TELCO’s Health Equity Action Leadership (HEAL) project, a unique partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust, has proudly won the national Patient Experience Network Award (PEN Award) for “Engaging & Championing the Public” - a groundbreaking recognition that spotlights the project’s unwavering commitment to community-powered healthcare transformation.​

The PEN Award recognises HEAL for its remarkable work in East London, bringing together local leaders, residents, and NHS partners to address health inequalities by developing authentic leadership and health literacy from the grassroots up. HEAL champions are trained to listen and organise their communities to transform healthcare services - ensuring that voices from Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, and beyond shape the future of care.​

The HEAL project reimagines healthcare around real community needs, shifting from a tradition of crisis-led, illness-focused models to one where long-term wellness and equity thrive. Through listening campaigns, health banks, and collaborative training, HEAL fosters deep relationships and bridges between residents and healthcare providers. Every champion’s story- like Averil Pooten Watan’s, who described how HEAL training empowered leaders to advocate for what matters most - testifies to the project’s lasting impact.​

The PEN award is a tribute to the families, caregivers, and TELCO leaders who have co-created solution-driven campaigns, and to the passionate HEAL Champions who dedicate themselves to building a healthier, more just city for all. It affirms that true health equity is possible when communities and healthcare institutions work side by side; every lived experience and every local leader counts.​

Congratulations to everyone involved - this PEN Award is not just a victory for HEAL, but a celebration of collective hope, courage, and the power of community organizing to transform the health landscape of East London.