The Picker Experience Network Awards are the first and only awards programme to recognise best practice in patient experience across all facets of health and social care in the UK and beyond. They celebrate projects, teams, individuals, and initiatives that have made exceptional contributions to care, engagement, service delivery, and wellbeing from the perspective of patients, carers, families, and staff.
PEN 2026
There was a real sense of celebration at the University of Birmingham yesterday as healthcare professionals, patient experience champions, and service leaders came together for the 2026 Picker Experience Network Awards (PEN Awards), recognising some of the most impactful and inspiring work taking place across health and care.
The highlight of the day was the announcement of The Lighthouse Service, part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), as the overall winner of the 2026 Awards for its project, A Streamlined Approach to Providing Integrated Quality Care for Children and Families Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse.
At the heart of The Lighthouse Service is a simple but powerful idea: that children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse should not have to navigate a complex system or repeatedly relive their trauma in order to access support. Instead, the service brings together health professionals, mental health specialists, safeguarding experts, advocates, and criminal justice partners under one roof, creating a safe, child centred environment where families can find the help they need in one place.
What particularly stood out to the judges was the way children’s voices continue to shape the service. The project demonstrates how compassionate, joined-up care can reduce trauma, improve experiences, and ensure children feel heard, valued, and cared for every step of the way.
The Picker Experience Network Awards celebrate excellence in patient experience, recognising the individuals, teams, and organisations that are placing people at the centre of care and finding new ways to improve lives.
Ruth Evans, Founder and former Managing Director of PEN, said:
“Congratulations to UCLH on this fantastic achievement. The Awards are always a special occasion and today highlighted exactly why they matter. They demonstrate what is possible when care is centred around people – their needs, their voices, and their preferences. This year’s winner inspired us all.”
The success of The Lighthouse Service serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when organisations work together around the needs of the people they support. By putting children and families at the centre of every decision, the team has created a model of care that is not only changing lives today but has the potential to shape services for generations to come.