The 2026 MHLDA Scholarships
We were delighted to offer scholarships to organisations participating in FoNS’s MHLDA Ward Manager programme.
This offer was only available to those organisations and trusts.
Meet the scholars
Nicola Leonard, Charge Nurse, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
“I’m a proud Learning Disabilities Nurse in a Charge Nurse role, working in an inpatient assessment and treatment unit for people with a learning disability. This encompasses treating their mental health needs and assessing behaviours that can challenge. Our unit works with the Positive Behaviour Support Model, which has broadened my knowledge and understanding of the functions of behaviour and of bespoke support. The best part of my role is getting to know the patients that we support and seeing them get better and thrive!”
“I’m really looking forward to meeting the team and the other healthcare professionals on the programme. In particular, the creative ways that the subjects of leadership, management and person-centred care are explored and examined from different perspectives.”
“I was delighted to be awarded the scholarship and am excited to bring back valuable knowledge and skills to enable me to better support the patients and staff that I work with.”
Holly Bowers, Clinical and Operational Lead, Occupational Therapist, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
“Hello! My name is Holly and I have been working as an Occupational Therapist in mental health for just over 10 years. In my current role, I manage a wonderful team of OT and Recreational staff in an acute mental health unit. I am absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to join the scholarship, on meeting some of the team during my interview, everyone seems so welcoming and passionate about what they do.”
“I am very keen to network and learn from others. Person-centred care is rooted in my OT bones! I am confident the programme will support me to grow and expand on these skills to develop the culture within my workplace. I am keen on engaging in projects to support the integration and development of multidisciplinary working to support the recovery of our patients. I look forward to seeing everyone in June!”
Sophie Nicol, Occupational Therapy Lead, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
“I am very much an mental health Occupational Therapist through and through, working in the area since I qualified 10 years ago leaving my previous life of festival production behind but I enjoy and value that most of this has been working alongside my nursing colleagues. I have been lucky to have a number of experiences in different roles and services from older adults in the community to crisis and alternative to admissions services but I am currently the team lead for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Activity provision in our adult acute wards at LPFT.”
“I am passionate about quality person-centred care, improving experiences of the people we work with and collaborative working with my nurse colleagues from the floor to service meetings. I feel that often AHPs work in silo to nursing staff, I’m not sure why and feel we need to break down these barriers to work more collaboratively with our nursing colleagues to improve person-centred care. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to meet other people who are passionate about improving care, having the space and time to develop my knowledge, and start putting plans into action.”
“Finding out about receiving the scholarship has been unexpected but rejuvenating, I really value this opportunity and investment from FoNS.”
Donna Guest, Lead Occupational Therapist, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
“I am an inclusive, collaborative, and highly motivated clinical leader, deeply committed to person-centred care. In my role as In-patient Occupational Therapy Lead, I have worked with creativity and passion to drive service improvement, influence multidisciplinary practice, and strengthen the voice of OT and other Allied Health Professionals within inpatient settings. I lead with compassion and curiosity, always striving to improve outcomes for both patients and staff.”
“I have been proactive in contributing to trust-wide quality improvement initiatives, including the Safe Wards QI collaborative, and have played an active role in shaping and embedding the Culture of Care agenda within inpatient services. I value working across professional boundaries and aim to model psychologically safe, inclusive leadership in everything I do.”
“I am truly delighted and grateful to have been awarded this scholarship. It feels like a meaningful recognition of the work I am passionate about, and I am excited by the opportunity it brings for further growth and development. I am confident that this programme will support me in strengthening the clinical voice, developing compassionate leadership and sustaining momentum in our Culture of Care approach across the organisation.”
“I also see this as a wonderful opportunity to further highlight the impact and value of Occupational Therapy leadership within mental health, learning disability and Autism services – something I feel incredibly passionate about and proud to represent.”
Naomi Brevitt, Ward Manager, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust