Recognition for Connect North at 2025 Picker Experience Network awards
Connect North has been recognised at the 2025 Picker Experience Network (PEN) Awards, coming away with a runner-up award in two key categories – strengthening the foundation and partnership working to improve the experience.
The awards celebrate innovative, person-centred approaches that make a real difference to the patient experience in health and social care.
The strengthening the foundation award acknowledges Connect North’s community-based model that helps people get the right support, in the right place, at the right time. This includes a range of options including a directory of services, community connectors, community information points, drop-in sessions and direct referral pathways.
The partnership working to improve the experience award recognises the impact of the Community Appointment Day (CAD) initiative, which brings people living with dementia and their carers together with key service providers in a single appointment, offering early, tailored support.
Sabrina Lynn, the Northern Trust’s Health & Wellbeing Locality Lead said: “These awards show the strength of Connect North’s innovative approach and our commitment to building meaningful partnership that deliver real outcomes. This achievement belongs to our service users, carers, staff, partners and communities who work together to make a difference.”
Mandy Wilson, Head of Wellbeing Services with Age NI, added: “We are proud to partner with the Northern Trust to deliver Connect North, making sure everyone can access the support they need. These awards show how working better together can lead to positive improvements in the health and wellbeing of people and communities across the Northern Trust area.”
Pictured above, Sabrina Lynn, Northern Health and Social Care Trust Health and Wellbeing Locality Lead, Mandy Wilson, Age NI’s Head of Wellbeing Services and Claire Ramsey, Northern Health and Social Care Trust Health & Wellbeing Manager, at the 2025 Picker Experience Network (PEN) Awards.
8th October 2025
