The public health community came together on Thursday 19 October at the RSPH Awards 2017 – the UK’s premier national public health awards event – to celebrate outstanding contributions to championing the public’s health.

Six worthy organisations were named as winners in the Health & Wellbeing Awards 2017, recognising their achievements across a range of areas:

• Arts & Health Award 2017 winner: University College London and Canterbury Christ Church University for its programme Museums on Prescription
• Community Health Development Award 2017 winner: Actes Trust for its programme Trending
• Healthier Lifestyles Award 2017 winner: Evolve: A Social Impact Company for its programme Project HE:RO
• Public Mental Health & Wellbeing Award 2017 winner: Addaction UK for its programme Mind and Body
• Technology & Health Innovation Award 2017 winner: Solutions 4 Health for its programme FallsFree4Life: QTUG Technology
• Workplace Health & Wellbeing Award 2017 winner: Pioneering Care Partnership for its programme Better Health at Work Award County Durham

Addaction UK was also presented with the prestigious Public Health Minister’s Award 2017, a scheme launched in 2014 in partnership with the Department of Health to recognise public health excellence and innovation.

For the first time, two Health & Wellbeing Awards 2017 finalists were also recognised with a Public Health England Commendation, presented by Chief Executive of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie.

• Commendation for Reducing Inequalities at Community Level: Pioneering Care Partnership
• Commendation for Sustainable Development: University College London and Canterbury Christ Church University

Actor and campaigner Michael Sheen was presented with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Championing the Public’s Health, in recognition of his work to engage and empower deprived communities, especially in his native south Wales, to tackle social determinants and address health inequalities.

In addition,    Professor Michael Kelly of the University of Cambridge and Dr Mary Barker of the University of Southampton were presented with the Public Health Journal Award 2017 supported by Elsevier for their paper ‘Why is changing health-related behaviour so difficult?’

Held at the East Wintergarden in London, the ceremony was hosted by broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky and Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, and guests also enjoyed performances from Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Hardy and her award-winning dance studios and after-dinner speaker David Travers QC.

It also saw the premiere of the new film, The Public's Health Across the Life Course, RSPH's third collaboration with ITN Productions which takes a topical look at current public health challenges and initiatives.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: "The RSPH Awards is always a major highlight of the public health calendar, and this year the event is bigger and better than ever. It is a great morale booster for the public health community to be able to come together in this way, celebrate best practice and share innovation.

"RSPH congratulates all of the organisations who have been shortlisted or won awards, all of whom have come through against stiff competition and are trailblazers and exemplars in their field. I would also like to extend a special congratulations to those recognised by the prestigious Public Health Minister’s Award and the two new Public Health England commendations."

Steve Brine MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Innovation, said: "I was delighted to announce Addaction UK as the winner of the Public Health Minister’s Award 2017 and congratulate them on the success of their fantastic Mind and Body programme. All of the nominated projects should be celebrated for the fantastic contribution they make to the public’s health and wellbeing – I know we are all extremely grateful for the support they provide."

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, added: "The new commendations we have awarded cover two critical responsibilities for everyone in public service: reducing inequalities and sustainable development. 2017's award-winning organisations have demonstrated that they are doing an exceptional job in addressing them."