At the start of the event, the audience was treated to a selection of songs by the talented Aaron Anderson (Andersol) who got everyone clapping and singing before Paul Binfield and Upma Monga got down to the serious business of getting the presentations started. The audience got involved with an impromptu drumroll before each award was announced by drumming on the tables, such was the anticipation!
Award winners were clearly astonished to hear their name read out. Each received a shiny gold 'Oscar' and a certificate. The breadth of work taking place across the Trust involving volunteers and people participation colleagues ranged from research, befriending to their presence on interview panels.
One 
of the awards, the Chief Executive Person of the Year, was issued posthumously to Martin Sanderson, a long-serving member of the patient participation group at the Greenhouse Practice in Hackney. Martin, sadly passed away earlier this year. Martin was passionate about the services The Greenhouse offers to the homeless population it serves. He supported staff too highlighting resources for staff to access to help them with their own health and wellbeing. That award got a very warm round of applause.
In her closing words, Chief Executive Lorraine Sunduza OBE, spoke about how proud she was of the role of people participation in the work of the Trust and the achievements of everyone nominated - that we cannot do what we do without service users and carers working alongside us. She reflected on the impact of the racist violence of the preceding week, particularly on people’s sense of belonging in this country. But said, as she looked around the audience, it was the epitome of diversity, enthusiasm and kindness and brought home what can be done when we come together and unite.
Thank you to all the staff and service users who helped to make this event happen.
Thank you to the People Participation Awards Committee: Paul Binfield, Millie Smith, Upma Monga, Aleya Hussain, Tenika Mitchell-Dythe and the whole People Participation Team.
A special thank you to Paul Binfield, Director of People Participation
