Safety Hub Wins NHS Excellence Award for Neighbourhood Health

The Rethink Mental Illness Counselling Service at the Safety Hub in Bishop Auckland won the Neighbourhood Health category at the NHS Excellence Awards. The suicide prevention service — a partnership between Rethink, TEWV NHS Foundation Trust, The Angel Trust, Durham County Council, and Durham Police — achieved zero waiting times for crisis counselling in its first year, with 75% of the 65 service users showing measurable improvement in distress. The partnership has secured additional funding to expand the Safety Hub model across the region.