The awards shine a spotlight on personal successes, inspiring recovery journeys, contributions to service communities, and achievements that demonstrate the strength and potential of people with lived experience. Whether the accomplishment is big or small, every story deserves to be recognised and celebrated.
Who are the awards for?
The National Lived Experience Awards are open to individuals accessing inpatient and residential mental health, learning disability and autism services across the UK. The awards recognise individuals who have made a positive difference to themselves, their peers, their service community, or the wider community.
History of the awards
Formerly known as the National Service User Awards, the National Lived Experience Awards celebrate the achievements of people with lived experience who access inpatient and residential mental health, learning disability and autism services across the UK.
The awards began in 2013, inspired by service users at Cygnet Hospital Derby who wanted to recognise the impact and achievements of their peers. Since then, the event has grown into a nationally recognised celebration, hosted at prestigious venues including Silverstone Circuit, Old Trafford and Pride Park Stadium.
After a decade of success, a focus group proposed a name change to better reflect the community the awards represent. In 2024, the awards proudly relaunched as the National Lived Experience Awards.
Today, the awards continue to celebrate personal achievement, recovery, innovation, creativity and community impact, ensuring the accomplishments of people in inpatient and residential services receive the recognition they deserve.
At the heart of everything we do is our Lived Experience Events Team. We are incredibly proud that these awards are planned for service users, by service users.
Celebrating Achievement, Inspiring Others
The National Lived Experience Awards celebrate achievements, big and small, and share success stories from individuals accessing inpatient and residential mental health, learning disability and autism services throughout the UK. By recognising these accomplishments, we hope to inspire others, challenge stigma and showcase what’s possible when people are supported to thrive.
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