Now a retired activities development nurse in mental health, my Fellowship (Challenging Mental Illness Through Sport and Adventure) sought to explore and profile the use of sport and challenging outdoor activities in promoting recovery in those suffering the effects of severe mental illness.

I was accompanied on each of the two components of travel – to Italy (contacting ANPIS, National Association for Sport and Social Integration) and Nepal (a three-week trek in the Annapurna region) – by service users who were part of the existing Coasters group. This group was established by me within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in 1995, on seeing the benefits of shared sporting and adventurous pursuits, including an annual two-week coast-to-coast walk. This was acknowledged with awards including the 2001 Mental Health Nurse of the Year. The project resulted directly in the ongoing participation of service users in international events throughout Europe.

I am now involved with Care and Action for Mental Health in Africa (CAMHA) helping to establish the annual CAMHA Games in Ghana (since 2016). The Fellowship was life-changing in scope and effect and I was honoured to receive an MBE in 2011 for services to healthcare.