Kayla wins Love Arts Leeds Performing Arts Award

Love Arts Awards recognise the contribution of people, groups and organisations in Yorkshire who have made a real difference to people’s mental wellbeing through the arts. Our awards are a fantastic way of giving something back, with five categories to nominate individuals and organisations for including Arts Volunteer, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Arts in Health and Judge's Choice. Nominees were shortlisted to a final three, with the overall winners announced at the awards ceremony on the 29th of October in Leeds.

Kayla was announced as the winner of the Performing Arts category: A fantastic performance (this includes film, theatre, dance, music) that raises awareness of mental health and/or learning disabilities whilst challenging stigma and discrimination.

Community Ventures' Chief Executive, Nigel Fenny presented the Performing Arts award to Kayla Kavanagh:

“I first bought Kayla’s CD last year when I was diagnosed with BPD, it was as if I had written the lyrics myself. I’ve seen her perform live and she is amazing, playing a whole range of different instruments and using music as part of her recovery. She is the only person out there fighting the stigma of BPD and does it amazingly through music”

Taking home a beautiful trophy, Kayla was delighted to have been recognised for the work she has been doing in music and mental health, and thanked all who nominated and supported her this year.

Kayla wins "Creative Hero - Professional" Mental Healthy Award

Mental health organisation www.mentalhealthy.co.uk has recognised the fantastic achievements of some of the country’s finest heroes, who selflessly and tirelessly look to improve the lives of others. In 2011 they joined forces with some of the biggest names in mental health to recognise these unsung heroes.

Kayla has been announced as the joint winner of the Creative Hero - Professional Award, which recognises professional artists and performers that have contributed to the field of mental health, by raising awareness, educating, speaking out about, campaigning, or inspiring mental wellness through their work. Since being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder in 2009, Kayla has worked hard to promote awareness and challenge stigma through her recorded and live music, articles in the national press, her YouTube, blog and tours around the UK.

Creator of Mental Healthy Charlotte Fantelli said “The humbling work individuals and organisations are doing across the globe takes my breath away. Every single Mental Healthy Hero Award winner has done something extraordinary in an area that is not glitzy or glamorous and that takes great strength and human kindness, not only the winners but every candidate is a hero that deserves recognition."  

Emergence Press Release

Emergence is today celebrating! Kayla Kavanagh – a Knowledge & Understanding Framework (KUF) trainer, singer/songwriter and mental health activist – has won the Creative Hero Professional Award in the first ever Mental Health Hero awards.

Award categories included ‘Community Hero’, ‘Professional Hero’, ‘Business Hero’ and ‘Creative Hero’ and amongst the winners are some incredible local, national and global organisations and individuals.

Kayla Kavanagh said: “I am thrilled about winning and must thank Emergence for nominating me – it was an honour even just to be nominated and when I found out I had been shortlisted for the award I couldn’t believe it!

“Since receiving my diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder in 2009 Emergence has been absolutely crucial in my development both as an artist and now as a Senior KUF trainer. I can’t believe that I’ve actually won the award and am truly humbled to have been recognised by the judging team of such high profile mental health organisations.

“Music has been the key to my wellbeing living with personality disorder, allowing me to focus the chaotic emotions into lyrics, music and song. Having had the opportunity to record an album and perform at events across the UK has allowed the positive message to ‘go viral’, and I am delighted to be launching the second album on the May 1, of which 10% of the crowd sourced funds go to Emergence.”

Kayla has become an ambassador for awareness of illnesses such as BPD, and has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour about how music has provided a positive outlet for the overwhelming emotions associated with living with a mental health condition.

Kath Lovell, Emergence managing director, said on hearing the news: “Kayla works tirelessly for Emergence to help us fight the stigma that is associated with personality disorder. Her music always features at all our events and she brings much joy with it. We are thrilled for her!"