Mick’s* weight was having an impact on his mental wellbeing. Concerned about how this was affecting him, he turned to support from Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) to make a change. His original lack of motivation turned into action, and through a one-to-one Eatwise programme, he gained numerous mental and physical health benefits without compromising his enjoyment of life. To find out what he could do to lose weight, Mick visited his GP who referred him to our service. He was livin

I am extremely grateful to Emma from Joining the Dots for her kindness, dedication, and genuine care. Her support has helped me feel less alone and has made a real difference to both my physical health and emotional wellbeing during a very difficult time in my life.

Lorraine, aged 61, shares how a simple visit to Healthworks in Easington became the starting point of a life-changing journey, one that helped her rediscover confidence, self-worth and a renewed sense of identity.

Tracy Cullen, 50, was unhappy with her size and weight. Feeling unfit and experiencing regular tiredness, she wanted to start her weight-loss journey. With weekly one-to-one support from Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) through the Eatwise programme, Tracy lost a substantial amount of weight, became fitter, and has improved her mental wellbeing. Having decided that she wanted to make a change, Tracy spoke with her nurse. She was not only feeling the physical effects, but her weight

The Health Squad team in County Durham have been crowned winners in the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards 2026, celebrating excellence, innovation, and collaborative working across healthcare. For nearly half a century, the HSJ has recognised NHS teams and partners who are driving improvements in patient safety, service transformation, and health outcomes. This year, Health Squad were awarded the Most Impactful Project Addressing Health Inequalities.

Laura* was stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of sudden weight gain, all while coping with physical and mental health issues. Unsure where to turn, she accessed Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) and entered a 12-week one-to-one Eatwise programme over the telephone. From here, Laura’s eating habits changed and her confidence was reinvigorated with the tools she gained. Before the Eatwise programme, Laura thought she was eating correctly. It was only as she started that the realisation

*Margaret* had been smoking for decades when, following a routine GP visit, a health scare gave her the push she needed to want to stop smoking. Margaret had previously tried to quit unsuccessfully and had never tried again despite pressure from her family. Asked what made her more determined this time, Margaret said: “I got quite a scare after visiting the GP and I’ve realised that smoking is bad for me, but also that second-hand smoke is a health risk to my family.” During

A young man overcame significant mental health challenges by addressing his mental and physical wellbeing simultaneously with the support of Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). Kieren Kemp had been through a difficult time in his life, leading him to a point of severe depression and suicidal thoughts. After a 12-week wellbeing programme and building a relationship with his practitioner where he could share the challenges he was experiencing, Kieren had secured a new job, and his frien

As part of the Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) Ten-year Anniversary celebrations, we caught up with a previous client to see how the service has positively impacted his life. Richard Judd first met WBFL through the community work he was doing in the Consett and Leadgate area. He set up a running club for people hadn’t really done much running before, and contacted the service to say he has a group which people could be signposted to. As time went on, Richard worked alongside Julie,

26-year-old Alex Graham lives with a rare genetic condition which severely affects his ability to use his feet. Whilst waiting for complex ankle surgery Alex had faced significant challenges: low muscle tone, poor strength, and being underweight - all factors that could impact his fitness for surgery and his subsequent recovery. Alex had spent several years mostly confined to bed with little motivation. His mum and full-time carer, Helen, shared her concerns: “Alex has been w

“I had blood in my poo and had been ignoring it but, after speaking with you, I made an appointment with my GP and completed the bowel screening kit.“

As Movember brings men’s health into the spotlight this November, the Cancer Champions Project is stepping forward with a powerful message: early detection saves lives. Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. For some, spotting the signs early and attending routine screenings can save lives. The Cancer Champions programme is a new initiative designed to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of common cancers and encourage people to attend vital scree

We recently reconnected with 43-year-old Tony Teasdale who completed the 12-session Eatwise programme with our Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) service ten years ago. At the time, Tony was attending sessions at the Ferryhill Ladder Centre with Talking Changes who referred him to Shaun Gooch – Wellbeing for Life Practitioner, now Coordinator. Tony’s goal was to improve his eating habits. He was struggling with back pain, and he wanted to lose weight and maintain this to reduce the st

Emma, a mother of two, was referred to Joining the Dots in 2024 by the Macmillan Information Centre following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. She remained strong, even as she faced a recurrence in 2024 and a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in 2025. Emma continued to receive supportive care and was surrounded by the support of her community, family and friends. Emma and her husband Dan had dreamed of their wedding day, and thanks to the support of Joining the Dots a

Beverley (‘Bev’) Walker, a 59-year-old woman, has just recently completed the 12-session Eatwise programme with Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) and has described her ‘amazing’ journey. Before accessing WBFL, Bev was not in a good place mentally. Bev described her state at that time as: “not depressed as such, but down. I’ve gone through quite a lot of trauma, and my weight is affected by my emotions.” She moved up from Doncaster to look after her parents, and following the passing

67-year-old Stephen Marshall from County Durham has achieved an impressive transformation - losing two stone, reducing his BMI to 33, and reversing his pre-diabetes diagnosis - with support from Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). Stephen initially weighed 20.5 stone, and his GP confirmed his BMI was 38, placing him in the obese category. He was also diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Alarmed by the news, Stephen accepted a referral to WBFL and joined the 12-session Eatwise programme. Previ

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of Wellbeing for Life (WBFL), a service dedicated to helping residents across County Durham live healthier, happier lives. Commissioned by Durham County Council and delivered in partnership by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and health and wellbeing charity, Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), WBFL has empowered thousands of individuals and communities since its launch in 2015. Over the past decade, the service has del

We’re proud to share that Joining the Dots, part of our Adult Wellbeing Services delivered in partnership with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), has been shortlisted for the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award at the 2025 HSJ Awards. This recognition comes as part of the Supporting Veterans to Access Cancer Information project, an inspiring initiative that brings together teams across CDDFT to improve access to vital health information fo

Dave Appleby has recently completed the 12-session Eatwise programme with Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). He has lost 53 lbs, he and his family now eat a healthy diet and exercise more and his mental health has been turned around. The process has also highlighted a heart condition which he is now receiving treatment for. His first encounter with WBFL was in September 2024 following a case of whooping cough earlier in the year. When combined with the effects of a previous case of C

We recently met with Kieren Kemp, a 26-year-old who overcame significant mental health challenges with the support of Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). Kieren's story highlights the importance of personalised support and the impact of addressing both mental and physical wellbeing in tandem. Kieren had been through a difficult time in his life, leading him to a point of severe depression and suicidal ideation. Struggling with low self-esteem and being underweight, Kieren sought he