Congratulations to the winners of the AiMH UK Awards 2025! (photos to follow)
Rebecca Stewart Named Winner of the AiMHigh Award
Supported by: Emily Baldwin, Specialist Health Visitor for Transition to Parenthood; Andia Papadopoulou and Olivia Williams, Clinical Psychologists, Early Years Service, Islington CAMHS
We are delighted to announce that Rebecca Stewart has been awarded the AiMHigh Award, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and sustained contribution to promoting infant and parental mental health.
Throughout her career as a Senior Health Visitor and Perinatal Mental Health Lead, Rebecca has demonstrated outstanding commitment to embedding infant mental health and parent–infant relationships at the heart of practice and system-wide service development. Her work has strengthened workforce knowledge, confidence, and collaboration across health visiting, early years, perinatal mental health, and wider multi-agency services.
Rebecca has led and championed major initiatives including perinatal mental health training, the introduction of Newborn Behavioural Observation training, and the development of integrated pathways that support earlier identification and intervention for families. Her leadership has resulted in meaningful, lasting improvements in practice and outcomes for infants and parents alike.
Recognised for her compassionate, relationship-based approach, Rebecca has played a pivotal role in bringing professionals together around a shared vision of infant mental health, helping to break down silos and promote coordinated, family-centred care. Her influence continues to be felt across services through the strong partnerships and structures she has helped establish.
The AiMHigh Award recognises individuals who demonstrate outstanding impact, leadership, and dedication to improving infant mental health. Rebecca’s work exemplifies these values, and we warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.
Anna Adcock Named Winner of the Louise Emanuel Award
Supported by: Shachar Wilson, Perinatal Peer Support Facilitator; Denise Gillette, Locality Services Manager, Action for Children
We are delighted to announce that Anna Adcock has been awarded the Louise Emanuel Award, recognising her exceptional commitment to championing infant mental health and strengthening community understanding of early relationships and development.
With over 25 years of experience in the voluntary sector, Anna has dedicated her career to supporting families during the critical first 1001 days. Through her work as an Action for Children Programme Lead, she has helped translate neuroscience and infant mental health research into accessible, practical learning that empowers professionals, volunteers, and community members to support babies and families in everyday settings.
Anna has played a central role in co-designing and delivering programmes such as Building Babies’ Brains, helping to train hundreds of community champions and strengthening local systems of support. Her relational, compassionate approach has enabled practitioners and community members to build confidence, develop shared language, and recognise the lasting impact of early connection and responsiveness on infant wellbeing. Currently, Anna delivers training to nursery staff, and Action for Children mother-and-baby units in prisons, ensuring that infant mental health remains a shared priority. Her dedication is helping to transform wider understanding of the importance of the infant mental health, creating meaningful change for families during the critical early years.
Colleagues describe Anna as a skilled and nurturing facilitator whose work creates inclusive, reflective learning environments and meaningful collaboration across services. Her leadership has contributed to improved community engagement, strengthened workforce knowledge, and lasting positive outcomes for babies and families, particularly within areas of high need.
The Louise Emanuel Award celebrates individuals who embody the values of infant mental health through innovation, collaboration, and dedication to early relationships. Anna’s work exemplifies these values, and we warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.
GWEN KIRKWOOD FELLOWSHIP AWARD – The nominees were equally outstanding, and we are delighted to recognise both with an award in this category.
Julia Mills Named Winner of the AiMH UK Gwen Kirkwood Fellowship Award
Nominated by:Bareera Naveed, Senior Perinatal Practitioner
Endorsed by:Joanna Frost, Parent Infant Psychotherapist; Claire Lowe, Perinatal Service Manager
We are delighted to announce thatJulia Millshas been awarded theAiMH UK Gwen Kirkwood Fellowship Award, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and access within infant and perinatal mental health services.
Through her role as a Diversity and Inclusion Worker, Julia has demonstrated exceptional dedication to addressing health inequalities affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Her work is grounded in compassion, cultural humility, and meaningful community engagement, helping to ensure that lived experience shapes service design and delivery.
Julia has played a pivotal role in strengthening culturally responsive practice through training, partnership working, and advocacy. Her efforts have supported teams to reflect more deeply on barriers to access, build stronger relationships with communities, and create more inclusive, equitable services for families.
Recognised as a thoughtful and values-driven leader, Julia’s influence extends beyond direct practice, contributing to system-wide change through education, mentorship, and collaboration. Her work continues to promote cultural competency, workforce diversity, and improved access to infant and perinatal mental health support.
The Gwen Kirkwood Fellowship celebrates leadership that creates lasting social impact, and Julia’s achievements exemplify these values. We warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the continued impact of her work.
Five X More Co-Founders Clotilde Abe and Tinuke Awe Named Winners of the Gwen Kirkwood Award
Nominated by: Coretta Ogbuagu, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist / Parent-Infant Psychotherapist
Endorsed by: Julianne Boutaleb, Consultant Perinatal Psychologist; Neela Basu, Integrative Child Psychotherapist and Parent-Infant Psychotherapist
We are delighted to announce that Clotilde Abe and Tinuke Awe, co-founders of Five X More, have been awarded the Gwen Kirkwood Award in recognition of their outstanding leadership and transformative contribution to Black maternal and infant health in the UK.
Since founding Five X More in 2019, Clotilde and Tinuke have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the inequalities experienced by Black women within maternity care. Through grassroots advocacy, political campaigning, and collaboration with health services and community partners, they have helped bring Black maternal health to the forefront of national conversation and policy development.
Their work has contributed to increased public awareness, parliamentary discussion, and practical change, while providing accessible resources that empower families to understand their rights and seek safer, more equitable care. Their commitment to amplifying lived experience and improving outcomes for mothers and babies has had a lasting and meaningful impact.
Five X More’s work reflects the values at the heart of the Gwen Kirkwood Award — championing equity, advocacy, and social change in support of infants and families. Their leadership continues to inspire professionals and communities alike, helping to create a more just and inclusive maternity and perinatal landscape.
We warmly congratulate Clotilde Abe and Tinuke Awe on this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the ongoing impact of their work.
Unfortunately, we did not receive any nominations for the AiMH-Together Award or the Founders Award this year. We warmly encourage members to consider nominating colleagues next year so we can continue to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions across our community.
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