Celebrating our Partners: Award Winning Stevenage

A huge congratulations to our partners at Stevenage Borough Council and Everyone Active Stevenage for your outstanding acheivements. Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) is proud to support and collaboarte with such passionate and impactful teams and projects. 

APSE Award Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative – NightLight Crisis Café Stevenage 

Colleagues from Stevenage Borough Council’s Leisure and Wellbeing team and Herts Mind Network won the Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative (including Social Care) at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) 2024 awards. 

The APSE Awards are specific to frontline services provided by UK councils. The team won the award for the Nightlight Crisis Café. In partnership with Herts Mind Network, the café was set up to offer people who are feeling distressed a person to talk to in a relaxed, non-clinical setting, which aims to help those in need of immediate support. Staff there offer a non-judgemental listening ear for emotional and practical support and to signpost or refer to other local sources of therapy or advice. 

Everyone Active Stevenage – Finalist for Healthy Communities Award  

Everyone Active Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre were shortlisted for the Healthy Communities Award. Their submission highlighted several key initiatives, including The Men's Club, which focuses on supporting the mental and physical health of men across the borough, and the Menopause Support Group, offering a safe space for women to share their experiences and learn holistic coping strategies. The Community Garden Allotment project was also emphasised, aimed at promoting social inclusion and physical activity for gardening enthusiasts. Additionally, the centre boasts advanced specialist gym equipment, such as an anti-gravity treadmill and a seated stepper, designed for individuals who are unable to use traditional gym equipment due to medical conditions. Although they didn’t win the Healthy Communities Award on this occasion Everyone Active walked away with ‘Outstanding Organisation of the Year’.