Celebrating Progress and Innovation at LYPFT: Our Annual General Meeting 2025
On Tuesday 29 July 2025, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Celebration Event at The Studio, Leeds.
This important day in our calendar was a chance to reflect on the past year, share our achievements, and look ahead to the future of mental health and learning disability services across our communities.
The celebration was a powerful reflection of the passion, progress, and partnership that define LYPFT. From thought-provoking presentations to heartfelt conversations, the day showcased the breadth of work happening across the Trust, and the commitment to continuous improvement, co-production, and inclusion.
A look back at our year at LYPFT and hope for the future
The AGM was led by our Chair and included presentations from:
- Our Lead Governor, Ian Andrews reflected on the work of the Council of Governors in 2024/25.
- Our Chief Financial Officer, Dawn Hanwell presented the Trust’s annual accounts.
- Our Chief Executive, Dr Sara Munro, shared highlights from the past year and our ambitions for 2025/26.
Celebrating the work that matters
The afternoon celebration event, co-hosted by Oliver Tipper, Head of Communications, shone a spotlight on some of the most innovative and impactful work across the Trust. Learn more about our presentations below.
Learn more about our presenters
Celebrating Innovation at LYPFT is a YouTube playlist showcasing the speakers at our AGM and inspiring work happening across Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. From AI in mental health care to inclusive group therapy and transformed catering services, each video highlights how our teams are driving compassionate, person-centred innovation to improve care, inclusion, and well-being for all.
Celebrating Innovation at LYPFT YouTube playlist.
A clear theme running through yesterday’s presentations was that our work doesn’t stop when a project ends on paper. Across the Trust, teams are continuously building on learning, co-producing with service users, and embracing improvement as an ongoing journey. For many, what was shared marked not a conclusion, but the beginning of the next phase, driven by a commitment to doing better, together.
Accessibility and Inclusion – Improving Accessibility with AccessAble
Warren Duffey (Deputy Director of Estates & Facilities) joined Dean Eales and Lauren Hill from AccessAble to discuss how we’re making our sites more accessible for people with mobility or sensory needs.
Presenters highlighted how the Trust is improving physical accessibility across its estate. Feedback focused on ensuring these improvements are shared with those who aren’t digitally connected.
There was strong support for making accessibility information available in printed formats and through community networks, so everyone, regardless of digital access, can benefit. Future plans include integrating service user input into long-term estate planning, ensuring spaces are not only accessible but also welcoming and consistent to reduce potential triggers.
Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Use – Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health
Eva Braithwaite and Steven Taylor explored how AI is being used to enhance care and support across our services.
The presentation sparked thoughtful discussion. While many welcomed its potential to enhance care, concerns were raised about data safety, equitable access, and the absence of human empathy in some tools.
There was also interest in how AI aligns with the Trust’s Green Plan, particularly regarding its environmental impact. The Trust is committed to monitoring usage, encouraging innovation, and ensuring AI complements, not replaces, human connection in care.
Cultural Competency and Training – Community Mental Health Transformation
Dr Rachel Dobbing, Dr Benjamin Michael, and Dylan Bhandal shared how our Primary Care Mental Health Therapies team is expanding access to group therapy and working with third sector partners to reach under-served communities.
Questions around cultural training raised important points about supporting service users from global majority backgrounds. While the transformation programme has some capacity to address this, there’s a clear desire to fill gaps through specialist training and broader cultural awareness.
Attendees emphasised the need for preventative approaches and “wait well” strategies, with presenters explaining ongoing work with primary care partners. This is currently in a pilot phase, with ambitions to embed it into business-as-usual operations.
Food, Nutrition, and Mealtime Experience – Transforming Mealtimes in Inpatient Settings
Dr Susan Gutherie and Amy Pratt presented the CHOICES approach, an innovative, research-led model to improve mealtime experiences and support recovery in mental health and learning disability wards.
The presentation prompted questions about dietary risks, especially around swallowing difficulties. Attendees were surprised by how little awareness there is and welcomed staff training to better identify and respond to these risks.
Discussions also explored sustainable menu options, cultural preferences, and the importance of empowering service users through choice. The Trust is piloting a multicultural menu at the Newsam Centre, with plans to expand and improve allergy and religious meal provision and exploring digital ordering systems to make catering more agile and inclusive.
Chief Executive Dr Sara Munro closed the event. Here’s her final remarks on the day:
“There’s so much to be proud of across LYPFT. Whether it’s improving access to services, transforming inpatient care, or the clinical work happening in our communities, everything we do is grounded in our values of integrity, simplicity, and care. Today’s presentations have brought those values to life in such a meaningful way.”
“It’s clear that the dedication and compassion of our teams continue to shape the way we support service users and each other. The breadth of work shared today reflects a Trust that’s constantly evolving, learning, and striving to do better. That’s something we should all take a moment to celebrate.”
“Thank you to everyone who made today possible, from our presenters to our support teams, and to all who joined us. I’m already looking forward to what we’ll be celebrating next year, as we continue to challenge ourselves and care for one another along the way.”
Feedback from attendees
After the event we spoke to those who joined us:
“I thought the most interesting presentation was the last one about food. I’m really keen to pursue the idea of a vegetarian diet—there’s a perception that people will feel malnourished without meat or fish, but actually, you can make really good vegetarian meals that people might not even notice are meat-free.” – Counciler Fiona Venner, LYPFT Appointed Governor.
“Being here today means I feel part of the change. I’m involved in mental health services not just as someone who’s received support, but as someone who can influence, stay informed, and connect with senior leaders in the Trust.
I do feel represented, especially by the patient experience team who advocate for co-production. But I’d like to see it go further, co-production at leadership level, with lived experience directors working alongside academic leaders. It’s not about conflict; it’s about partnership.” – Usmaan Khan, Lived Experience Partner.
“I joined the Service User Network earlier this year to build experience in mental health work. I’m hoping to become a support worker, and events like today help me learn, connect, and grow my skills. I was especially interested in the AI presentation. I think it can be a powerful tool in therapy, not something that replaces therapists, but something that complements their work. It can help double-check information and support decision-making in real time.”
Spaces like the Service User Network give people a chance to speak and be heard. But many people with mental health conditions or neurodivergence don’t know these spaces exist. We need to make that information more visible, advertise it better so people know where to go and how to get involved. I came today mainly to learn, and I enjoyed the presentations. But I’d love to be more involved on the speaking side. I’m looking for opportunities to volunteer and contribute more actively in future events.”
“What made me smile today was the chance to talk to people. The breaks were the best part, having conversations, sharing thoughts, and connecting with others. That interaction means a lot to me.” – Bevan Porter, Volunteer Support Worker.
That’s a wrap!
The 2025 AGM celebration was a powerful reflection of the passion, progress, and partnership that define LYPFT. From thought-provoking presentations to heartfelt conversations, the day showcased the breadth of work happening across the Trust, and the commitment to continuous improvement, co-production, and inclusion.
Feedback from attendees, including lived experience partners and governors, highlighted the importance of creating spaces where voices are heard, ideas are shared, and change is driven collaboratively. Whether through discussions on AI, cultural training, nutrition, or accessibility, the event made clear that our work is never truly finished, it evolves with every insight, every challenge, and every story.
We invite you to enjoy the photos from the day, captured beautifully by our in-house lived experience photographer and videographers, Trisha Thorpe and Mat Dale.
Page last updated: 31st Jul 2025 12:46pm