Louise Coupland shares her experience of attending the Self Management Awards 2018

Self Management Week is always one of our busiest, hardest and happiest weeks within the Self Management Team. The Self Management Awards ceremony is always one of my favourite ALLIANCE events and it was great to attend the event as it celebrated its seventh year.

My favourite thing about the awards is that the ALLIANCE hosts it in the Garden Lobby, in the hub of Scottish Parliament. On the evening, individuals who are at the heart of our communities, crucial to all the great work which is being delivered on self management and are actively changing lives for the better are right at the core of the institution which makes decisions on behalf of the people of Scotland.

The award ceremony always has a great buzz around it and once again, Jackie Baillie MSP did a great job at hosting the event – she actively encourages audience participation (think whooping and foot stomping) and her enthusiasm for the event further demonstrates the importance in acknowledging the achievements of all the shortlisted nominees.

Jeanne Freeman MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport kicked off the evening by announcing a further twenty six projects will be supported by the Self Management Fund, which is always a great start to any event. Twimukye Mushaka gave a fantastic and inspiring address which left the audience moved and enthused.

The unveiling of the award winners is always an emotional rollercoaster!! The commitment from each nominee to deliver on self management, supporting people with long term conditions to live their lives better, on their terms is so extraordinary, so I can only hope those who were shortlisted realise how great they are as each category can ultimately only have one winner.

The 2018 winners are:

  • Self Management Project of the Year: Joint Creativity Project- Arthritis Care
  • Self Management Resource of the Year: CARED
  • Self Management Partnership of the Year: Joint Potential Plus- Arthritis Care Scotland and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Rheumatology Department
  • Self Management Champion of the Year: Henriette Koubakouenda
  • Individual Transformational Story of the Year: Lorna Cameron
  • Year of the Young People- Self Management Award: Diabetes Scotland- Young Leaders Team

The theme of this year’s Self Management Week was ‘Gaun Yersel’ as we celebrate ten years of the Self Management Strategy for Scotland. The award ceremony absolutely highlighted some of the amazing work which has resulted from this. It illustrated the successes of a decade of hard work and left me hopeful for what is to come.

Happy Self Management Week everyone!

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