Celebrating Mark Carter at Footprints in the Community

Mark plays a vital role within the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, which aims to strengthen partnership working and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing mental ill health. A key part of this work is the development of Virtual Hubs, where staff from a range of mental health and wellbeing services come together. These hubs help build stronger relationships, enhance understanding between services, and ultimately reduce inappropriate referrals and delays—delivering support through a true “no wrong door” approach.

Mark was nominated for embodying everything that is positive about his role and the service he provides. He consistently goes the extra mile, doing so with kindness, professionalism, and a non-judgemental approach that puts people at ease.

What makes Mark’s work particularly powerful is his lived experience of mental health challenges. He understands first-hand how daunting it can be to navigate services when you are struggling, and this empathy shines through in his work every day. It allows him to connect with people in a meaningful way and ensures that the support he helps coordinate is accessible, compassionate, and person-centred.

Mark has also been instrumental in promoting strong working relationships with the Voluntary and Community Sector, advocating for individuals to access support within their local communities wherever possible. His commitment to partnership working helps ensure people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

As an active contributor to the Virtual Hub, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight. His colleagues consistently highlight his dedication and team spirit. One recent piece of feedback shared:

“I just wanted to feed back that Mark Carter – care nav who attends the hub always shows such great compassion towards service users when we discuss cases in the hubs and he always contributes to help people as best he can. I know in TEWV you have star awards (or at least you did when I was there!) and I think he should be nominated. He is always willing to step in to chair the meeting if needed and is a real team player. If you need to forward this to someone else, please do so on my behalf.”

This feedback reflects what so many already know—Mark is a valued colleague who leads by example, supports others generously, and makes a genuine difference to the lives of those accessing services.

It was a privilege to present Mark at Footprints in the Community with this award and to celebrate the incredible impact he continues to make within our communities.