Service users and carers from east London, Bedfordshire and Luton have been recognised at the awards, organised every year to shine a spotlight on the vital work of people with lived experience across the Trust.
The awards ceremony was held at the Trust’s headquarters, Robert Dolan House, on Thursday August 7. Nominees were joined by members of the People Participation (PP) directorate and members of the ELFT executive team.
The ceremony was opened by Chief Executive Lorraine Sunduza OBE and director of People Participation, Paul Binfield.
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Lorraine Sunduza praised the contribution of all service users involved with PP and spoke of the huge importance to the NHS of working with people who share their lived experience of care.
Lorraine said: "The People Participation Awards are a powerful reminder that those with lived experience are not just recipients of care, but partners in shaping it. We are deeply grateful to our service users who generously share their insights to help us grow, improve, and provide truly compassionate care. Your voices are at the heart of everything we do at ELFT."
People Participation is about helping service users and their carers to have a say in how the Trust is run. But more than that, it is also about working together so that we can offer a better service for all.
ELFT service users are involved in everything from interview panels, service improvement programmes, supporting other service users and participating in training to getting involved with Quality Improvement (QI).
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A special thanks to Tenika Mitchell-Dythe for planning the event.
Award winners:
- Befriender of the year - Deanna Jones
- Carers People Participation Award - Lynn Bliss
- Digital Champion - Moniek Huslebos
- Trainer of the Year - Amy Reeves
- Research and Innovation Award - Barnsley Street Pilot Project
- Contribution to QI or Service Improvement Award - Beryl Tanner
- Creative skills/Showcasing Talent Award - Evie Atkinson
- Equality/Equity/Inclusion Award - Gertrude Sai
- Interview Panellist - Sadia Begum
- Young Person of the Year (under 18) - Sophie Williams
- Chairs Award (Project of the Year) to be decided by the Trust Chair - Sexual Safety Charter
- CEO Award (Person of the Year) to be decided by the CEO - Sana Mohamed
Sana is the Chair for Tower Hamlets Working Together Group (TH WTG), a Climate Champion, TH rep for the Trust Wide WTG and People Participation Committee, a Barnsley Street Project rep, and is involved in several Quality Improvement (QI) projects.
She is also involved in the Mental Health Partnership Board, Interview panels, TH QI Forum, North East London (NEL) lived experience Research Group and NEL Inpatient Improvement Network, Service user/Carer Safety Group, Corporate WTG, LEAF, Climate Network and more.