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Expert Citizens CIC Conference and
National INSIGHT Awards 2024

The Expert Citizens Conference and National INSIGHT Awards 2024 took place on 27th November 2024 in the Catalyst Building at the University of Staffordshire.

The fantastic event was hosted by Darren Murinas, CEO of Expert Citizens CIC and Charlotte Bates, Lived experience advocate & Mentor Coordinator for Pure Insight.

The audience were captivated by moving and heartfelt keynote speeches and dynamic performances, click on the speakers names to view their talks:

The amazing event was enjoyed by 180 delegates, speakers and guests, who were made to feel very welcome by the fabulous staff at the University of Staffordshire’s Catalyst Building.

The INSIGHT Awards were presented by Zak Khalil, Founder and Director of X Conversation and Jules Rowan, Broadcaster at Prison Radio Association, the exciting and dynamic presenting duo of the podcast channel Life After Prison for The Prison Radio Association.

Thank you to all our speakers and attendees at this year’s Expert Citizens Conference and National INSIGHT Awards 2024 and a huge congratulations to all our finalists and winners.

All finalists and winners in each of the five categories received prizes in the form of a grant to continue and promote their work!

To view the photographs from the day, please visit our new Flickr account here

View Conference Brochure

Award Categories

Volunteering

Nominations in this category demonstrate positive practice and significant impact based on volunteering activity.

AND THE RESULTS ARE…

WINNER

Arfan Mohammed – Sizzlers

FIRST RUNNER UP

Hep C Trust, Birmingham

SECOND RUNNER UP

PEGIS

Welcoming

Nominations in this category demonstrate positive practice and significant impact in welcoming people experiencing social disadvantage with unconditional positive regard.

AND THE RESULTS ARE…

WINNER

Underground Lights

FIRST RUNNER UP

Yellow Brick Road Projects

SECOND RUNNER UP

Jonathon Hill – VAST (Gloria Dix Collecting)

Learning

Nominations in this category demonstrate positive practice and significant impact in learning from people to successfully implement service improvements for even more effectiveness.

AND THE RESULTS ARE…

WINNER

Ryan Fox – University of Staffordshire

FIRST RUNNER UP

Sam Lawrence (Jo Cutts collecting)

SECOND RUNNER UP

Stoke Recovery Service

Listening

Nominations in this category demonstrate positive practice and significant impact in listening to people experiencing social disadvantage to understand how services could improve to be even more effective.

AND THE RESULTS ARE…

WINNER

Reina Edmiston

FIRST RUNNER UP

LUNA Foundation CIC

SECOND RUNNER UP

Unseen Voices, GMCA & Bad Kamra

Leading

Nominations in this category demonstrate positive practice and significant impact in putting people with lived experience in the lead of improving services.

AND THE RESULTS ARE…

WINNER

Arts & Homelessness International

FIRST RUNNER UP

‘Understanding the me in Dementia’, University of Bradford

SECOND RUNNER UP

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Substance Misuse Team, Public Health

Expert Citizens’ National INSIGHT Awards was created to celebrate examples of positive or/and outstanding practice that tackle social disadvantages where ever we may find them.

We have identified five key characteristics; Welcoming; Listening; Learning; Leading and Volunteering; that we believe to be fundamental when delivering, managing, planning and commissioning services.

Whilst these are relevant to everyone accessing services, it’s our view that a conscious effort is needed by people and services to apply these principles in the context of people experiencing social disadvantage in all is forms.

These characteristics are intended to apply from the frontline to the board room. As such, people can be nominated from any level of an organisation, or as an independent practitioner or professional, or an organisation itself can be nominated.

What makes the National INSIGHT Awards unique is that they are judged and delivered by people with lived experiences of the systems and services we believe need to change.

Winners of each category will receive a grant of £1,000 for their organisation and runners up will receive grants of £500 and £250, to support their activities.