You can learn more about our 2026 Lived Experience Judges by reading their bios.
I decided to be part of the judging panel again as I had such a good time last year. I enjoyed hearing about what other services were doing and it inspired me to try something new. I enjoy meeting new people and celebrating people’s achievements.
I am a patient in a Forensic Medium Secure Unit. I have recovered from my mental illness and I am looking forward to use my lived experience to help others in the future. My recovery journey was not easy, not a straight line, however, my resilience and hope has helped me achieve my goals.
My name is Emma. I have been at Cygnet for just about 2 years. I enjoy basketball and swimming. I love where I live. I love making new friends and hope to enjoy the awards. Seeing people make progress in their lives makes me happy.
As someone with lived experience in both PICU and ACUTE, I would be honoured to recognise those who exhibit integrity, honesty and kindness. I am passionate about LEGO, music and art, particularly painting. I use these as a positive outlet for my well-being and creativity. This is to the extent that I have been requested to complete an art mural for the ward and wider hospital to help both patients and staff de-stress and relax from the hard work they do.
I look forward to joining something I’ve never had the chance to do. I love shopping and my dog is my life and the thing that keeps me going.
I enjoy dance and want to be a Dance Therapist.
I have Lived Experience, so I have a very good understanding to what it takes to get through trauma.
I have been in services for a while, and I have been a service user Judge four times – and each time I have learned more about the diverse roll of service users and their Mental Health talents. I have Many hobbies, but enjoy making greeting cards and cooking.
This opportunity of being part of the judging panel, it will help me to acquire more skills, empowers me and makes me feel valued. It will be a good platform, where I can share my opinion, insight, and see other people work. My recovery journey has not been easy, however with support, hope, resilience I am moving towards my goal.
I would be really excited to be on the judging panel. I think awards like this are central to breaking down stigma and enhancing understanding. I love to read (especially fantasy genre!) and I enjoy arts and crafts.
Hi, I’m Femy and it is my honour to be a NLEA Judge for the second year. I work as the Patient Experience Lead for Coproduction for West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative and as a Divisional Lived Experience Partner for the Priory Group. I use my Lived Experience to help improve services in being patient, and family centred, and I am really looking forward to hearing and celebrating the hard work and efforts of others nationally doing the same. An interesting fact about me is that my full name is Femida, which is Persian for “one who understands.”
After 15 years in secure services, I now live in the community. I was under the care of the specialist community forensic team (SCFT) and now have the local Community Mental Health Team. I have been in the community for 4 years, and I have been successful in securing a lived experience paid role with PROSPECT (commissioners for Merseyside and Cheshire adult secure services). I look forward to hearing about all the amazing lived experience projects taking place across the country. I am a huge football fan, Crewe Alex is my team, but I follow all levels of football. My ultimate goal is to visit Canada to see my sister.
I have been living in the community now for 10 years, following 11 years in secure services. I have recently moved into a beautiful new flat with slightly less support than I have had before. I have also secured a job with PROSPECT LPC (Commissioners for Merseyside and Cheshire adult secure services), where I use my lived experience to improve services for others. I love dogs and regularly dog-sit for my brother. I have family in Suffolk and enjoy visiting them a couple of times per year. I also love Liverpool FC.