Why We Celebrate: The Story Behind the National Lived Experience Awards [Raf Hamaizia - Cygnet]
What happens when hundreds of people from across the UK come together to celebrate lived experience in mental health and social care? Something truly extraordinary. Podcast episode available now.
After nearly eight years championing co-production at Cygnet, Raf Hamaizia has stood on stage at the National Lived Experience Awards countless times. But the energy in that room never gets old.
“There’s awards for everything,” Raf explains in our recent podcast episode for Engage Care Talent. As Group Expert by Experience Lead at Cygnet he’s seen the sector from all angles. “But there’s not much that really celebrates the fantastic lived experience talent, the different initiatives, projects, the charitable work taking place, the creativity.”
The National Lived Experience Awards fill that gap. For many attendees, it’s the highlight of their year - some love it as much as Christmas!
Power Sharing in Action
The awards began in 2013, launched by service users at Cygnet Derby. People now travel from Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, London - all corners of the UK. Service users, support workers, nurses, chief executives, Cygnet, Priory, independent providers, and NHS trusts all come together.
“A big part of what co-production is about that power sharing,” Raf explains. “You’ve got someone in services sat next to a chief executive they’ve never met before, but everyone’s just there supporting and celebrating together.”
Rowan Marriott [founder of AudienceLink and co-host of our Engage Care Talent], who was a sponsor this year, experienced this firsthand. Walking into a room “full of rainbows,” he immediately understood: “It didn’t matter who I was. This is going to be special.”
Why Staff Need This Too
“A lot of people that have been moved to tears are the staff,” Raf notes. “Having them see a performance of someone they’ve supported over the years - you feel invested in that individual.”
In inpatient services, staff only see people during crisis points. Once discharged, they rarely witness the recovery journey’s outcome.
“It’s easy to forget what recovery looks like,” Raf said. Events like these show staff what’s possible.
Building Recognition into Daily Life
Beyond the annual event, Raf’s team has created ongoing recognition:
The People’s Council: Patients choose “staff of the month” - reversing the power dynamic
The Cygnet Yellow Book: Showcases talent and provides recovery resources in all receptions
Social Hubs: Benefit everyone. “We talk about staff as if they’re robots. Staff also like music. Staff benefit from sensory stuff too”
“I wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case,” Raf says. “It would be easy just not to invest in these things.”
The Energy That’s Hard to Describe
For Raf, standing on stage presenting never gets old. The energy - where everyone is equal, recovery is celebrated, talent is recognised - is irreplaceable.
“It’s just an energy that’s difficult to describe. Everyone’s just equal.”
This is co-production at its finest. Recognising that recovery isn’t done to people, it’s achieved with people.
As Rowan reflects: “People were addressing the room with a proper message of belief saying you can do this, you can absolutely do this.”
And it all happens in a room full of rainbows.
Want to hear the full story? Watch or listen to the complete conversation on the Engage Care Talent podcast.