Publish date: 6 February 2026
We’re delighted to announce that Community Mental Health Services have been awarded the Gold award for the Lived Experience Charter!
The Lived Experience Charter recognises services that champion, embed, and celebrate the expertise of people with lived experience. Of the four possible levels — Working Towards, Bronze, Silver, and Gold — we are incredibly proud to have achieved the highest standard.
This achievement follows a long and thorough application process, which proved to be both challenging and immensely insightful. It gave us the opportunity to reflect on the exceptional work already happening across our services to ensure lived experience is valued, represented, and integrated into everything we do.
Assessment Panel feedback on the Community Mental Health Service Line Lived Experience Charter application:
“This team exemplifies what it means to be values-driven and inclusive. From peer support resources that instil confidence, to trauma-informed supervision focused on strengths, you’ve created an environment where people feel connected and empowered. As one case study said, ‘I felt welcomed and part of the team from day one.’
Your commitment to flexibility and tailored work plans shows you truly listen to individual needs—‘It’s not one-size-fits-all,’ and that’s powerful. Governance and planning groups demonstrate genuine co-production, giving lived experience a voice in shaping policy.
The induction programme promotes wellbeing and confidence, while clear pathways for progression and robust TI training foster psychological safety. Support networks and reflective practice encourage innovation and meaningful change.
In short, your approach is collaborative, compassionate, and forward-thinking—an outstanding example of best practice. As one participant put it, ‘You didn’t just open the door—you walked through it with us.’ Congratulations on receiving the gold award and on setting the standard for inclusivity and empowerment!”
We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this success. In particular:
• Carolyn Gaskell from the CMH Transformation Team, for leading the evidence gathering and application process with such dedication.
• Ann Taylor, Senior Lived Experience Peer Support Worker, for their commitment and expertise.
• All of our wonderful Peer Support Workers, whose passion and lived experience enrich our teams every day.
The assessment panel shared that our application was one of the best they had ever seen — a remarkable testament to the collective effort across our services. Thank you; we genuinely could not have achieved this without you.
In total, 99 services nationally have achieved the Lived Experience Charter award, and only 20 have reached Gold. We are enormously proud that Community Mental Health Services are among this outstanding group.
To celebrate and share more about this work, the CMH Quarterly Clinical Excellence Meeting on Tuesday, 24 February at 9:30am will focus entirely on Lived Experience. If you would like to hear more about the award and the invaluable contributions of our Lived Experience colleagues, please do join us – the meeting link can be found here: Community clinical excellence :: YourSpace Mersey Care
