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For Tim Holmes, inclusive health starts with action. Across the North East, Tim works with communities to make services accessible, relevant and built around real lives. Shaped by lived experience, his approach focuses on breaking down barriers, creating welcoming environments, and ensuring no one is left behind. At ABL Health, this means listening, co-producing solutions, and adapting support so people feel included - because when people feel included, they’re more likely to engage and improve their health. Read Tim’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/supporting-people-to-belong-in-healthier-futures/
Leading services across the country, Raz sees first-hand how meaningful change happens - not through big strategies alone, but through everyday moments of connection. Whether it’s supporting someone to quit smoking after decades or helping individuals believe change is possible, it all comes down to trust. And trust isn’t built overnight. At ABL Health, this culture of belonging doesn’t just support individuals - it strengthens teams, builds careers and shapes reputation across the communities we serve. Because when people feel they belong, they trust. And when there’s trust, real change can happen. Read Raz’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/how-belonging-shapes-reputation-and-trust/
What does it take to truly support people to change? For Vicky Masters, Head of Service for Smokefree Solihull, it starts with creating a safe, supportive environment - free from judgement. With nearly two decades of experience in smoking cessation, Vicky has built her approach around empathy, trust and understanding. She knows that lasting change doesn’t come from pressure, but from meeting people where they are and supporting them at their own pace. By removing stigma and focusing on compassion, Vicky and her team empower people to take control of their health and make sustainable changes. Because when people feel understood - not judged - they’re far more likely to succeed. Read Vicky’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/empowering-change-without-judgement/
At ABL Health, everything starts with people - how they’re supported, how they’re listened to, and how they feel every day at work. For Mike Taylor, Head of People and Culture, belonging means creating an environment where individuals feel valued, recognised and safe to be their authentic selves. Because when people feel they belong, they’re more confident, more engaged, and better able to make a meaningful difference. This approach shapes how we support both our colleagues and the communities we serve - helping to break down barriers and enable people to thrive. Creating a culture of belonging isn’t a one-off initiative. It’s something we build every day, through our actions, behaviours and leadership. Read more about how we’re doing this at ABL Health: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/creating-a-culture-of-belonging/
Meet Dominic Duggan, our Head of Strategic Partnerships, whose career began on the frontline delivering weight management services. That early frontline experience gave him insight into both the personal and systemic barriers people face - and how services can be shaped to meet real needs. In his role today, Dom plays a key part in shaping how ABL connects with the wider healthcare ecosystem - ensuring services work seamlessly with commissioners, partners and community organisations. “It’s about creating partnerships that go beyond transactions,” he explains. “We want to work with commissioners to design services and systems that are sustainable, efficient and genuinely improve lives.” Read Dominic's story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/more-than-job-abl-health-jlh6e
Healthy Lifestyle Advisor Qudus Atunse plays a vital role in supporting long‑term health and wellbeing. His holistic approach goes beyond diet and exercise, focusing on the emotions and habits that underpin lifelong change. “Sometimes, changing your nutrition is the easy part. It’s what’s going on in your head around food and exercise that needs addressing first - that’s how we create lifelong change.” Read Qudus’s story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/celebrating-black-history-month-abl-health-sl6he
Some people build careers around titles. Jessie built hers around people. Jessie Bye chose public health to work with people whose lives are complex and challenging — juggling stress, caring responsibilities, and long-term health conditions. She brings that same empathy and understanding to her teams, supporting them to deliver meaningful care, stay connected to clients, and celebrate small wins along the way. At Your Health Torbay, this creates a culture of encouragement, practical support, and purpose-driven work. Read Jessie’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/support-where-it-matters-most-jessie-bye-shares-the-purpose-fuelling-your-health-torbay/
“Nothing is impossible. Set the bar high. Trust your instincts. Believe in what you can do.” These are the words Kirsty Johnston comes back to when she supports her team. Her leadership is shaped by lived experience and years of frontline work. She stays close to families so she understands the pressures her colleagues face. She backs people to grow, asks what they think first and reminds them they often already hold the answer. What stands out is the culture she builds. A culture where confidence is nurtured and colleagues feel supported as humans. Where people know their work changes futures. It is the kind of leadership that helps teams thrive and helps families feel understood when life is at its hardest. Read Kirsty’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/we-are-who-we-want-to-be-the-belief-powering-kirsty-johnstons-work-with-young-people-on-the-edge-of-care/
“I knew I wanted to build something different,” says Denise Leslie, ABL Chief Executive. “Leadership should not demand that anyone leave parts of themselves at the door in order to succeed.” At ABL, we’re building a culture where people can thrive without setting aside the parts of life that matter most. Denise leads with trust, kindness and opportunity — giving colleagues room to speak, challenge and grow, and shaping a workplace where people can lead authentically rather than perform a version of leadership they think is expected. This International Women’s Day, reflecting on this year’s theme of Give to Gain, Denise shares how values led leadership creates stronger teams and a working culture built around real lives, real circumstances and real purpose. Read the blog: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/in-giving-we-receive-how-denise-leslie-chief-executive-drives-abls-mission-to-eradicate-health-inequalities/
Being a parent and a practitioner allows Lucy to lead her teams with one simple truth: people should be believed, understood and supported from the start. Lucy Leppington‑Green leads our autism services across BeU North Yorkshire and BeU Norfolk. Psychological safety and practical inclusion are fundamental to Lucy’s leadership philosophy. Her teams tailor environments and communication, train in Makaton, and focus on early, needs‑led support — from adult navigation in Norfolk to co‑produced resources and work on PINS with schools in North Yorkshire. Lucy is passionate about supporting her team, providing a space where colleagues can bring their best ideas to the table, and people can truly be themselves. Read Lucy’s full International Women’s Day story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/being-believed-is-the-starting-point-how-lived-experience-listening-and-leadership-shape-lucy-leppington-greens-work-in-autism-services/
