Local Youth Worker Nominated for Lifetime Achievement Award
Patricia David's 30 years of service recognised by the BACP
Patricia David
October 2, 2026
Hounslow Youth Counselling Service (HYCS) has announced that its former Head of Service, Patricia David, has been shortlisted for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious honours in the counselling profession.
Patricia, who retired from HYCS in December 2025 after 30 years of dedicated service, is one of only four national finalists for the award, which recognises an “exceptional and sustained contribution” to counselling and psychotherapy. Her colleagues secretly nominated her, submitting a detailed application supported by professional references — a gesture that Patricia described as a “wonderful and very humbling surprise.”
During her three decades at HYCS, Patricia helped shape and develop the borough’s free, BACP-accredited counselling service for young people aged 11–25, guiding the organisation through major changes in youth services and supporting generations of counsellors, many of whom have gone on to senior roles in the profession. One professional reference described her as someone who combines “strategic vision and operational thoroughness with a warm relational approach”, adding that “dozens of counsellors working at senior levels… would recognise Patricia as someone who saw potential in them and gave them space to develop.”
HYCS Acting Chair of Trustees Petra Raccani said the shortlisting reflects the profound impact Patricia has had on young people and colleagues across Hounslow. “Thirty years of dedicated service to HYCS is an extraordinary achievement, but her impact goes far beyond the length of her service. She has helped shape our organisation, supported countless young people and encouraged and developed generations of colleagues.”
Petra added that Patricia has always preferred to celebrate the achievements of others rather than her own, making the nomination particularly meaningful: “This recognition is thoroughly deserved and we are delighted to celebrate her contribution.”
Patricia said she felt “deeply grateful” for the nomination and the shortlisting. “To be shortlisted alongside such an esteemed group of counselling professionals really is a real honour… Whatever the outcome on 10 October, being shortlisted in itself means a great deal to me and is something of which I will always be incredibly proud.”
The winner of the BACP Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the BACP Member Awards ceremony on 10 October, where members from across the UK will gather to celebrate nominees, winners and those highly commended across 11 award categories.
HYCS, based in Isleworth, has supported more than 16,000 young people over its 39-year history, delivering over 156,000 counselling sessions to those living, working or studying in the London Borough of Hounslow.
For more information about HYCS, visit www.hycscounselling.co.uk.
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