One Weekend 2025 once again hosted our regional award night – a chance to take stock of all we’ve done over the year and celebrate the amazing things we’ve achieved.
There’s no such thing as a quiet year in UNISON Eastern, but the last 12 months were something else. It meant the lay members on the region’s finance, development and organisation committee had a hard time picking the award winners.
So, give it up for everyone in the region, with a special congratulations to this year’s winners.
Campaigning Branch of the Year
East & North Hertfordshire NHS
Across the country, healthcare assistants have been getting organised for fair pay. Some trusts have seen sense after listening to staff views. Some have required hundreds of letters from staff, three-day strikes and heaps of political pressure to offer staff the pay they’re due.
That’s the amazing campaigning it took for East and North Herts HCAs to get rebanded with several years of backpay.
Young Activist of the Year
Kelvin Imoloame
This award has gone to someone who takes ‘activist’ literally. He’s a branch health and safety rep, young members officer, member of the region’s health and safety committee, active on the regional young members group and national young Black workers group and co-chair of the UNISON Essex Black members self-organised group. He’s one of two regional reps to the national social care forum and was elected vice-chair of its committee.
In branch, region and national union, he brings a passion for fairness and encouraging others to get involved.
Top Recruiting Branch of the Year
Anglia Ruskin University
As a region, we grew by an awe-inspiring 7% last year. So you know that the branch taking home the recruitment gong has done something special.
The branch at ARU upped numbers by a breathtaking 25% in 2024, fostering a culture of union membership in the process.
With a phalanx of reps, existing members know they’ll be supported, and the branch has also gone on the front foot, with walkarounds at the different campuses and open meetings to draw more people in. Well done!
Equalities Activist of the Year
Peter Oates
This stalwart of Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust branch is no stranger to equalities activism, having been a pillar of the region’s LGBT+ self-organised group for many years, showing a steadfast commitment to equality and inclusion.
He’s led efforts to ensure that UNISON policies reflect the union’s commitment to equality and made sure his trust embraces equality too.
But for all this institutional action, one of his “key strengths” — according to a nomination — is his “ability to engage and inspire others.” Bravo, Peter!
Health and Safety Branch of the Year
University of Cambridge & Colleges
This branch has reinvigorated its approach to health and safety, proving that staff will organise around wellbeing issues.
Porters and security staff have been getting active demanding better protection from violence, with the branch employing surveys and freedom of information requests to add weight to members’ claims.
The UNISON branch is also spearheading the revival of a joint union H&S committee to carry the work on.
Communications Branch of the Year
Norfolk Community Health
The judges were in awe at the scale of comms work undertaken at Norfolk Community Health and how committed the branch committee is to keeping members informed and engaged.
The branch secretary personally welcomes every new member to the branch, while the membership officer contacts anyone who leaves to check they really meant to go — both have been a real boon to retention.
Social media is kept up to date and the branch has started a newsletter to much acclaim. Norfolk Community Health has recognised that “every conversation, every campaign, and every bit of engagement within our workplaces makes a difference” and is living up to the challenge.
Activist of the Year
Debbie Rowden
This award goes to a woman who takes a leading role in her branch, the region and the national union. She’s been instrumental in getting her council to sign up to the TUC’s Good Employer Charter and UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter, as well as securing more support for employees experiencing domestic violence.
She’s a key member of the regional and national Labour Link committees and a member of the ruling national executive committee.
As co-chair of the regional women’s committee she’s been proudly empowering women in the region and was instrumental in the success of the women’s education weekend. Three cheers for Debbie!
Branch of the Year
Colchester and Ipswich Area Health
This branch was at the centre of two of the union’s biggest struggles over the last year. First up, healthcare assistants got together demanding fair pay for their work. They formed an organising committee and were poised to strike when their employer finally made a reasonable offer on rebanding and back pay. There were still some shenanigans in the wings, but members held firm and won.
But while all this was happening, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust told 500 facilities staff they were being sold out of the NHS. Members led an incredible campaign, organising letters to decision-makers and politicians, lobbies of meetings, a hundreds-strong demonstration through Colchester and more than 60 days of strike action.
In a fairer world they would have stayed in the NHS, but the workers’ determination meant the best recognition and facilities agreement the new private contractor had ever agreed to. It was an inspirational campaign and the branch is a worthy winner.
