The Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing 2016 celebration event honoured unsung heroes from across England who are leading local initiatives to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

The celebration, on Tuesday 28 June at Portcullis House in London, was an opportunity to recognise the people who go above and beyond to make local schemes and initiatives a success. In all, 82 nominations were received from across the country, 33 of which were selected to receive special recognition at the event.

Minister for Public Health, Jane Ellison MP said:

It was a great privilege to meet this years’ Public Health Heroes at the celebration event and hear how they are tackling important health challenges in their communities. Their vital work is often undertaken quietly and without recognition so it was wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements.

Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said:

One of the things we constantly see in Public Health England is that real grass roots initiatives – those that are by communities for communities - often have the biggest impact in really tackling health challenges and making a difference. The people we are celebrating today know their local area best and they know how to change things for the better. There is real innovation, courage, leadership and commitment among the work highlighted and there are lessons for all of us in the achievements being celebrated.

In their third year, the awards for excellence in public health and wellbeing are made following nominations from MPs, Directors of Public Health and others from across public health, local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary sector.

Details of all winners and nominators

East Midlands

Project: Over 60s MOT preventative public health project

Winner: Dr Abraze Khalique and Anila Khalique, GP Bilborough Medical Centre, Nottingham

Nominator: Graham Allen, MP, Nottingham North

Project: Cardiac Risk in the Young

Winner: Danielle Wes, Local representative, Cardiac Risk in the Young

Nominator: Pauline Latham, MP, Mid Derbyshire

East of England

Project: Baby FACES

Winner: Michaela Martindale, Practitioner, FACES, Bedford

Nominator: Alistair Burt, MP, North East Bedfordshire

Project: North Walsham Dementia Support Group, Volunteer

Winner: Alan Rose

Nominator: Norman Lamb, MP, North Norfolk

Project: Peterborough City Council public health

Winner: Cheryl McGuire, Public Health Advanced Practitioner Specialist, Public Health, Peterborough City Council

Nominator: Stewart Jackson, MP, Peterborough

London

Winner: Fred Semugera, Sexual Health Promotion Lead, Croydon Council

Project: African Community Outreach Programme

Nominator: Rachel Flowers, DPH, Croydon Council

Project: Healthy Food Awards

Winner: Isabella Daniel, Environmental Health Officer, London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Nominator: Somen Banerjee, DPH, London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Project: Healthwatch Barnet

Winner: Mike Rich, Head, Healthwatch Barnet

Nominator: Mike Freer, MP, Finchley and Golders Green

North East

Project: Naloxone Services Newcastle

Winner: Rachael Hope, Community Safety Specialist – Drugs, Public Health Newcastle City Council

Nominator: Fiona Richardson, Carers Lead Officer, Newcastle City Council

Project: Various

Winner: Shirley Williams, Volunteer

Nominator: Julie Elliott, MP, Sunderland Central

North West

Project: Appropriate care in hospitals for people with dementia

Winner: Gladys Archer, Volunteer

Nominator: Graham Evans, MP, Weaver Vale

Project: Glossop Walking Football

Winner: Mick Owen, Co-ordinator, Wellfit

Nominator: Andrew Bingham, MP, High Peak

Project: Faizan e Islam

Winner: Shabir Abdul, Committee member, Faizan e islam Mosque

Nominator: Kate Green, MP, Stretford & Urmston

Project: Salford Malnutrition Task Force

Winner: Dave Haynes, Chief Executive, Age UK

Nominator: Barbara Keeley, MP, Worsley and Eccles South

South East

Project: Community Watch

Winner: Rob Page, Volunteer, East Dean and Friston Parish

Nominator: Maria Caulfield, MP, Lewes

Project: Brighton Homeless Healthcare Centre

Winner: Dr Tim Worthley, Lead GP, Brighton Homeless Healthcare Centre

Nominator: Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Project: West Sussex Sugar Reduction Plan

Winner: Sue Carmichael, Public Health Lead for Healthy Lifestyles, West Sussex County Council

Nominator: Dr Nike Arowobusoye, DPH, West Sussex County Council

Project: Talk it Out, Deal, Kent

Winner: Tracy Carr, Volunteer

Nominator: Charlie Elphicke, MP, Dover and Deal

South West

Project: Max Appeal

Winner: Rowena Hannam, Parent Volunteer, 22q11 Deletion Syndrome (DS) Clinic

Nominator: Jack Lopresti, MP, Filton and Bradley Stoke

West Midlands

Project: Leek and Biddulph Multi-Speciality Community Provider

Winner: Mark Williams, Clinical Associate and GP, North Staffordshire CCG and Leek Health Centre

and Leek Health Centre Nominator: Karen Bradley, MP, Staffordshire Moorlands

Project: Whole Hospital Food Strategy

Winner: Ruth Breese, Community Dietician, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust

Nominator: Chris White, MP, Warwick and Leamington

Winner: Cancer Awareness Team Stoke-on-Trent, Volunteers, Public Health, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Nominator: Dawn Fitzjohn, Health Improvement Assistant Practitioner - Cancer Awareness, Stoke on Trent City Council

Winner: Andrew Coward, Chair, South and Central CCG Birmingham

Birmingham Nominator: Charlene Mulhern, Childhood obesity and engagement lead, Birmingham City Council

Yorkshire and the Humber

Project: Raise Awareness of Problem Gambling and Promote Responsible Gambling

Winner: Anne Evans, Volunteer, Doncaster

Nominator: Rosie Winterton, MP, Doncaster Central

Project: Butterflies Memory Loss Support Group

Winner: June Cooke, Chief Executive, Butterflies Memory Loss Support Group

Nominator: Rachel Iveson, Public Health Manager, Hull City Council

Project: Barnsley Health Visiting Gypsy, Traveller and Asylum Seeking Families Service

Winner: Kate Markham, Specialist Health Visitor, Barnsley 0-19 Children’s Services, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Nominator: Sue Wing, Deputy Director of Operations, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Project: Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL)

Winner: Ian Rodley, Director, Dance Action Zone Leeds

Nominator: Ian Cameron, DPH, Leeds City Council

Project: Roshni Ghar

Winner: Kaniz Akhter, Manager, Roshni Ghar

Nominator: Kris Hopkins, MP, Keighley

Project: Wheelchair Sports Hull