Celebrating Our Health & Care Ambassadors

Who they are, what they do, and the difference they make across Stockton‑on‑Tees

The Health & Care Ambassador Programme brings together dedicated health and care professionals who are committed to taking essential information, support and services directly into the heart of our communities. 

These Ambassadors represent an incredible mix of organisations,  from mental health and social prescribing, to cancer support, screening services, youth engagement, carers’ services, community safety, and more.

They are trusted professionals who help people navigate services, understand key health messages and access the right support, while providing invaluable signposting and real‑time insight into community experience. 

Responding to Real Needs, in Real Time

What sets this programme apart is its responsiveness.

Using real‑time intelligence gathered from our communities, conversations, events, lived experience, concerns raised locally, we now deliver multiple ambassador-led events across the borough. 

Residents shared with Healthwatch that they face barriers such as trust, language challenges, limited interpreting support, unclear communication, and difficulty understanding how to access services. These events were designed directly to address those issues. 

Each session is shaped by what people tell us matters most to them, whether that’s easier access to screening, mental health advice, blood pressure checks, substance misuse support, young people’s wellbeing, or culturally sensitive information for migrant communities.

Recent events show the impact of this approach:

• At a major ambassador event hosted at Purple Rose, more than 100 people attended from diverse backgrounds, with over 50 residents receiving blood pressure checks and being connected to essential health services such as cancer screening, smoking cessation, 0–19 services and more.
• Over 40 professionals have now committed to the programme, strengthening relationships, reaching under‑represented groups and building capacity across the health and care system to address priority concerns such as migrant health, young people’s mental health, and women’s health. 

These events prove that when services come together, guided by lived experience and community intelligence, access improves, trust grows and outcomes change.

Who They Are: A Network of Compassionate, Skilled Professionals

Our Ambassadors come from:

• NHS services (0–19, screening, NEAS, women’s health, mental health)
• VCSE organisations and community hubs
• Local authority teams including carers, employment, libraries and public health
• Police and community safety services
• Specialist charities such as Red Balloons, Prostate Cancer, British Liver Trust, CGL, Family Action, Recovery Connections
• Youth engagement and wellbeing organisations

Together, this network helps people find answers, feel heard, and overcome the barriers they face when trying to access health and care support.

A Huge Thank You

To every Ambassador, thank you.

Thank you for your time, expertise, passion and commitment to the people of Stockton‑on‑Tees.

Thank you for showing up in communities, listening without judgement, building trust, and delivering meaningful support.

Thank you for working collaboratively, sharing your knowledge, and turning intelligence into action.

Your dedication is not just improving access to health and care, it is changing lives, strengthening relationships and ensuring that every voice in our borough is heard and valued.

This programme simply wouldn’t exist without you, and the difference you make is already being felt across neighbourhoods, families and communities.

Looking Ahead: Targeted Ambassador Events

We already have three Health & Care Ambassador events confirmed for this year, responding directly to requests from services that recognise the value of this collaborative, intelligence-led approach. 

These sessions will focus on tackling some of the most pressing challenges in our communities, guided by real-time insight and lived experience. By working together, we aim to break down barriers and improve access for those who need it most, ensuring that every voice is heard and every need is considered.

We look forward to sharing our findings and raising voices.