A reference from Viv Marsh, Clinical Lead, NHS
Working with Penny Gibbs on our asthma awareness campaign was an absolute pleasure. Our objectives were clear: to create awareness about managing childhood asthma and to develop resources that highlight what it means to be an Asthma Friendly School. This initiative is crucial to ensuring that children with asthma can safely participate in a typical school day while raising awareness among parents, children, and school staff.
Penny, as part of the communications team at NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), played an essential role in our digital communications. She expertly managed our social media presence, led the production of engaging video content, and crafted clear, informative website content. Her ability to coordinate with team members and deliver high-quality materials on time was invaluable.
One of the biggest challenges we faced was producing the video under a tight deadline to present at an NHS regional event. Penny not only met the deadline but also ensured that the content was compelling and relevant, and repurposed for other mediums. She navigated the complexities of consent and balancing other work commitments during a busy period with ease. Penny also helped us refresh our approach to raising awareness of asthma in children and young people by establishing key milestones throughout the year to focus on so that messaging was easy for parents and children to understand.
Penny’s deep understanding of our audience was evident in every aspect of the campaign. Knowing that parents often rely on digital channels, she strategically utilised social media to reach them effectively. She also advised on the creation of video content, which became a crucial asset for both the schools and our team. This video not only served its purpose at the HSJ ceremony but continues to be a valuable resource today.
The feedback we've received speaks volumes. Other schools have shown interest in joining the programme after seeing the video, and we've had positive comments from parents who found the content both useful and engaging. The social media reach of this campaign exceeded our expectations, outperforming other initiatives.
Penny’s organisation, strategic thinking, and ability to connect with the audience were instrumental to our success. She is lovely to work with and is confident in building strong relationships to obtain effective content, from our team to school staff and pupils. Her expertise and clear communication made the entire process smooth and effective.
I highly value Penny's contributions and expertise. She is someone who explains things clearly, works collaboratively, and consistently delivers excellent results. If you're looking for someone to elevate your communications efforts, I wholeheartedly recommend Penny Gibbs.
- Viv Marsh RGN, RSCN, SCPHN, Queen’s Nurse, Clinical Lead for Children and Young People Asthma Transformation, NHS
