1V HEALTH AWARD 2026
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The 1V Health Award will recognise an individual or organisation for their commitment and effort in tackling key health issues in hard to reach communities. It will also acknowledge any success which combats health inequalities in our town. The award will celebrate individuals or organisations that conduct their work in the voluntary sector, but applications are also welcome from the public and private sector.
The 1V Health Award will also be for those who lead in improving, innovating and helping to make a real difference to health and well-being services in Blackburn with Darwen. Research projects can also be considered.
Individuals or groups who have worked in partnership with other organisations and communities to reduce health inequalities will receive greater credits.
While the award aims to acknowledge the work of candidates/organisations in the previous 12 months, it can also be recognition of a continued level of service to the communities.
HERE ARE YOUR 2026 FINALISTS
Blackburn Birth Centre
Blackburn Birth Centre is a standalone, midwifery-led unit that has developed over 15 years into a recognised community hub for Blackburn with Darwen. The Centre provides families with a single, reliable point of contact for midwifery support throughout every stage of pregnancy, delivering care both within the Birth Centre and across diverse community settings. This ensures a consistent, safe, and accessible service for women, newborns, and families.
Throughout its development, the Centre has strengthened its contribution to local maternity services by collaborating with partner teams to identify and meet the diverse needs of families effectively. These partnerships have helped shape the Centre into the community-focused service it is today, trusted by generations of families.
In 2025, Blackburn Birth Centre celebrated 15 years of high-quality maternity care, bringing together past and present families to reflect on its profound impact. The Centre provides a home-from-home environment, supported by highly skilled midwives experienced in antenatal care, low-risk labour and birth, and postnatal support. Families can rely on the Centre for compassionate, professional care, helpful guidance, and dedicated support for postnatal wellbeing, including mental health.
With a commitment to sustaining and enhancing this service, Blackburn Birth Centre continues to deliver exemplary maternity care and strengthen its vital role within the community.
Sunita
Asal-Chander
Sunita is a Habilitation Specialist with Guide Dogs and the Blackburn Visually Impaired Team, whose work empowers children and young people with vision impairments to build independence, confidence, and lifelong skills. Remarkably, Sunita is visually impaired herself, and she draws on her lived experience to inspire and support those she works with, breaking down barriers and showing that vision loss does not define potential.
She teaches children practical skills including safe street navigation, use of public transport, spatial awareness, home routines, and confidence in new environments. These lessons provide more than mobility—they equip children with resilience, self-esteem, and tools for independence that carry through into adulthood. Many of her students have successfully transitioned to mainstream schools, colleges, and universities, with some securing paid employment, demonstrating the long-term impact of her work.
Sunita has been widely recognised for her dedication, including as a finalist at the International Women’s Day Awards and winner of the Role Model Award at Blackburn with Darwen’s Proud to be BwD Staff Spotlight Awards. Her work has also been showcased in a Guide Dogs feature highlighting her transformative impact on children like Mabel.
Through her expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment, Sunita continues to inspire, support, and empower the visually impaired community, making her a deserving finalist for the Health Award.
Beverley
Ormerod
Beverley Ormerod is a dedicated advocate, educator, and volunteer CEO of Neurodynamix CIC, transforming the lives of neurodiverse individuals, people with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, refugees, and the homeless. She creates safe, inclusive spaces and delivers innovative programmes that tackle isolation, improve wellbeing, and build confidence.
Beverley designs and leads workshops in wellbeing, arts, drama, and practical life skills, providing both social and emotional support to vulnerable communities. As a qualified teacher and ESOL instructor, she offers literacy and language support, alongside hands-on advocacy, helping families navigate education, healthcare, and social services. She works tirelessly to ensure individuals are heard, understood, and supported, often stepping in when systems fail to provide timely help.
Her work extends across all ages and communities, breaking cultural and language barriers, mentoring volunteers, and inspiring young people to reach their potential. Known for her compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication, Beverley combines professional expertise with a personal commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives.
Her impact on mental health, education, and community wellbeing is profound, making her a truly deserving nominee for a health and social care award.
Zaynab (Zee)
Jogi
Zaynab “Zee” Jogi is a Blackburn and Lancashire-based community leader, adventurer, and charity founder whose work has transformed the lives of women, youth, and underserved communities through health, wellbeing, and empowerment initiatives. She founded Z’s Defence Academy, a pioneering charity dedicated to breaking down mental health barriers via sport, outdoor pursuits, self-defence, and volunteering. At its core, the Academy helps vulnerable women build confidence, resilience, and life skills to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Zee has championed menopause awareness and led numerous health campaigns, particularly supporting South Asian women, ensuring that vital education reaches communities often overlooked. Her programmes promote physical wellbeing, emotional resilience, and positive lifestyle change, providing participants with skills, leadership opportunities, and pathways to independence.
Beyond her charitable work, Zee is a trailblazing adventurer and athlete. She became the first British Muslim woman to achieve two Guinness World Records on Mount Kilimanjaro, completing both the trek to Uhuru Peak Basecamp (5,364m) and an obstacle course at 5,644m alongside 45 athletes from 26 countries. She is also a qualified fitness instructor, boxing coach, mixed martial artist, and the only British female self-defence course instructor in the North West.
Through her innovative programmes, advocacy, and personal achievements, Zee Jogi inspires healthier, safer communities, making her a truly deserving finalist for the Health Award.
1V HEALTH AWARD 2024
WINNER Sarah Bernasconi
Sarah Bernasconi, Maggies Stillbirth Legacy was the recipient of the 1V Health Award 2024, sponsored by Spring North.
