History of the awards
“The whole day was a huge success and it’s great to be in the company of such recovery orientated innovators and pioneers.”
Gary Thorpe, Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust
Formerly known as the National Service User Awards, the National Lived Experience Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals with lived experience in mental health, learning disability and autism services nationwide.
The awards began in 2013, inspired by service users at Cygnet Hospital Derby, who wanted to recognise the impact of their peers. Since then, the event has grown into an annual celebration, held at prestigious venues like Silverstone Circuit, Old Trafford, and Pride Park.
After a decade of success, a focus group proposed a name change to better reflect the community. In 2024, the awards proudly relaunched as the National Lived Experience Awards.
The event continues to shine a spotlight on inspiring individuals and innovative initiatives. Join us as we make this year’s awards bigger and better than ever.
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