ABL Health

24/03/2026

Trying to quit smoking isn’t about perfection. Slip-ups happen – what matters is what you do next.

In her conversation with Rich Wilson on the Stopping Together podcast, Elaine from Your Health Torbay shares why slip ups are normal, how planning ahead can keep you on track, and the small changes that make quitting feel more possible day by day.

If a life is on your mind, you can listen to the full conversation via the link below.

🎧 linktr.ee/stoppingtogether

20/03/2026

Sometimes the support we receive stays with us for life.

Closing out our series, we’re sharing Jessie Bye’s story. As a teenager, Jessie struggled with her relationship with food and received patient, compassionate support that helped her recover and inspired her career path into public health.

Today she leads Your Health Torbay. Jessie believes health support should fit around real lives - whether someone is dealing with stress, caring responsibilities, long-term conditions or simply feeling overwhelmed.

Read Jessie’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/support-where-it-matters-most-jessie-bye-shares-the-purpose-fuelling-your-health-torbay/

19/03/2026

We’re proud to see Your Health Torbay’s stop smoking practitioner, Elaine, sharing her experience and expertise in the latest episode of Stopping Together.

At ABL Health, we’re committed to helping communities live healthier, lives - and this conversation is full of practical advice for anyone thinking about quitting.

To find out more, watch the episode below. 👇

Episode 2 of Stopping Together is now available.

Host Rich Wilson speaks with Elaine from Your Health Torbay about the health effects of smoking and the benefits of quitting.

They also discuss the support available locally for anyone thinking about stopping smoking.

Watch or listen here:
Spotify - https://shorturl.at/xocXz
Apple - https://shorturl.at/723zc
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/

If you're considering quitting smoking, you can email:
stoppingtogether@gmail.comwith the word STOP to receive links to free support.

16/03/2026

Many of the young people we meet arrive in crisis and unsure of who to trust.

As part of our series, we’re sharing the story of Kirsty Johnston, IPS Service Lead.

Kirsty and her team support young people and families at the edge of care – where needs are complex and the right support can keep families together. Facing some of the toughest moments in life, many of the young people they meet feel misunderstood or judged by services, so the first step is always simple: listen.

Read Kirsty’s story here: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/we-are-who-we-want-to-be-the-belief-powering-kirsty-johnstons-work-with-young-people-on-the-edge-of-care/

09/03/2026

“Every story matters. A single change – one person feeling heard, one family finding hope, one young person taking a step forward – is significant,” says Denise Leslie, ABL Chief Executive. “What makes our work powerful is that these moments are happening all the time.”

This International Women’s Day, Denise shares why fairness, kindness and early support are at the heart of the services we deliver - and how they change what’s possible for individuals, families and communities.

Read the blog: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/in-giving-we-receive-how-denise-leslie-chief-executive-drives-abls-mission-to-eradicate-health-inequalities/

05/03/2026

Being a parent and a practitioner allows Lucy to lead her teams with one simple truth: people should be believed, understood and supported from the start.

Lucy Leppington‑Green leads our autism services across Be U North Yorkshire and Be U Norfolk. Her teams create calm, accessible environments and offer help sooner. Adults in Norfolk get navigation support while they wait, and in North Yorkshire families and schools receive guidance that helps them identify and understand early signs of autism.

Find out how Lucy is redefining what early, fair autism support can look like by visiting: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/being-believed-is-the-starting-point-how-lived-experience-listening-and-leadership-shape-lucy-leppington-greens-work-in-autism-services/

03/03/2026

As we look ahead to International Women’s Day, we are spotlighting the people whose work turns this year’s theme of into something real.

Penny Harvey began as one of ABL’s first lifestyle coaches and now helps lead the 40‑strong integrated service Your Health Oldham. The moments she remembers most are simple but powerful: someone feeling able to move more with their grandchildren, or a young person building enough confidence to join a session on their own. These small steps can change what someone believes is possible.

Read Penny’s story: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/youre-not-on-your-own-penny-harvey-on-building-confidence-community-and-lasting-change-across-oldham/

09/01/2026

Big news! 🎉 Elizabeth Woodworth, a long-serving smoking cessation expert at ABL Health, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s New Year Honours List.

Over the course of her 30-year career, Elizabeth’s work has shaped national standards, strengthened services across England, and supported tens of thousands of people to quit smoking for good.

Want to read more about Elizabeth’s incredible contribution and what this honour means? Visit: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/british-empire-medal-awarded-to-public-health-leader/

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from all of us at ABL Health!

2025 was a year filled with many incredible moments, including:

🎯 Through close collaboration and targeted support, we saw record-breaking reductions across our smoking cessation services, with Bolton and Sunderland recording their lowest smoking rates ever

🏆 Our BeU North Yorkshire service was shortlisted for the Great Autism Practice award

🌱 Across our BeU Wellbeing Hubs in Nottinghamshire, we delivered 1,345 wellbeing sessions, achieved 92% satisfaction and provided timely, preventative support to young people before they reach crisis point

💚 Many of our colleagues volunteered with their local services and fundraised for charity, supporting causes such as Crohn’s and Colitis UK, Brockswood Animal Sanctuary as well as local Food banks and Baby banks across the country

🎉We successfully retained our longstanding Investors in People and Disability Confident Leader accreditations, and now have 52 of our colleagues trained as Mental Health First Aiders

A huge thank you to our clients, partners and colleagues who have supported us in making a difference to the health and lives of so many people around the country. We can’t wait to continue this work in 2026.

25/12/2025

Season’s Greetings from all of us at ABL Health.

As another year draws to a close, we’re wishing all our amazing commissioners, partners, colleagues and service users a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year. 🎄🎅

18/12/2025

Our people are the foundation of everything we do. That’s why we’re proud to share that ABL Health has retained its prestigious Investors in People accreditation and re-accredited as a Disability Confident Leader!

At ABL Health, our community-driven services transform health outcomes and reduce inequalities across the UK – so it’s vitally important we support and empower the very individuals who make what we do possible.

Find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abl-health-retains-prestigious-investors-people-accreditation-rpgre

02/12/2025

Sunderland has reached its ‘lowest ever’ smoking rate - dropping from 11.6% to 9.4% in just one year.

We’re proud that our Sunderland Specialist Stop Smoking Service is part of this progress, supporting local residents to quit and stay smokefree. But while this is a fantastic milestone, we know there’s still more work to do to reduce smoking-related harm, especially in communities facing greater challenges.

If you’re looking for free stop smoking support in one of our commissioned areas, our teams are here to help.

Find out more about our services by visiting: https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/services/stop-smoking/