Joining Alison in this episode is Elaine Mitchell, Project Officer for the Lincolnshire Sleep Hub. Alison first met Elaine back in 2024 while organising that year’s It’s All About People Conference, so this podcast is very much a reunion and a chance to catch up on everything Elaine has been working on since.

Many people who met Elaine at the conference still talk about The Sleep Charity, and it’s wonderful to hear how many connections she made on that day which have since grown into events, activities, and support for people struggling with sleep.

Elaine speaks with real passion about the power of sleep and how deeply it influences our physical and emotional wellbeing. She also highlights how our workforce can boost their confidence and understanding by taking part in the Sleep Talker training (with new dates coming soon!).

Throughout the conversation, Elaine shares inspiring stories of individuals she’s supported - simple conversations that led to meaningful improvements in sleep patterns and overall wellbeing.

Have a listen and discover what you can learn about sleep. We promise this is one sleep-related session that definitely won’t send you to sleep!

Useful links:

The Sleep Charity

Lincolnshire Sleep Hub

Join returning guests Elliot Kane (Ep 61) and Adam Newman‑Pring (Ep 39) as they sit down with Alison to unpack their collaborative “Getting Winter Ready” project.

This episode shines a light on the power of meeting the right people at the right time - and meeting communities where they are. Elliot and Adam share how they reached over 1,600 people during flu and COVID vaccination clinics at their GP surgery, turning routine appointments into meaningful conversations.

They also reveal striking insights into how housing deprivation affects people’s health and places additional pressure on the NHS during winter. Together, we explore how proactive, preventative support around housing and wider social issues can transform outcomes for individuals and the health and care system.

Have a listen, and consider how you can discover the services that support people with challenges beyond traditional health and social care.

DOWNLOAD: Staying Safe, Warm and Well at Home this Winter guide

Alison sits down with members of the Living Well team at South Lincoln Healthcare Primary Care Network about what personalised care really looks like in practice.

Care Coordinators Jackie and Helen, and Health and Wellbeing Coach Panos, share how non-clinical roles are helping people feel heard, supported, and more in control of their lives.

From “what matters to me” conversations to community events and powerful personal stories, this episode explores how listening, trust, and teamwork can transform care - by putting people, not conditions, at the centre.

Our Shared Agreement - and the Five Foundations that drive it - are beautifully brought to life through these stories of co-production, connectivity and collaboration, conversations, and curiosity. Fantastic stuff!

Joining Alison this week is TikTok sensation Bailey Greetham, winner of Active Lincolnshire’s Outstanding Service to Sport and Physical Activity 2025 award, sponsored by The Fitness Group. Known internationally for inspiring older adults to move more, especially those living in care homes, Bailey is Grimsby-based and determined to make change happen close to home in Lincolnshire.

Fresh from a BBC interview, Bailey talks openly about treating the people he works with as humans first, using simple videos to shine a light on the care sector, and building genuine relationships that really matter. His approach is refreshingly down to earth – “none of this is rocket science.”

Tune in as Bailey and Alison bring Our Shared Agreement to life and show how anyone can make a difference. As Bailey says, “Owt is better than nowt!”

Give this podcast a listen and then head over to TikTok and give Bailey a follow and find out more about this Lincolnshire health and care innovator.

More about Bailey

Bailey is the CEO and Founder of the award winning BeGreatFitness, an all inclusive community health and well-being company that works with schools, care homes, charities and community centres to provide accessible forms of exercise.

For some people, Christmas is a season of sparkle, togetherness, and joy. For others, it can feel overwhelming, lonely, or quietly painful - and sometimes it’s a mix of all three. As the big day gets closer, the pressure ramps up: expectations, busy family dynamics, empty chairs at the table, or the weight of grief that feels heavier this time of year.

In this second episode of this Mental Health series, our colleagues from South Lincolnshire Rural Primary Care Network, Kavya, Melissa, and Leah, talk honestly about what Christmas really feels like - and how to cope when it’s not all festive cheer.

Together, they explore:

• How to get through (and even enjoy) a busy family Christmas
• Ways to manage if you’re spending Christmas on your own
• And how to navigate bereavement during the festive period

Whether you’re counting down the days with excitement, dread, or something in between, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone - and that it’s okay to do Christmas your own way.

Read the article about this podcast

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Home - Cruse Bereavement Support

Christmas and mental health

Caty sits down with Yuen Toh, clinical director of Apex Primary Care Network (PCN) and Andy Garner, senior social prescribing link worker in the PCN.

Yuen and Andy share powerful statistical evidence of the impact on local GP and urgent care services, as well as anecdotes about the importance of relationships and the difference social prescribing can make for individual people.

As Yuen explained in one of her LinkedIn posts about this joint project: “Investing in social prescribing and holistic, preventative care isn't just compassionate – it's incredibly effective and fiscally responsible”.

READ MORE:

https://bit.ly/4q0pGvP

Alison sits down with Simon Nicoll and Lois Delong to talk about the new Ermine Exchange coffee house and wellbeing hub.

This is a really lively conversation that will have you laughing and possibly crying (see if you can notice our host Alison lose it for the first time in her podcast history).

Both Simon and Lois speak passionately about people, partnerships, co-production, value, and impact.

The Ermine Exchange is a great example of Our Shared Agreement in action, where relationships are at the heart of this wonderful space that is making a real difference to local people.

Give the podcast a listen and we challenge you to not want to be part of something similar. Get in touch if you want to give it a try - lhnt.itsallaboutpeople@nhs.net ​

About the Ermine Exchange

The Ermine Exchange is a safe space serving coffee and cake whilst also giving access to essential support services. Come for the brew, stay for the community. Hosted by Alive Church working with local partners such as City of Lincoln Council, Lincoln Bishop University, NHS Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust (LPFT). A haven at the heart of the Community.

In this episode, Alison is joined by Helen Ashwell, People Promise Manager, and Wendy Cundy, Head of Primary Care Workforce Transformation, both working in Primary Care (which includes GP surgeries, opticians, community pharmacy, and dentistry). Together they explore the powerful work happening to support and strengthen the workforce.

Wendy explains how they responded to staff survey feedback that people didn’t feel heard or valued, and the changes that followed. Helen shares how she and her colleague Ruth run reflective practice sessions with GP practices and Primary Care Networks, focusing on staff wellbeing and building healthier teams.

They also discuss the impact their work is having, not only on the workforce but also on the patients, and how people now feel “we are a team”.

The People Promise aligns so closely with Our Shared Agreement and highlights the value of investing in our workforce, so Alison (our Workforce Development Lead) was thrilled!

If you want to know more about the People Promise work, please don’t hesitate to contact Helen or Wendy. And if you have been involved in any of this work and want to talk to us more about what you have been up to, please contact us at lhnt.itsallaboutpeople@nhs.net ​