Empowerment Charity’s work in Blackpool recognised with national prize

A Lancashire charity has been given a top industry award for the work they do in improving health and wellbeing.

Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity – one of the Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) delivery partners – was among the winners at the GSK Impact Awards 2026 earlier this week.

It was selected for the award alongside nine other organisations from a list of 700 nominees nationwide.

The Impact Awards recognise and reward small to medium-sized charities in the UK that are doing excellent work in a health-related field. Now in their 29th year, the awards provide funding, training and development.

Empowerment’s work alongside the NHS, Blackpool Council and community services in priority wards, where there is a higher-than-expected admissions into the urgent and emergency care department and high levels of deprivation, was recognised as part of the award. This approach to neighbourhood working has been used to inform part of the development of neighbourhoods across the region.

The Lived Experience team, supporting people experiencing complex multiple disadvantage, were also highlighted for praise.

This work feeds into the ICB’s strategic commissioning plan to strengthen neighbourhood health, transforming lives by co-designing innovative services shaped around the needs of local communities. 

Jen Riley, the ICB’s associate director of population health and place delivery for Blackpool, said: “It is great to see the work being undertaken by Blackpool partners recognised nationally, especially when a lot of the time there is a lot of negative reporting regarding the town, which can be challenging.

“There is a sense of hope that this work can have a major impact in delivering long‑term health and social value, and I think this award win really brings into focus the progress being made.”

You can watch a video about the charity’s work below.