At TyneMet College, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our staff — and this month, we are shining a well-deserved spotlight on Angela Stevenson, whose dedication to supporting others has been recognised nationally.
Angela, who teaches our HNC Sport Therapies and Level 3 and 4 Sports Massage has recently been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s New Year Honours for her services to mental health.
Six years ago, Angela founded the charity What’s Behind the Smile following a series of deeply personal tragedies. A former rugby player she knew died by suicide, and just six months later a close family friend also tragically lost their life in the same way. It was during this devastating period that Angela knew she had to act.
Drawing on her previous experience as a psychiatric nurse, she retrained in Mental Health First Aid and began delivering training to organisations and community groups, alongside suicide prevention programmes. Her work supports businesses to take proactive steps in mental health awareness and ensures individuals are signposted to appropriate help.
Angela also works closely with local rugby clubs, delivering training sessions and offering free counselling, support or simply a safe space to talk. As demand for support has grown, she has successfully fundraised to employ a full-time counsellor, enabling the charity to reach even more people in need.
Her impact continues to grow throughout the community. Angela has also set up a Walking Rugby Club, hosted every Monday evening at TyneMet College, providing a supportive and welcoming space for those who can no longer play rugby due to injury or age but still want to stay active and involved. More recently, her work has extended beyond mental health, as she has offered support to individuals facing homelessness around Wallsend, helping to direct people towards appropriate services and assistance.
Reflecting on her honour, Angela said:
I was completely humbled to receive the nomination. I don’t do what I do for praise or recognition — I do it because I genuinely care and want to help people. I truly believe in giving people hope, because there is always hope.
Despite her busy teaching commitments and the demands of running a charity, Angela regularly combines both passions by creating real-world opportunities for students. This June, sport students from TyneMet College will be involved in an England Walking Football competition in support of What’s Behind the Smile, gaining valuable experience to enhance their CVs while supporting a local mental health charity.
Angela will travel to London in May to officially receive her medal and attend a garden party hosted by King Charles, marking a moment of national recognition for work that has already made a huge difference in her local community.