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As we look ahead to International Women’s Day, we are spotlighting the people whose work turns this year’s theme of Give to Gain into something real. Penny Harvey began as one of ABL’s first lifestyle coaches and now helps lead a 40‑strong integrated service in Oldham. What defines Penny’s leadership is the culture she has helped shape. She creates the conditions for people to grow — backing ideas, building confidence and making sure no one feels alone in their role. Many of the colleagues she has supported now lead services themselves, reflecting her belief that teams thrive when they are trusted, developed and heard. Read Penny’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/youre-not-on-your-own-penny-harvey-on-building-confidence-community-and-lasting-change-across-oldham/
“Making things more accessible never takes anything away,” says Olivia Hayes, Children’s and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner. “You’re not excluding anyone by including more people. You’re only adding to it.” Empathy sits at the centre of how Olivia creates spaces where young people feel heard, valued and involved in shaping their own wellbeing. Read how Olivia draws on her lived experience and brings a collaborative mindset to everything she does: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/listening-with-heart/
We’re proud to spotlight colleagues who bring purpose and compassion to their work every day. Oberuomo Odili, Specialist Stop Smoking Practitioner, supports adults and young people to quit smoking or vaping through practical, client‑led guidance. Her motivation is deeply personal, shaped by her father’s experience and a drive to help people live well for longer. “Even if it’s just one person I support to quit smoking, I know I’ve contributed to making a meaningful impact on their life and the wider community. That’s huge.” Read Oberuomo’s story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/celebrating-black-history-month-abl-health-k60he
“It’s about listening. Really listening,” says ABL Health Assistant Psychologist Sharna Cooper. “Just knowing someone gets it can make all the difference.” Empathy isn’t just a word - it’s how we create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard and supported. This is the ethos that Sharna brings to life every day through her work in autism assessment and support. Her story is a powerful reminder that creating a sense of belonging doesn’t have to be complicated - it starts with small, human acts of care. Read Sharna’s inspiring story of creating belonging through empathy: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/empathetic-ear-abl-health-pdkte/
Charlie Rendell, Strategic Lead for Mental Health Support, is one of the incredible people behind our BeU service. With empathy at the heart of her leadership, she and the BeU Swindon team support children and young people through some of life’s toughest moments, helping them feel heard, valued and empowered. Read Charlie’s story and discover how ABL’s BeU service is making a difference: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-human-abl-health-brmxe/
Meet Michael Bingwa, Regional Manager for the East of England and leader of our Nottinghamshire Integrated Wellbeing Service. Michael and his team support adults, children and young people to make meaningful changes - from quitting smoking and managing weight to boosting physical activity and improving overall wellbeing. For Michael, tackling health inequalities isn’t just a role - it’s a mission. With over 15 years’ experience supporting people to overcome barriers, he brings passion, clarity and purpose to every interaction. “What I do has real evidence and clarity - you can see that you’re helping and making a difference to people’s lives.” Read Michael’s story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/effecting-positive-change-abl-health-qvtee
Elizabeth Woodworth has spent decades helping people live healthier, smoke-free lives - and now her impact has been recognised at the highest level. Awarded the British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours List, Elizabeth’s work as a long-serving smoking cessation expert at ABL Health has shaped national standards, strengthened services, and supported tens of thousands of people to stop smoking for good. To find out more about Elizabeth’s incredible contribution and what this honour means, visit: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/british-empire-medal-awarded-to-public-health-leader/
Our people are the foundation of everything we do. That’s why we’re proud to announce that we have retained our prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation for a further three years! This year’s assessment saw 228 colleagues complete the IiP survey and over 30 participate in individual interviews. In the report by IiP, the assessor shared: ‘People genuinely find the organisation a good place to work’. Thank you to our incredible colleagues for joining us in our ambition to make lives better – within ABL and beyond. To find out more, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abl-health-retains-prestigious-investors-people-accreditation-rpgre
Behind the national conversation on children’s mental health is a simple truth: early support works. Oliver Godfrey, Divisional Lead for Mental Health, explores how successful early intervention is providing young people with fast accessible, preventative mental health support when they need it most - before issues become overwhelming and needs escalate. Though the future of early support hubs remains uncertain, we're continuing to ensure young people have safe places to turn to long before they reach crisis point. To find out more, read the full article: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/how-were-helping-young-people-long-before-they-reach-crisis-point/
