Birmingham patient shortlisted for national award after defying the odds

A patient at Cygnet Elms who got married while in hospital, has become an actor performing about her experiences as an inpatient and now lectures university students about lived experience has been shortlisted for a National Lived Experience Award.

Vicki, who is receiving support at Cygnet Elms, a high dependency Cygnet Health Care service for women with learning disabilities and autism on Streetly Road, Birmingham, has been named as a finalist in the Individual Progress Award category at the National Lived Experience Awards.

The Individual Progress Award celebrates an individual with lived experience who has made remarkable progress on their personal journey, recognising the strength it takes to keep going and the small steps that lead to big change.

Vicki was nominated by colleagues who have witnessed her incredible achievements during more than six years at the service.

Her nomination read: "Vicki has achieved so much in her time in hospital. In particular, in this past year she has become outstanding in her knowledge, expertise and experience despite being in psychiatric hospital.

"Vicki was put into hospital over six years ago and it seemed like she would never come out, and would never be able to achieve her dreams. But she defied all odds and even got married whilst in hospital at Elms!"

The nomination also recognised the impact Vicki is now making beyond the hospital, adding: "She has now even got a job as an actor performing about her life experiences as an inpatient; and even now is a Guest Lecturer at University College Birmingham as an Expert by Experience sharing her achievements and experiences with students who will be future leaders in such settings."

During her time at Cygnet Elms, Vicki has helped shape life at the service through a range of co-produced initiatives. She has worked alongside another service user on an Unmasking Project, created two ward-based games - Elmsopoly and Elms Dobble - and this year established the first-ever Stars of Elms Awards, securing funding, designing nomination forms, organising prizes and decorations, and hosting an awards ceremony enjoyed by patients and staff.

Her nomination praised the difference she has made to others, stating: "Vicki has achieved so much and yet doesn't ever realise how much her impact is on people. She is an inspiration and deserves an award to show for it. She has come so far!”

Vicki spoke about the support she has received at Cygnet Elms and how it has helped her achieve her ambitions.

She said: "Being a specialist hospital for people with learning disabilities and autism, Elms really understand my needs, right from their very roots. Elms strive to provide me with all the support I need to reach my full potential. Life isn't easy, but Elms help me to navigate my way through the difficult times, and the day to day difficulties that I have. They help me to see a bit of hope, no matter how dim it seems."

Reflecting on how her outlook has changed, she said: "With companies like Elms, and Open Theatre Company, my opinion of my Autism has changed. I am now proud to be autistic and I champion autism, even to the point of studying it at PhD level!"

Speaking about using her experiences to help others, she said: "One of the greatest things about living with autism is that I can use it to inspire others. Being autistic is also my superpower as it provides me with a wealth of creativity that I can use to help me problem solve and share my life stories with other people in a creative way."

The National Lived Experience Awards, hosted by Cygnet Group, recognise and celebrate the resilience, creativity, determination and achievements of people accessing inpatient mental health, learning disability, autism and residential care services across the UK.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Statfold Country Park, Tamworth, on Wednesday, September 23.