We’re thrilled to announce that we have been named winners of the 2020 national Mind awards in the category of ‘Service User Influence and Participation’ – and Highly Commended in the category of ‘Service Design and Innovation’.

This is fantastic recognition of the contribution which has been made to developing our services by individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges – particularly through our Co-Production Team and peer support work.

This award is the culmination of the journey our charity has undertaken to embed Co-Production across our organisation which began three years ago with our Co-Production statement:

‘Co-Production is the inception, planning, production and delivery of mental health services by those who use them, working together with volunteers, workers and board members. In doing so, it is essential that the experiences and skills of all parties are included and valued.

Co-Production challenges our thinking as we work together and strive to base all our services on the core values of CPSL Mind and embrace a partnership culture within our structure and practice.’

Our Co-Production Team now meet regularly to influence, innovate and challenge the rest of the organisation, playing a major role in all aspects of our work from strategy to campaigns to service design.

Rhi, a member of our Co-Production Team, says, “It is so much fun, buzzing with so many ideas and thinking about how we can make it happen. Then when you see things happen like our Good Life leaflets, the Wellbeing Wheel and our Good Mood Cafes, you think ‘that was us!’.”

David, also a member, says “Co-Production is not only wonderful for an organisation but also inspiring for the individuals taking part. For me personally I regained my confidence and, at the time, I never thought it was going to come back – but it did.”

One of our six values at CPSL Mind is inclusivity and this continues to drive the desire set out in our strategy to embed co-production and person-centred service design in everything we do. This, alongside our Co-Production Team, continues to hold everyone in the organisation to account on our commitment.

Aly Anderson, our CEO, says, “We’re so very proud of the fact that the voices of individuals with lived experience of mental health issues profoundly influence everything we do – so we’re particularly thrilled to have received this award and to be highly commended in another! These accolades combined really demonstrate our determination to work both creatively and collaboratively with individuals with lived experience, and other stakeholders from across our diverse communities to constantly develop and improve the services we offer.

A huge thank you to everyone who has generously given their time and the benefit of their experience to support us in this endeavour – particularly those who have worked as part of our ‘Co-Pro Team’.”

If you’re interested in becoming involved in our lived experience work, please contact Allan Hughes, our Co-Production Lead, at allan.hughes@cpslmind.org.uk