An occupational therapy team from Northern Ireland are the overall winners of the UK-wide Advancing Healthcare awards. Lynsey Grierson, clinical specialist occupational therapist at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Sheila Smyth, musical director at The Right Key, won the award for creating a singing project for high risk and vulnerable prisoners, to give them hope and a sense of purpose, both inside and outside the gates.
The Voice of Release project lowered stress levels and gave prisoners a sense of optimism. The group has recorded a CD and undertook paid performances, funds of which are put back into the project. The judges said: ‘It’s a fabulous project with outstanding partnerships. Inspirational, bold and countering stigma – an outstanding success in a tough environment.’
Lynsey and Sheila were also winners of The Guardian award for innovation in mental health services, one of twelve categories in the awards programme. Public services editor David Brindle, who presented the award, commented:
We were thrilled by the huge response to this new category in the awards and the exceptional quality of the entries – a striking reminder of the inspirational work going on across the healthcare system in defiance of austerity.
Read what the Guardian said about the Advancing Healthcare Awards here.
The award was presented at a celebration lunch on 31 March 2017 at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London. This year there was a record breaking number of entries so thank you to all those who supported, attended and entered the awards. A full list of winners, photographs from the day and further information is available here.