As part of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we would like to recognise Peter Woodhams, Meriden Family Programme Carer Consultant, who recently received the Outstanding Contribution to the Sector award at this year’s Mental Health Awards.

Peter is a carer for his son and has worked at Meriden Family Programme for over 20 years, advocating for the delivery of family sensitive services. The Meriden Family Programme is a training and organisational development programme, which has been promoting the development of family-sensitive mental health services since 1998. 

Peter first joined the Meriden Advisory Group as a carer in 2003 and soon became Chair. In 2005 Peter became a Carer Consultant with the Meriden Family Programme. He has also worked on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for psychosis and schizophrenia as the carer representative.

Peter’s work has impacted those experiencing mental health difficulties. Through his work with clinicians, he has helped families, carers and other professionals in the UK, Japan, Canada and India and was also involved in the development of family support services in Uganda and Nigeria through the Commonwealth Fellowship Scheme.

Peter Woodham and Thomas Walunguba from Uganda Commonwealth Fellowship Scheme.
Peter Woodham and Thomas Walunguba from Uganda (Commonwealth Fellowship Scheme)

Peter was asked more about his role and what receiving this award means to him. Peter said:

“Since taking early retirement from my career in HR over 20 years ago I have been proud to use my lived experience as a carer to work with clinicians in promoting the importance of family sensitive services. In particular this has involved promoting Behavioural Family Therapy (BFT) by contributing to the training delivered by the Meriden Family Programme to teams across the UK and internationally too. BFT made a significant contribution to our son’s recovery pathway.

This work has given me great personal satisfaction, so it is very pleasing to receive an award for making an Outstanding Contribution to the Sector.”

Peter Woodhams

This year’s Mental Health Awards were hosted at to the PentaHotel, Reading on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October) and celebrated the organisations, services and individuals that work to make a difference in their communities.