The Tree of Life in Schools project has been shortlisted for the ‘Health Equalities Award’ at the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024. The programme was nominated by Dame Meg Hillier, the Member of Parliament for Hackney South and Shoreditch.
The NHS Parliamentary Awards launched in 2018 to celebrate outstanding contributions of staff, volunteers and others within the healthcare sector. MPs are tasked with nominating teams in their area, before NHS England’s regions select one nominee in each category to go through to the national shortlist. As such, Tree of Life will be representing London.
Tree of Life is a psychological intervention developed in South Africa, bringing together groups who have experiences of social suffering, as an alternative to traditional therapy methods. The Hackney model has pioneered the use of this intervention as a peer-led, African and Caribbean specific offer within local secondary schools using a whole school approach.
The project – developed as an innovative partnership – has focussed on bringing together NHS therapeutic services led by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) through Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools. This is alongside Hackney CVS and local secondary schools to deliver collaborative, effective and culturally attuned services.
Sessions have been delivered by peer leaders from African, Caribbean and dual heritage backgrounds, trained by Hackney CVS to students from the same backgrounds. The objective of the project has been to provide young people with a space to reframe identity in a positive way and discuss difficult experiences in a safe environment.
The programme has been coordinated by the local joint CAMHS Alliance and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Partnership within the Local Authority.
Tree of Life was named Most Impactful Project Addressing Health Inequalities at this year’s Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards. Last year it received the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award at the Children & Young People (CYP) Now Awards and the Reducing Healthcare Inequalities Award at the HSJ Awards – considered the ‘Oscars’ of the healthcare sector.
The City & Hackney CAMHS Alliance Programme Manager, Mariona Garcia Edo, said: “I am delighted that the Tree of Life project has received another shortlisting. This is testament to the hard work of all staff and partners involved, along with our brilliant youth leaders.
“The project is now gaining recognition amongst parliamentary colleagues, and I would like to thank Dame Meg for nominating us.”
Peer Leader from Hackney CVS, Jesse Orlando, added: “Tree of Life is changing our lives and the young people we meet. Personally, it has helped with my confidence and I find myself in places I never thought I would be.
“Seeing the growth and journey from week one to week five is priceless. I say we need to roll this programme out now! Thank you to the Tree of Life project for changing all of our lives for the better.”
Dame Meg Hillier, the Member of Parliament for Hackney South and Shoreditch, concluded: “It has been a privilege to learn about the Tree of Life project, and the pivotal role it has played in many children’s lives.
“I look forward to seeing the project continue to go from strength to strength, and I wish everybody involved the best of luck at October’s ceremony.”
In addition to the Tree of Life project, ELFT has also received a shortlisting as part of the North London Forensic Collaborative. It has been chosen as the London region finalist for the ‘Excellence in Mental Health Care’ Award.
Winners of this year’s NHS Parliamentary Awards will be announced on Monday, 14th October at a ceremony held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster.