A wellbeing coordinator at Avanti West Coast has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ by the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) and has received a special award at The Heart of Gold Awards.

Zone Flannagan, from Solihull, joined Avanti in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge on public health.

Zoe started her career as a children’s nurse before focusing on and researching inequalities surrounding public health and addressing and improving the quality of care through education.

During her time at Avanti West Coast, Zoe has made a big impact in just over 12 months. She helped to set up a wellbeing roadshow called ‘Mental Health Champions’, which attends offices across the Avanti network, offering advice and drop-in sessions for employees.

Some staff members have found this extremely useful regarding the roadshow as a quick wellbeing health check. The show also offers contacts to the Railway Benefit Fund and outside support services such as Reflexology providers and cycle-to-work schemes.

The Heart of Gold Awards are held each year and recognise those who make a positive impact on the day-to-day operating of the rail industry on the front line and behind the scenes. The Rising Star category, for which Zoe’s colleagues nominated her and which she won, is awarded to those who make the greatest impact within the first five years of railway service.

“I feel extremely privileged to receive the RBF Heart of Gold Award,” she explained.  “It’s been a whirlwind since leaving the NHS and joining the railway family last year, but I’ve loved every moment.

I’m truly passionate about bringing preventive healthcare to the forefront and encouraging healthier, happier lifestyles for our people – who are at the heart of everything we do.”

Zoe Flannigan

These awards are a recognition chosen by the rail community itself. It is a genuine, peer-to-peer acknowledgement where our front-line colleagues take the opportunity to celebrate and offer a simple ‘thank you’ to those around them who quietly make an outstanding difference every day”.

Jo Kaye, CEO of RBF