25 Nov North London Based – Hope-FX Project gains Finalist Status at HSJ Awards

Now in its 44th year, the 2024 HSJ Awards celebrates healthcare excellence, supporting initiatives and individuals making a difference in the NHS. This year the number and quality of entries was greater than ever, and the calibre of the judging panel was also impressive with the likes of NHS England Medical Director Sir Stephen Powis, NICE chief executive Sam Roberts, NHS elective care tsar Sir Jim Mackey, Department of Health director general Matthew Style, and Professor Steve Turner, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, amongst numerous others.

Healthcare and the fashion sector might seem like worlds apart, however, the North London based HOPE-FX project successfully brought the two together. Working with Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, the Fashion-Enter Ltd team trialed the HOPE-FX initiative that gets young people actively involved and learning new creative skills. 

HOPE-FX gives young people, who are recovering from mental health conditions, the chance to design, create and sell a range of T-shirts. The participants receive wrap-around support and tuition from the FEL team over a six month period, and are provided with training in fashion illustration, pattern cutting, sewing skills, traditional and digital printing techniques, and state-of-the-art digital ethical technologies. The course culminates with a photoshoot and a launch party at FEL’s Islington shop, FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road, London N4.

The HOPE-FX initiative was shortlisted for a HSJ Award in the Early Intervention and Prevention category and on 21st November the Awards ceremony took place. Attending from FEL was Founder and CEO Jenny Holloway, head tutor Ana Cover and one of the HOPE-FX participants James, alongside representatives from NHS North London Foundation Trust.

The evening was a formal black tie dinner held at Evolution London and despite the toughest of circumstances, shone a positive light on all the innovation and brilliant work that the NHS is involved with.

The Award for the Early Intervention and Prevention for Children, Young People and Families went to: Small Steps Big Changes’ Family Mentor Service. Congratulation to them, and to all the other inspiring nominees. 

The FEL team, along with NHS North London Foundation Trust, were thrilled that HOPE-FX had been shortlisted at this early stage. The plan is to continue and provide more HOPE-FX opportunities for young adults in North London in the foreseeable future.

FEL Founder and CEO Jenny Holloway said: “Seeing James, one of the participants on the programme, at the HSJ Awards dinner table, communicating in a relaxed confident way and networking with others at the event was the best reward of the evening! Ana Cover, our amazing educational skills lead on Hope-FX, was there and just looked wonderful. She’s been amazing in her kindness and additional support whenever required.

“We didn’t win on the night, but to be honest we didn’t expect to. This was a small trial that came in under budget! The plans for next year are to double the participants – and we can’t wait! Congrats to all winners and finalists – it was an honour to be there!”

Thank-you to HSJ, NHS North London Foundation Trust, the FEL team, and to the first HOPE-FX cohort, also a special thank-you to Zac Holloway for coming up with the idea!