South Tyneside Pledge organisation Billy’s Lifeline was recently awarded the Love South Tyneside ‘Team of the Year’ Award.
The annual #LoveSouthTyneside Awards recognise and celebrate civic pride and community spirit across the Borough. Awards were handed out to winners across ten categories in a glittering awards ceremony, which was held at The Customs House on Thursday 11 July 2024.
The judges received several nominations, all of which noted the incredible support of the team, including the following very poignant nomination:
“Billy’s Lifeline has helped my family no end, supporting us with the loss of a young family member to suicide. We cannot thank them enough for their kindness and compassion at this difficult time. They are a (sadly) much needed service and I feel they deserve utmost recognition for this and that is why I’m nominating them in these awards.”
![Billy's Lifeline](https://investst.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/18071704/billys-lifeline.jpg)
Billy’s Lifeline is a registered charity dedicated to supporting families and loved ones impacted by suicide loss. It was set up in memory of Billy Knott who sadly passed away in 2019, leaving behind many loved ones whose lives he touched deeply.
The primary focus of the charity is on establishing a secure and compassionate environment where individuals impacted by suicide can access immediate practical and emotional support. Their goal is to alleviate the stigma associated with suicide loss and actively promote mental well-being within our community.
Councillor Paul Dean, Lead Member for the Voluntary Sector, Partnerships, and Equalities, at South Tyneside Council, said:
“The team behind Billy’s LifeLine are passionate, committed and caring. Drawing upon their own experiences of losing someone through suicide they are now supporting South Tyneside residents with practical and emotional support in the aftermath of their own tragic losses. Despite only having been established a short while, they are making a huge impact with what they do. For this we thank them, congratulate them, and hope our Pledge network can continue to support this vital work across the borough.”
Speaking about the Award Natalie Kirk, Trustee of Billy’s Lifeline said:
“Thank you to the people who have let us support them and who have trusted us during their most difficult time. Thank you to everybody in South Tyneside for supporting this service that is sadly needed.”
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