Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

In addition to professional expertise, our Recovery Academy recognises the value of lived experience and the shared learning that comes from people who have been there themselves.

Amy Lawrence, Recovery Academy Team Manager, said: “I feel very honoured to have joined the Recovery Academy team earlier this year, after many years working in clinical services within the Trust.

“Working alongside, and learning from, our experts by experience is a huge passion of mine, and I have loved meeting so many people who want to use their experience to empower and give hope to others.

“Hearing a wealth of recovery stories and journeys is truly inspiring to me, and I love watching, and being part of, the journeys of many of our students who go on to achieve huge successes.

“I believe that having peers within our workforce overall benefits our service users and communities, and also helps our clinical teams in relation to improving service user outcomes.”

Read more about volunteers and our Recovery Academy on our website (link in the comments).

Since opening its doors in 2018, No. 93 Wellbeing Centre has built a strong and committed volunteer community made up of local people, many with lived experience.

They play a vital role in creating a welcoming, inclusive space and delivering activities that support connection, wellbeing and peer support.

A big thank you to all our volunteers - including Lubna, Kam, Lauren and Issam - for everything you do! 💙

Read more about volunteering at No. 93 on our website (link in the comments).

Volunteers help us diversify our service offer to people who need our support.

We employ 94 volunteers across our Trust. This includes 29 Activity Assistants - a role created in response to feedback from our inpatients, who told us boredom on mental health wards was an issue.

We also have 17 volunteers working as peer mentors, with another 13 working towards their Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship. Volunteer peer mentors offer support from a position of real understanding due to shared experiences.

Steve (pictured), one of our Volunteer Peer Mentors, shares: “I had a strong desire to help others from slipping through the nets I slipped through… and I am happy to say I know I have had a positive impact.”

Read Steve’s story on our website (link in the comments).

Running for recovery 🏃

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run yesterday! 👏

Colleagues from our Chapman Barker Unit (CBU), alongside the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, completed the 10k to raise funds for new gym equipment for patients at CBU.

CBU is our specialist adult inpatient drug and alcohol detoxification service. Recovery is about more than detox alone. Physical health, routine, confidence and wellbeing all play a vital role in helping people rebuild their lives.

Access to exercise and fitness equipment can make a real difference to both mental and physical recovery during treatment.

Thanks to their efforts, over £1,500 has been raised so far - a brilliant achievement!

If you would like to support them, you can still donate via the link in the comments and help make a difference to patients’ recovery.

Well done to everyone involved - you should be so proud! 💙

Celebrating our amazing volunteers ⭐️

Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and say a big thank you to everyone who gives their time to support our services and communities.

Volunteers play a vital role across our Trust, bringing compassion, skills and lived experience that help us support people better.

Volunteering can also benefit the volunteer – building confidence, developing new skills and supporting wellbeing.

This week, we’ll be sharing volunteering stories from across our Trust and highlighting the many ways people can get involved.

To all our volunteers – thank you. You make a real difference to the people who use our services, their families and carers, and our staff. We are so grateful for everything you do. 👏💙

Visit our website to read our volunteering agenda (link in the comments).

Celebrating creativity and lived experience 🎨

Earlier this month, students and staff from our Recovery Academy, alongside our Service User and Carer Engagement and Experience Team, were proud to be part of a lived experience art exhibition at Lancaster University, hosted by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

The exhibition showcased diverse lived experiences across a variety of areas including mental health and being a carer, as well as so much more, expressed through artwork and talks. Each piece told its own story, reminding us that everyone's experience is unique.

Recovery Academy student Steve, who exhibited his work, shared: “I chose to exhibit my work to show that not all artwork needs to be perfect. My pieces are more like doodles – something I use to relax my mind.

"Seeing my work exhibited made me feel proud, and it was eye-opening to see how far I’ve come in my recovery.”

Following the success of the event, our Recovery Academy is inspired to host a lived experience exhibition closer to home in Greater Manchester. Initial conversations are already taking place, so keep an eye out for further information!

Read the full story on our website (link in the comments).

A huge congratulations to our Capital, Estates and Facilities (CEF) team, who have been shortlisted for Team of the Year at this year’s HEFMA Awards. 👏

This shortlisting recognises the vital role the team plays in supporting mental health care across the Trust footprint, delivering both day-to-day operational services and large-scale strategic improvement initiatives.

Marc Reed (pictured), Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities, said: “I’m delighted that CEF has been shortlisted for HEFMA’s 2026 Team of the Year award. It’s fantastic for GMMH to be recognised nationally by fellow NHS Estates and Facilities Management professionals. This nomination is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the teams who deliver excellence day in, day out.”

The awards take place tomorrow evening – good luck to the team! 🤞

Read the full story on our website (link in the comments).

Eid Mubarak to our Muslim service users, colleagues and communities who are celebrating Eid ul-Adha over the coming days.

Take care in the heat ☀️

Some medications, including antipsychotics and common antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can affect the body's ability to regulate temperature, especially in hot weather.

Make sure you:

💧 Stay hydrated
🧊 Keep cool
🧑‍⚕️ Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions

Read more on the UK Health Security Agency blog via the link in the comments. 👇

Medications can affect the body's ability to regulate temperature, especially in hot weather. Make sure you:

💧 stay hydrated
🧊 keep cool
👩‍⚕️ consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have questions

Find out more on our blog post: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/07/10/why-some-people-suffer-more-than-others-during-heatwaves/

To mark , we’re shining a spotlight on our Recovery Pathways service and their Sashiko Project. 🧵

This collaborative textile project brings people together to experience the therapeutic benefits of mindful stitching - supporting mental health and wellbeing through creativity and connection.

Mia Nisbet (pictured), Wellbeing Arts Tutor at Recovery Pathways and project lead, said:

“Rooted in the Japanese tradition of visible mending, sashiko reminds us that repairing what we already have is an act of sustainability, creativity and connection. Through shared, mindful stitching, the process supports mental wellbeing, creating space for calm, focus, connection and a sense of belonging.

“Each stitch tells a story of time taken, skills shared and garments valued rather than thrown away.

“This growing textile artwork has been co-created through wellbeing stitching sessions, bringing people together to mend, reflect and contribute to something bigger than themselves, celebrating care, reuse and the beauty of imperfection as a metaphor for life’s healing journey.”

Want to learn more about the Sashiko Project? Visit our website - you'll find the link in the comments. 👇