W L
THE MARTIN GALLIER PROJECT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
BRIGHTER BEBINGTON PRESENTED WITH KINGS AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE
A charity partnership that has enabled the delivery of 41,000 life-saving suicide interventions has been recognised nationally.
The Martin Gallier Project( MGP) and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust( CWP), have been highly commended in‘ Best not for profit working in partnership with the NHS’ at the 2025 Health Service Journal( HSP) Partnership Awards for their outstanding work in suicide prevention.
The Martin Gallier Project has been working alongside CWP’ s Liaison Psychiatry, Home Treatment Team, and Crisis Line in Cheshire and Merseyside, delivering essential crisis intervention and suicide prevention support. This partnership has provided life-saving assistance to people in crisis, ensuring that those at risk receive timely and compassionate care.
Jessica Gallier-Booth, Founder and CEO of The Martin Gallier Project, said:“ We would like to celebrate the wonderful staff working across the partnership between The Martin Gallier Project, and Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS FT. The respective teams at MGP, Liaison Psychiatry, Home Treatment Team, and the Crisis Line in Cheshire and Merseyside have worked tirelessly to create a Suicide Safer Communities on Wirral and now in Cheshire. This award honours the efforts of all staff involved and recognises the hard work of our clients who are recovering from the worst period of their life. This award helps demonstrate the effectiveness of our model and spreads our reach to even further areas. Our goal is to see an MGP in partnership with the NHS on every high street in the UK and for every suicide to be prevented.”
Winning the HSJ Partnership Award underscores the effectiveness and necessity of innovative, community-driven mental health support services. The Martin Gallier Project’ s vision is to continue expanding its reach, ensuring that high-quality, accessible suicide prevention services are available to those in need, regardless of location.
This award serves as a significant milestone in the journey to creating a future where every life is valued, and every suicide is preventable.
On Thursday the 6th March the volunteer group Brighter Bebington were presented with the King’ s Award for Voluntary Service which is given for outstanding achievement and is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the United Kingdom and is the equivalent to the M. B. E.
The award ceremony took place at the Royal British Legion club in Higher Bebington amongst an invited audience of over 60 guests.
The volunteer group, who were formed in 1992 and carry out their voluntary work around the Lower and Higher Bebington and Spital area providing and installing Christmas trees and lighting, holding Christmas Concerts, lighting up Civic buildings and many other tasks. They are also responsible for providing and maintaining over forty floral planters throughout the area.
They have recently renovated a traditional red K6 phone box and fitted it out with a life saving defibrillator machine.
The King’ s Award was presented to Colin Bermingham, chairman of Brighter Bebington by the Lord- Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr. Mark Blundell. The Merseyside Lieutenancy party consisted of Deputy Lieutenant, Dr. Nicolas Jedynakiewicz DL, Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs. Rebecca Ross-Williams DL, Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Sue Higginson OBE DL, Mr. Nigel Lanceley DL and Clerk of the Lieutenancy, Miss Helen Tanzey.
Also present at the ceremony were the The Wirral Civic party which consisted of the Mayor of Wirral, Cherry Povall and Mayoress of Wirral Mrs. Sheila Clarke, Chief Executive, Wirral Council Mr. Paul Satoor and Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart.
Chairman Colin Bermingham said“ I am proud to have such a remarkable team of highly skilled and dedicated members that are involved in our group and who give up their time selflessly to make Bebington a better place to live and are certainly most deserving of this prestigious award.”
8 wirrallife. com