Telford & Wrekin Council

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council-owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. The communications function is more integral to what councils do than ever. There is increasing need to influence behaviour in relation to, for example, recycling, transport, looking out for older neighbours, or reinforcing public health messaging. And there is the importance of building trust in the difficult decisions councils have to take in these challenging times. Campaigns can make a significant contribution to achieving these objectives, and this award is designed to showcase councils’ expertise in this area.

A year-long campaign to tackle health inequalities in Telford & Wrekin hit its target within just six months and ultimately engaged more than three times the number of people it set out to reach. The council’s Year of Wellbeing used a blend of tailored communications and a well thought out strategy to ensure key messages reached the right audiences and encouraged behaviour change. This highly accessible, low-cost and particularly timely campaign – launched during the pandemic – has also put an emphasis on measuring impact and engaging residents to help them make changes that will boost their health and wellbeing.