Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has received national recognition after its Health Intervention Team won the Transforming Lives Award at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in UK local government.
The award recognises the team’s innovative, partnership-led approach to improving health and wellbeing across the Borough, supporting residents of all ages and abilities to become more active, connected and confident.
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan was delighted with the team’s success and said,
“This award is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication of our Health Intervention Team. Their work is transforming lives every day, helping residents become more active, improve their health and feel more connected. I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved and the real difference they continue to make in our communities.”
The MJ Awards judges commended the team’s impact and commented,
“We felt this work exemplified how partners united by a shared sense of purpose could have an incredibly powerful impact on the lives of residents. Drawing on fairly modest funding, the project nevertheless demonstrated big impact, enabling tens of thousands of people of all ages to live better, healthier lives.”
Led by Sport and Physical Activity Manager Kevin Madden, the specialist team includes Health Officers Karen Coulter, Alan McCausland and Arlene McMinn. Arlene was recently named UK Active Physical Activity Hero for 2025. Together, they built a reputation for delivering high-quality, inclusive health and wellbeing initiatives despite being a small team.
The Health Intervention Team delivers a wide-ranging programme of services supporting people of all ages and abilities. In 2024–25 alone, more than 25,000 residents participated in their classes, programmes and support pathways. Their expertise spans a comprehensive range of health interventions, including GP referral exercise programmes, cancer rehabilitation and, more recently, post-natal physical activity classes.
The team plays a key role in delivering the Council’s Health Intervention Action Plan 2022–2027, which focuses on early intervention, prevention and tackling health inequalities. Their approach is built on strong partnerships with organisations including health trusts, the Public Health Agency, community and voluntary organisations, schools, sports clubs and other Council services.
This collaborative model enables the team to respond effectively to emerging health challenges while maintaining a strong focus on long-term wellbeing.
This national award highlights the Council’s leadership in delivering innovative, person-centred public health services that achieve measurable results. By combining expertise, partnership working and a strong commitment to community wellbeing, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council continues to set the standard for impactful local government services that truly transform lives.
Further information on the programmes delivered by the Health Intervention Team is available at antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/leisure