Read about our Community Champions and why they're passionate about improving health and wellbeing across Stockton-on-Tees.
Peter Mayes, Co-ordinator, Starfish Youth Employment Initiative
I work for Starfish Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), where we provide compassionate support and a community approach that offers young people choices to make positive changes to their lives and to take the next steps.
Starfish is linked with ‘wellbeing’ and has the experience to help people realise their unlimited potential, overcoming any barriers or obstacles that are getting in their way.
Research shows that by not having a career plan or focus on yourself, or by a lack of employment or training options are all well known to directly affect our wellbeing and mental health.
We show you that you have to realise that you are so important, you will do well and we will support and help all the way on you career planning, exploration and self-development.
I am looking forward to my role as a Healthwatch Champion for Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees.
Mark Walker, Trustee at Teesside Dementia Link Services
Teesside Dementia Link Services (TDLS) is a charity based in the tees valley aiming to provide support to dementia sufferers and their carers, through support groups, activities and social events.
The relief of sickness and preservation of health of people suffering with dementia and their families and carers in and around the Teesside area.
Leigh Trimble, Volunteer and Project Manager at Red Balloons
When I heard about the opportunity to become a Healthwatch Stockton Community Champion it made perfect sense to put myself forward. At Red Balloons we use Peer Support to give people a safe space to talk about their mental health while supporting them to use being active to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
We talk to people all day every day about their mental and physical health and this also regularly includes their experiences of health and social care services locally. The opportunity to be an advocate for our service users as well as the chance to answer their questions and give them up-to-date information will be invaluable.
The whole Healthwatch Project is extremely important, the fact that anyone in the community can become involved with feeding back, informing and shaping future services is absolutely brilliant. I'm looking forward to being part of the Team.
Wendy Peacock, Director at Everyday Language Solutions
Everyday Language Solutions Ltd (ELS) is a not for profit organisation that provides a comprehensive range of premium quality interpretation and translation services to the North East community and beyond. As a registered charity its aim is to support the promotion of good race relations and the elimination of discrimination through more effective communication.
Why did you want to become a Champion?
"I wanted to become a champion as I felt so frightened and misinformed at the start of the pandemic. There were reports and news stories with lots of conflicting information. As an employer I did not feel confident on what I needed to have in place to keep them safe. It has been the best thing I have done and I feel confident in my knowledge and the rules and regulations now."
Why is it important to get feedback from those you work with/local residents/the community regarding local health and social care?
"The feedback is so important from the people we support as they are from hard to reach often vulnerable communities with language barriers. We work with Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Migrants and the Deaf community all who have issues getting and understanding information on a day to day basis never mind the information that was needed to cope with a global pandemic. The groups from different countries were often getting information from family and friends at home which was contradictory to what was being disseminated in the UK. There was a tremendous amount of misinformation about the vaccines and the dangers of them. The Deaf community who rely heavily on their weekly support group meetings to navigate the health and social care system were left completely in the dark as all meetings were cancelled."
Nikki Brown, Registered Manager at The White House Care Home
My name is Nikki Brown, and I am the Registered Manager of The White House Care Home in Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees.
I work alongside my husband Ben who is also the home’s Deputy Manager. I have not always been a Manager; however I have worked at The White House since I was 16 years old. I started as part of a work placement in 1999 and since then I have worked my way up performing almost every single role in home.
It is badge of honour for me in some ways to have experienced such a wide array of roles within the same setting. I feel it has kept me very grounded and has helped to shape my approach to leading a successful care team. Care is something that has always come naturally to me, and I knew this was something that would always be part of me since I started at The White House all those years ago.
Just before the pandemic started, we were very fortunate to achieve an Outstanding Care Quality Commission rating which we worked extremely hard for. I feel that we achieved this amazing accolade through hard work and collaboration. The collaboration element was a huge part for us particularly working alongside Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Transformation team.
We worked very closely with this wonderful team who helped to guide us in directions which had the potential to lead to positive outcomes for our service and our residents. We grasped every opportunity the council provided for us, we embraced it, learned from it and then empowered our wonderful team of staff with the same knowledge and values.
I hope that the future of care is bright. I hope that, despite the hardships of the pandemic it will leave the world of care with a parting gift. I hope that is the gift of recognition that the healthcare sector really deserves, that healthcare workers are seen as more than just healthcare “assistants”, they are healthcare “professionals” in the truest sense of the word. I hope that more people will aspire to work in health care, knowing that the skills we each possess have their value and worth finally recognised.
I think all of us in health and social care have come through this experience battle hardened and prepared for anything the world can throw at us now … and I say bring it on!
Ben Brown, Deputy Manager at The White House Care Home
My name is Ben Brown, and I am the Deputy Manager of The White House Care Home in Hartburn. I have the absolute pleasure of working alongside my wife Nikki who is the registered manager.
Together I think we make a great team as we bring a lot of our personalities into the role and often lean on our marriage to bring a sense of humour and a family feel to the home.
The White House is my first and only place I have worked in healthcare, although I did have a wonderful upbringing alongside my two sisters, one of which has a disability known as Angelman Syndrome. So, you could say that care is in my blood.
I started as the Housekeeper at The White House in 2007 and quickly progressed through the different roles within the home, I spent time as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA), Senior HCA and then a long time as the Activities Co-ordinator which I absolutely loved. It was after another stint as Senior HCA that I became the Deputy Manager which is the position I have held up to this day.
