Patient or Professional Association of the Year

Summary of work

Winner: Rethink Mental Illness

Following a successful rebranding in a bid to raise its public profile and having led a coalition of health charities to help influence the Health & Social Care Bill, Rethink Mental Illness created an important and lasting impact during 2011.

With around 250 services and over 150 support groups, the mental health charity helps almost 60,000 people each year. And through campaigning, both at a national level for policy change and a local level for supporting people in need, Rethink Mental Illness has positioned itself as the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services.

Throughout 2011, the charity hosted local training events across England, which brought service users and carers into direct contact with decision makers from the NHS and social care. As a result, NHS Trusts have committed to addressing the physical health inequalities for people affected by mental illness.

Furthermore, in June 2011 all recommendations put forward by the Richmond Group of charities, led by Rethink Mental Illness, were accepted by the coalition government and incorporated into the revised Health and Social Care Bill.

Judges comments

Against very stiff standard of entries they stood head and shoulders above the competition because of their clear strategy. In times of financial hardship they remained true to their mission.