Darren Barton, 59, was finding it harder to lose weight as he got older. Seeking support for this, he was referred to Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). With the service, he accessed tailored online support helping him to reach his weight loss goals. After being referred to WBFL by his doctor, Darren joined a Virtual Eatwise group hosted by Jules Howe, Community Connector, and Emily Merriweather, Wellbeing Practitioner. The sessions were held once a week on Monday evenings. Here, Dar

At the age of 82, Edith decided to take charge of her health and transform her lifestyle. In February 2026, she entered the Eatwise programme with Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). After completing the programme, Edith had achieved significant weight loss which has had a major, positive impact on her daily life. Edith joined Catherine Nicholson, Community Connector at WBFL, at the Crook Civic Centre. Here, 12 sessions of healthy weight support would take place, focusing on achieving

Wellbeing for Life is encouraging County Durham businesses of all sizes to invest in their employees through a newly updated programme of free health and wellbeing courses, following the launch of its Lifelong Learning Prospectus. As workplace wellbeing continues to be a priority across all sectors, the initiative gives employers an accessible way to equip staff and managers with skills that contribute to healthier, happier and more productive organisations. Created to addres

After decades of smoking, Julie Wilson (63) and her daughter Tina Irving (43) decided to quit together, supporting each other every step of the way with the help of Nikki Williams, a Wellbeing for Life Community Connector. For Julie, the turning point came when her health began to suffer. A cleaner who is constantly on the move at work, she found herself struggling to walk up a hill on her way from the bus stop and was becoming increasingly breathless throughout the day. Coll

Claire Maoudis from the Cancer Awareness team tells the story of her breast cancer diagnosis, the importance of attending screening appointments and her journey to becoming a passionate Cancer Awareness worker. “My cancer was discovered through a routine mammogram. I attended my first mammogram at the age of 47 and then again at 50 at 53. Two weeks after my last appointment, I received a letter asking me to come back for further tests. Within two days, I was having biopsies,

Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) and Hiyed CIC are delighted to announce a new partnership that will see the Garden Kitchen at the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) reopen on Monday 3 August from 9am. The partnership brings together two organisations with a shared commitment to improving lives, promoting wellbeing and creating opportunities within the local community. Through this collaboration, the Garden Kitchen will serve as a welcoming community hub while supporting people to

Claire Elliott, 49, was living with constant knee problems and did not feel good physically or mentally. After being referred to Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) and joining an Eatwise group, her self-esteem blossomed and she made key lifestyle changes helping her to lose weight. At a visit with her GP, Claire explained she was having issues with her knees. They were struggling under the weight of her body, and overall, she felt heavy and lethargic. Claire had also been contending w

From a chance meeting in a GP surgery, Tara* accessed the Stop Smoking programme with Wellbeing for Life (WBFL). A brief conversation led to 12 weeks of support, putting an end to decades of smoking. Tara has now completed a journey of being ‘so addicted that [she] didn’t think [she’d] ever be able to stop’ and started a new chapter of being smoke-free. Nikki Williams, Community Connector at WBFL, set up an information stall at a promotional day at a local GP surgery. Tara ca

After years of dedication and planning by the Joining the Dots team, the first Look Good Feel Better (LGFG) workshop in rural County Durham took place on Friday 3 July, kindly hosted by No. 17 Café in Dipton. The group included women at different stages of cancer treatment, as well as those who had completed treatment. Each participant came with different needs, from learning how to care for their nails and adjust to changes in their appearance, to applying make-up after chan

Chris’s story highlights the importance of combining weight loss medication, where chosen, with healthy eating, physical activity and behaviour change support to achieve long-term success and maintain results for the future.

Participants in a community cooking programme delivered by health and wellbeing charity Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) are continuing their cooking journeys at home after being gifted their own cooking equipment on completion of the course. Some of the 'Nourishing Pan' course participants with their bags of utensils, aprons and cooking pan. Thanks to funding from the Point North Community Grant Fund, 14 local people took part in a series of accredited four-week cooking cou

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.

According to reports, stress, depression and anxiety caused 22.1 million lost days last year, with nearly 23 days off work on average. With workplace wellbeing challenges being at an all-time high, the Better Health at Work Award (BHAWA) initiative is more important now, than ever before. This free initiative supports local employers to prioritise the health and wellbeing of their workforce. This programme is delivered by award-winning health and wellbeing charity, Pioneering

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

Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) is proud to announce the launch of a new Men’s Pie Club in Redcar, strengthening its commitment to supporting men’s mental health and wellbeing across the Tees Valley and beyond. PCP recently facilitated the launch of a new group, taking place at Westfield Farm, in Dormanstown - a community resource and training centre, owned by Beyond Housing. The club officially opened its doors on Friday 27 March, and saw a number of men come along for an

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