The Health & Wellbeing Awards will see two brand new categories for 2018. These are for Children & Young People and Health on the High Street.

These new awards have been introduced to ensure that the scheme continues to represent the breadth of public health programmes and projects. Meanwhile, because more and more entries across all categories include technology as an integral part of their delivery, the Technology & Health Innovation Award has been discontinued.

The Children & Young People Award is aimed at projects which can demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellbeing of children and young people (0-25 years). This may be in projects that deliver directly to young people themselves and or through parenting and skills development for parents and carers.

The Health on the High Street Award is inspired by the Health on the High Street campaign. It is aimed at organisations from retailers through to planning teams in local authorities which can demonstrate how they have made changes on their High Streets or in their business practices to improve the health of customers and local communities.

Graham Rushbrook FRSPH, Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Awards Programme, said: ‘I am delighted to see these new categories join the Health & Wellbeing Awards for 2018. They will ensure that this prestigious national scheme continues to represent and showcase the incredible work being done across all areas of public health in the UK.’

Now in its eleventh year, the Health & Wellbeing Awards is the UK's premier awards scheme for promoting health and wellbeing. The Awards recognise and celebrate a wide range of activities, policies and strategies that empower communities and individuals, improve the population’s health and address the wider social determinants of health.

Category winners have the opportunity to be selected for the prestigious Public Health Minister’s Award, while all finalists will be considered for two special commendations to be given by Public Health England (PHE). The winners are revealed at the annual RSPH Awards ceremony.

The Health & Wellbeing Awards 2018 will open for entries on Monday 19 February 2018.