you can imagine the feeling when my work was selected as a winner and my name was called out. It still has not sunk in and I find it difficult to sleep. Not difficulties with anxieties or worries like before, but feelings of excitement and pride. I am sure I go to sleep smiling now.
“I would like to thank Paul O’Keefe (OTA) and all my staff on Madison Ward here at Bury for having faith in my work and for enabling me to experience something I have never before. Also John Wiggins (Patient Engagement Lead) for putting it all together so professionally and his continuous support and advice.”
A huge well done to Nico and congratulations to the other Cygnet finalists in the awards, these were:
Mental Health Survival Kits, Cygnet Acer Clinic – Finalist in the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ category.
Pride of Cygnet Derby Awards, Cygnet Hospital Derby – Finalist in the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ category.
Co-Production in Research and Evaluation Group, Joint project between Cygnet Hospital Derby, Alfred Minto House & IMROC – Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Co-Production’ category.
Impact Framework Working Group, Joint project between NHS England & Cygnet Hospital Derby – Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Co-Production’ category.
Cygnet Beckton Music Festival, Cygnet Hospital Beckton – Finalist in the ‘Outstanding Service User Involvement’ category.
Sylvia, Expert by Experience, Cygnet Hospital Derby – Finalist in the ‘Outstanding Service User Involvement’ category.
The above service users and service user led projects continue to inspire staff and service users across Cygnet. Megan, a service user at Cygnet Acer Clinic, was a finalist for her Mental Health Survival Kits. Caroline, a support worker at Acer Clinic said, “It is a truly inspiring experience to be able to work alongside service users such as Megan who have others in mind at the end of her recovery and wanting to share her knowledge and experience in which she has worked hard to gain during her time here at Acer Clinic.
“It is fantastic to be able to see the outstanding results of Megan’s hard work on being nominated for a National Service User Award. Although Megan has been discharged, her legacy lives on at Acer Clinic, as this year for World Mental Health Day, we gave all service users a gift bag containing similar items to Megan’s survival kits in an attempt to brighten their day.”