In 2015 Sarah lost her daughter to stillbirth and was offered the only cuddle cot within East Lancashire. The Legacy fundraises and provides Cuddle-Cots and Cuddle-Blankets to Hospitals, training to the NHS and Memory Boxes. Sarah has created a support group where friendship, support, talking therapies and licenced private clinicians attend.
Recognising the diverse ways in which different parts of our Borough deal with death, burial and mourning, Sarah has also created bespoke packages. She has worked closely with Imams and other religious leaders to be wholly diverse.
Sarah was shocked at receiving the award, “I feel humbled honoured and proud to have won the award. Everyone in the category was amazing so I honestly didn’t think I’d win. Thank you for helping me to break the taboo of pregnancy, stillbirth, and child loss.”
THE FINALISTS
Four Season Outdoors
Four Seasons Outdoors is an organisation that is consistently active in the community. The organisation covers an array of areas including events, outdoor walking, hiking, health and fitness, mental health seminars, yoga, charity work and litter picks in the community. The group operates from Blackburn with Darwen although their walks and hikes take them all around the UK. Their programmes are tailored to the community to educate people about the benefits of the great outdoors and increase their confidence in exploring nature on their own. Four Seasons outdoors promotes unity and bringing people of all backgrounds together, boosting confidence and self-esteem through physical fitness and overall well-being. Everyone is welcome at Four Seasons Outdoors regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. The group is a ‘family who aim to uplift and motivate one another’ to conquer their personal goals. They also tier their work to suit individuals or organisations from a diverse range of communities.
Offload North West
Offload Northwest are a group of volunteers who compassionately dedicate their time to improve the mental health and well-being of our community.
The team recognised the urgent need to create a positive environment, steering people away from turning to harmful coping mechanisms such as self-harm and substance abuse, by helping them embrace their difficulties in a new way.
The volunteers then launched their Women’s Hub in July 2023 and began to work with other organisations. They conducted fortnightly sessions with the residents of Salvation Army and Nightsafe. With determination, the group set out to establish a hub of activities that could bring joy, togetherness and hope to every participant.
Offload Northwest have been able to provide various support to many members of the community for their wellness and recovery journey’s. The group aim is to make a difference in the lives of anyone who cannot see any hope by providing refuge from the darkness of anxiety, depression, family issues, domestic violence, and addiction which have a strain on relationships.
Red Rose Recovery – Roots Community
Red Rose Recovery was established as a charity in 2012 and has become nationally recognised as a pioneering organisation in developing recovery systems and creating opportunities for people affected by substance misuse, mental health and offending behaviours. They have been working in Blackburn over the last 12 months on substance misuse and gambling addiction problems, working with partners across the board to support local people. They are a lived experience organisation that seek a non-judgemental approach. Red Rose Recovery’s Roots Community branch is a newly convened forum advocating for recovery in the Blackburn with Darwen area. As a Lived Experience Recovery organisation, the staff’s personal and relatable experience provides inspiration and hope to people who are struggling to find a way forward. Red Rose Recovery work with a wide range of partner organisations in many different settings to build a lasting difference.
Sarah Bernasconi- Maggies Still Birth Legacy
In 2015 Sarah lost her daughter Maggie, to stillbirth. Sarah was offered the only cuddle cot within East Lancashire. She realised that there were multiple families missing out on this, so she began Maggie’s Still Birth Legacy. The Legacy fundraises and provides Cuddle-Cots and Cuddle-Blankets to Hospitals, training to the NHS and Memory Boxes. Sarah has created a support group where friendship, support, talking therapies and licenced private clinicians attend. Recognising the diverse ways in which different parts of our Borough deal with death, burial and mourning, Sarah has also created bespoke packages. She has worked closely with Imams and other religious leaders to be wholly diverse. Sarah has taken a sensitive subject that marginalises women and families and created an inclusive service that caters to the health and wellbeing of families. Sarah has raised more than £60,000 to provide cuddle cots, blankets and memory boxes across Lancashire NHS and recently in Spain and regularly has more than 20 regular attendees truly making a difference in Blackburn with Darwen.
The 1V Health Award will recognise an individual or organisation for their commitment and effort in tackling key health issues in hard to reach communities.
It will also acknowledge any success which combats health inequalities in our town. The award will celebrate individuals or organisations that conduct their work in the voluntary sector, but applications are also welcome from the public and private sector. The 1V Health Award will also be for those who lead in improving, innovating and helping to make a real difference to health and well-being services in Blackburn with Darwen. Individuals or groups who have worked in partnership with other organisations and communities to reduce health inequalities will receive greater credits.
WINNER 2023
Health Award winner Breaks Barriers
A local charity working to eliminate health barriers and stereotypes won the 1V Health Lead Award.
IMO Charity received the accolade from Martin Hartley-Smith, Head of Business Development at Spring North.
IMO’s Health & Well-being strand offers various projects for vulnerable adults with complex needs.
IMO Charity, based in Blackburn, also aims to tackle health related stereotypes especially within the South Asian community. For a charity that isn’t primarily based on health they do a lot of work to help combat certain stereotypes in regard to health, wellbeing and taboo subjects such as substance misuse.
They have conducted many health and well-being projects in the last 12 months including Women 4 Women, Diabetes, Substance Misuse through the SPARK project, Changing Futures, and many more.
Under each project the IMO team deliver bespoke and inspiring workshops which help motivate and overcome challenges while offering practical, emotional, and physical support for individuals to move forward with their lives in a positive manner.
Their work also embraces non-Asian communities.
Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Sidat was delighted at receiving the award and said, “This is a very exciting win and the IMO team is delighted to be recognised in this way. We are thrilled to have won the Health Lead Award. IMO would like to thank everyone who has supported and joined us on this unforgettable journey.”
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