The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) hosted the Mental Health Star Awards 2022 to celebrate the groundbreaking work being done across the region to improve mental health and wellbeing.

This year hundreds of nominations were submitted that recognised acts of heroism and innovation that have helped people within our communities get through life during the Covid-19 pandemic. These acts will also heavily influence the work of the new Mental Health Commission as it reports later in 2022.

We had an amazing evening on Wednesday 25 March announcing the winners and honouring the nominees during our virtual event.

Ten awards were handed out from five categories by our host, star of ITV's The Chase, Paul Sinha.  

View the winners below:

Young Person (16-25)

This category is for an individual aged between 16 – 25 who has ‘gone above and beyond’ to promote mental health and wellbeing in the WMCA area. There is one award for this category across the WMCA areas.

WMCA region - Nominees/Winner

Birmingham and Solihull - Zobia Hadait

Birmingham and Solihull - Florence (Flo) Grant

Black Country - Lottie Slater

Coventry and Warwickshire - Kya Sanders

Shropshire - Harry Bowers

Individual (Over 25)

This category is for individuals in the WMCA area who have ‘gone above and beyond’ to promote mental health and wellbeing in their area. There are three awards.

WMCA region - Nominees/Winners

Birmingham and Solihull - Raj Fulchand

Birmingham and Solihull - Vickie Pring

Birmingham and Solihull - Tracie Pal

Birmingham and Solihull - Donna Bridgewater

Black Country - Ranjit Singh Wolverhampton Wrestling Club

Black Country - Vi Wood Leslie's Care Packages CIC

Black Country - Samantha Holland, Walsall College

Black Country - Kerry Tidman, Martial Arts Mental Health Company

Coventry and Warwickshire - Philip Coldicott, Stratford Upon Avon Men’s Support Group

Coventry and Warwickshire - Leanne Howlett, By Your Side

Coventry and Warwickshire - Taylor Pattinson, Waffle Shop Podcast

Coventry and Warwickshire - Laura Griffin

Team, Service or Organisation - Large organisation

This category is for a business, public service or voluntary organisation in the WMCA area that has ‘gone above and beyond’ to support mental health and wellbeing in their area. Within this there are three sub-categories of awards: one for large team, service or organisation, organisations supporting community mental health through being active and targeted support for communities.

WMCA region - Nominees/Winner

Black Country - Dudley College Student Union

Black Country - Like Minds Team, Adult Education Wolverhampton

Black Country (Also Birmingham and Coventry) -National Express Chaplaincy Service

Black Country - Walsall Council Learning and Development Team

Team/Service/Organisation – Supporting community mental health through being active

WMCA region - Nominees/Winner

Birmingham and Solihull - ARTconnects

Birmingham and Solihull - Birmingham Wheelchair Basketball Andy Craddock and team

Birmingham and Solihull - Gro-Organic Dig-it crew

Birmingham and Solihull - Chantel Hunter and

Birmingham City Football Club Community Trust

Coventry and Warwickshire - Caring City, Coventry City of Culture Trust

Team/Service/Organisation – Targeted Support For Communities

WMCA region - Nominees/Winners

Birmingham and Solihull - Living Well UK

Birmingham and Solihull - Himaya Havan CIC

Birmingham and Solihull - Anawim Team at Ardeleigh's Blended Support Unit

Birmingham and Solihull - Thursday Luncheon Club and Community Meals

Birmingham and Solihull - Hampers for Heroes CIC

Birmingham and Solihull - Lindale Recovery Services

Collaboration Award

This category is to recognise individuals and organisations who have come together in a new way during the pandemic to support the mental health and wellbeing of local people

WMCA region - Nominees/Winner

Birmingham and Solihull - Living Well Consortium 

Birmingham and Solihull - Noah's Star/Sociability Care CIC and registered charity

Black Country - Music and Mental Health Group 

Coventry and Warwickshire - Coventry City of Culture Trust - Reform the Norm

Cariss Evans Award for Innovation

Cariss Evans Award for innovation in work with young people (in memory of Cariss Evans who won a posthumous award and worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the Black Country. This award is open to nominations from across the WMCA area.

WMCA region - Nominee/Winner

Birmingham and Solihull - Yeshua Carter

Black Country - Rebecca Mainstone

Coventry and Warwickshire - Melanie Griffin