Before the pandemic became such a huge part if our lives, we achieved one of the highest accolades in healthcare, an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission. I feel we achieved this by developing a team that had the perfect mind set. We were in a great place where we had some great opportunities provided by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. We learned from these, implemented them, improved our service as a result and then showcased our improvements for all to see.
I am very passionate about highlighting the positive sides of healthcare as I feel they are quite often overshadowed by the difficulties of the job or by the devastating effects of dementia. So, I set about creating video projects which showcased our lives both inside and outside of the home, particularly showing the meaningful activities for dementia which we provided.
I just feel it is important to embrace the sense of pride that we have for our world of care and show it off whenever and however we can.
I hope that we continue to see maximised efficiency from healthcare services utilising video conferencing to make assessments and clinical triage. I certainly think our service users and their families will continue to embrace video conferencing to stay connected, particularly as this continues to become more accessible.
Tobi Daniels, Personalised Care Co-ordinator - North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Why did you decide to become a champion/community rep?
I am passionate to promote peoples' voices and support them to make positive choices about their health and wellbeing needs based on 'what matters to them'; and working closely with Healthwatch will strengthen that collaboration and partnership between our secondary care and community intervention groups.
If you work with a community group or service, what does it do?
There are various determinants to health, largely identified within our health inequalities data. An important aspect of my involvement is supporting individuals to have personalised assessment based on the realities of their situation and giving them choice and control over the way their care is planned and delivered based on 'what matters to them' and their individual strength and needs.
What experience/skills/knowledge can you bring to the role?
With over 10 years of working within the healthcare system, I'm available to collaborate with individuals and organisations on opportunities to embed personalised care principles within existent care pathways
Why is it so important that we get feedback direct from the Stockton residents/community on important health and social care issues?
To properly shape our healthcare system, we need to listen to our service users, meaningfully engage people with lived experiences within our population and continually involve them in strategic co-production. If it is 'Health for all', then it needs to be designed by all.
Tolase Jaiyeoba, Community Issues & Concerns CIC
Why did you decide to become a champion/community rep?
In our organisation, our goal is to bridge the gap between different backgrounds and the African community, while providing support in a variety of activities. We believe that by working together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding.
If you work with a community group or service, what does it do?
We raise awareness about various issues to educate our community members and provide them with the necessary support. It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone have access to the resources they need to overcome challenges and live fulfilling lives.
What experience/skills/knowledge can you bring to the role?
I have extensive experience working in social care and have supported numerous families over the years. My patient and detail-oriented approach has helped me provide tailored support to each of my clients. By actively listening and asking the right questions, I ensure that I fully understand their needs and can provide the best possible assistance.
What are you most looking forward to about getting involved with Healthwatch?
Supporting people in various ways that I can
Susan Robinson, Health and Wellbeing Librarian, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Why did you decide to become a champion/community rep?
To help others and spread positive messages.
If you work with a community group or service, what does it do?
Linking libraries with other organisations and to assist in the promotion of reading for health and wellbeing.
What experience/skills/knowledge can you bring to the role?
Community work, life coaching.
What are you most looking forward to about getting involved with Healthwatch?
Feeling part of a bigger network and reaching more people.
Why is it so important that we get feedback direct from the Stockton residents/community on important health and social care issues?
So we can improve services.
Brian Jones, CEO at The Moses Project
The Moses Project is a registered charitable company which provides guidance, mentoring and support to hundreds of adult males with past and current addictions to drugs and alcohol. The men usually live in chaotic circumstances and are suffering the consequences of long-term self-abuse.
We provide daily assistance with housing and benefits, introduce clients to positive lifestyles and provide not only one-to-one support but also regular team-building events and activities.
Star Wilson, Key Worker at Eastern Ravens Trust
Eastern Ravens Trust is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee based in Stockton-on-Tees.
The organisation has distinct aims and objectives aimed at supporting the informal education of children and young people experiencing social exclusion and/or disadvantage alongside supporting local volunteers.
Based in the Community Zone at North Shore Academy, the organisation has a longstanding history of supporting children and young people since its inception in 1961.
"I became a Healthwatch Champion because I think it is important for people living and experiencing health issues to get their voices heard.
"I work with young carers and their families, some of which come into contact with the health and social care sector on a regular basis, attending appointments, receiving treatment, hospital stays and much more.
"Some of these families have fed back issues they've faced with; getting face-to-face appointments during COVID-19 and how unheard they feel by health professionals regarding their care.
"However, some of the feedback has been amazing and first hand accounts of just how well they have been treated."
Bright Minds Big Futures
Bright Minds Big Futures (BMBF) is a nationally award-winning youth-led movement, working together with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to make the Borough a great place grow up. The group is managed by an elected panel of young people known as the Big Committee. Bright Minds Big Futures is a great way for young people to make friends, gain valuable life skills, increase confidence and be involved in making a real difference to the Borough of Stockton.
Mark Coleman, Chair of the Patient Participation Group at Norton Medical Centre
Rachel Braithwaite, Community Engagement Officer, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Kelly Potts, Groundwork North East
Alison Connelly, Patient Experience Manager, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Tori Bradison, Chair, Northern Cancer Voices
Joanna Harley, Carers Support Adviser, Stockton‑on‑Tees Borough Council
Sarah Jones, Wellbeing Hub Project Manager, Catalyst