15 March 2021

HSJ_Awards_Mental_Health_Redesign

Congratulations to the One Community Team who have been shortlisted for this year’s National Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value Awards in the Mental Health Service Redesign Initiative category.

This award recognises the outstanding dedication to making a positive and lasting difference within an NHS organisation.

Based in St Charles mental health inpatient facility, One Community is an initiative that connects people and it is led by patients. One Community tells patients that every day you have the chance to show your value, so bring your value and talents to our one community and shine.

Cate Latto, One Community Lead said, “It is a daily privilege to meet patients who take up the invitation to join One Community, the bonds of trust are spontaneous, genuine and from a place of love and kindness. Seeing people coming back into themselves again, transforming, eyes shining, smiling, being supportive to themselves and to one another is one of the greatest privileges of my life. “

One of the projects One Community runs is Beautiful People, it brings professional makeup artists and hair stylists onto the wards so patients can feel good about themselves and explore who they are through how they want to present themselves.

Another One Community project is the One Community Radio, which connects people in the community with the friends and staff who supported them during their time in mental health services.

One Community’s Well Read and Well Written projects bring patients and former patients together as one group, where they produce pieces of creative writing and expand on their own reading and speaking skills.

As One Community connects with patients in so many different ways, through radio, creative writing and painting to name just a few. It can be difficult to summarise in one sentence the aim of One Community, but below are a few phrases that begin to explain and paint a picture of the impactful work One Community sets out to achieve:

  • Holding you in mind, you leave hospital but you don’t leave our thoughts
  • Bridging people together, building connections and a community
  • Being proud of your mental health journey
  • Every day you have the chance to show your value, so bring your value and talents to our one community and shine

The HSJ Awards will take place at the end of June in Central Manchester where the winners will be selected following a second stage of judging.

Good luck One Community.