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Mental Health And NHS England Lived Experience Charter Awards

Colin Johnson, safety rep for Prospect, one of the BT Unions, is a member of BT's Peer 2 mental health support group of volunteers, having signed up to the peer2 training to overcome a personal mental health issue 4 years ago. BT volunteers who have lived experience in various health issues are members of BT peer2peer.  They provide a first line response ear/chat to colleagues in BT if a colleague needs a chat/pathway to best advice on their situation. Colin is a trained peer2 in mental health with BT and Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust.

BT does inhouse training to be a BT peer2peer volunteer but also outside agencies do peer2 training courses in various situations, and Greater Manchester Mental Health trust allow free training to people who have experienced mental health issues

NHS England oversee the various Trusts in the UK and Greater Manchester Mental Health applied to the charter award scheme for their lived experience team doing outreach in the community both fulltime employees and volunteers in the community like Colin.

A BT Peer2peer volunteer over at Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust today to for NHS England award ceremony for Lived Experience Charter awards.

Colin's work in BT as a voluntere was used anonymously as part of the award submission.

Source: Colin Johnston

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