Northern Trust celebrating collaborative excellence in population health

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s collaborative working has been recognised at the prestigious NI Local Government Awards 2025.

Three projects led by the Trust’s Health and Wellbeing team were shortlisted altogether, with the Autism Friendly Initiative developed alongside Mid and East Antrim Borough Council winning the overall award in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category.

The Causeway Healthy Kids project with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was runner up in both the Service Innovation & Improvement and Collaborative Partnership awards, while the Family Support & Social Supermarket Programme was runner up in the Engaging Communities category, with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

Hugh Nelson, Head of Community Wellbeing, said: “We were delighted to learn that several innovative projects, driven by our Health & Wellbeing team, were nominated for these awards, highlighting the team's dedication to collaboration and its positive impact on population health.

“The initiatives, either already in place or being implemented across the council areas, illustrate the innovative approaches that have informed how we work together to achieve this. The Health & Wellbeing team's dedication to partnership working has been instrumental in driving these projects forward and we are delighted with how they have been received.

“Together with our council partners, we are building healthier, more inclusive communities and I want to congratulate everyone involved in this ongoing success.”

Autism Friendly Initiative: Nominated in the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion category, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Autism Friendly initiative, nurtured by Jayne Colville and the Northern Trust’s Autism Forum, with strong support from the Northern Area Autism Reference Group, has been recognised for its pioneering approach to creating inclusive environments for autistic individuals. The Northern Trust has worked alongside Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to support public services and businesses across the borough to become Autism Friendly as part of the Council’s Community Plan, ‘Putting People First’.

The initiative is focused on creating more inclusive communities, developing opportunities for autistic individuals and their families to feel welcome, and supporting businesses to make accommodations which are more responsive to autistic families' needs. The initiative highlights the Trust’s commitment to equality and the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing diverse health needs.

Causeway Healthy Kids: Developed through Sandra Anderson’s Healthy Lifestyle Partnership, Causeway Healthy Kids is a community programme delivered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Sport and Wellbeing Development department and supported by the Northern Healthy Lifestyle Partnership, and the Northern Trust’s Dietetics and Health & Wellbeing Department. It is focused on increasing physical activity and obesity prevention among school-aged children. Delivered over 11 weeks, it includes sports, nutrition, and Take 5 emotional wellbeing sessions to promote healthy habits and mental well-being. The programme has reached 60 schools and 1609 participants, showing significant improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption, hydration awareness, food labelling understanding and Take 5 education. Causeway Healthy Kids has developed innovative approaches to promoting healthy lifestyles among children, demonstrating the influence of collaborative innovation in service delivery.

Family Support & Social Supermarket Programme: In the Engaging Communities category, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council were nominated for their exceptional work in partnership with Kate McDermott from the Health and Wellbeing team and Save the Children. The pandemic has had a lasting impact on families, exacerbating financial, physical and emotional hardships, further worsened by the rising cost of living. In response, the Northern Trust partnered with Save the Children to create a Family Support Programme that evolved from an emergency response to a year-round service, providing vouchers, household items and educational toys to vulnerable families. By 2022, the programme expanded across the Northern Trust area, supporting 313 families and 659 children, with a significant portion being lone parent families, those with health conditions and families experiencing financial hardship. This programme has provided vital support to families, showcasing how collaborative efforts can enhance community health, resilience and tackle poverty.