‘Looking out for our neighbours’ campaign shortlisted for prestigious award
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate ‘Looking out for our neighbours’ campaign has been shortlisted in the prestigious CIPR PRide Awards.
The campaign, which aims to combat loneliness across the region, has inspired hundreds of people to take conscious steps to look out for those around them through simple, everyday interactions like saying hello and sharing a cuppa.
Commissioned by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, the campaign launched on the 15 March and has received support from over 350 supporters including our Trust, the Jo Cox Foundation, and Andy’s Man Club.
The campaign has also been a hit on social media, with the hashtag #OurNeighbours being used more than 2,000 times. In addition to more than 35,000 helpful neighbour packs distributed, a further 1200 people have downloaded a digital version of the pack from the campaign website.
The CIPR PRide Awards recognise the outstanding work PR professionals deliver for clients, individuals and employers across the UK.
Shortlisted within the Public Sector Campaign category, the campaign will now be judged by a team of leading PR industry experts, with results to be announced at the regional CIPR PRide Awards ceremony in Leeds on 21 November.
Rob Webster, CEO lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The ‘Looking out for our neighbours’ campaign was the first opportunity for us as a Partnership to deliver a campaign on a regional level that built on the power of our partnership and communities.
‘The support the campaign has received has been overwhelming and has opened up conversations around social isolation, loneliness and how small acts can make a big difference.
‘Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far, from fellow NHS and local authority colleagues to sports clubs, housing and grass-root community and voluntary organisations – your help made the campaign such a success.
‘Also, a special thank you to all communication and engagement colleagues for taking this idea and bringing it to life. Good luck at the awards ceremony in November.’
Campaign supporter Kim Leadbeater, sister of the late Jo Cox MP and Ambassador for The Jo Cox Foundation, said: ‘It has been wonderful to be part of this meaningful campaign highlighting such an important national issue.
‘Over the last four months we have seen individuals, communities and organisations come together to make real, positive differences to each other’s lives.
‘As Jo famously said in her maiden speech in parliament, we have ‘more in common than that which divides us’ and this campaign has embodied that important sentiment. It is testament to that notion that it has been nominated for this award.’
