Outstanding Community Outreach
Our Community Independence Champions Project was launched in 2024/25 to improve awareness of the Community Equipment Loan Service and help people live independently in their homes for longer.
Through outreach to over 260 community organisations across 26 contract areas, we have built strong partnerships with grassroots groups, charities, and statutory services. This work has included:
- Creating accessible signposting materials.
- Supporting equipment recycling, safe use, and self-assessment awareness.
- Collaborating with Healthwatch and other organisations on co-production projects.
- Sponsoring and supporting community events with demonstrations and information stands.
This initiative has not only improved satisfaction among service users but also helped reduce hospital admissions, speed up discharges, and ensure communities feel more connected, supported, and heard
Team of the Year – The Wellbeing Committee
Medequip’s Wellbeing Committee was established to ensure the ongoing physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of our staff. Meeting weekly, the committee develops and delivers initiatives that support colleagues across all depots, helping create a workplace culture of care, inclusion, and respect.
Key achievements include:
- Training over 90 Mental Health First Aiders across the business.
- Running weekly drop-in sessions and providing regular refresher training.
- Introducing a neurodiversity training programme to support colleagues with different needs.
- Launching wellbeing walks, breakfast mornings, depot wellbeing boards, and an annual calendar of wellbeing themes.
- Developing a “Wellbeing Wallet” to centralise access to resources such as EAP support, Perkbox, pensions, and financial wellbeing tools.
- Encouraging community involvement through fundraising and volunteering projects, such as the Medequip Moonwalkers, who raised over £1,000 for cancer research
The Wellbeing Committee’s dedication has fostered a stronger sense of community across Medequip, ensuring colleagues feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive both personally and professionally.
Looking Ahead
Being shortlisted for these two awards is a testament to the commitment, compassion, and teamwork demonstrated across our organisation – both in the way we serve communities and in how we support our colleagues.
We look forward to the BHTA Awards ceremony in 2025, where winners will be announced. Regardless of the outcome, we are incredibly proud of these nominations and grateful to all staff, partners, and community groups who have worked alongside us to achieve this recognition.
For more details about the awards, visit the BHTA Awards 2025 website.