Wellbeing for life

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...

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...

When Chris decided to begin his weight loss journey, he knew lasting results would require more than medication alone. Struggling with day-to-day activities and feeling the impact of excess weight on many aspects of his life, he chose to use weight loss injections alongside support from Wellbeing for Life to help make sustainable lifestyle changes. With guidance from his Wellbeing Practitioner, Sharon, Chris focused on building healthier habits that would continue long after his treatment ended. Starting with simple daily...

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...

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. “I first met David when I was a 60-year-old woman living with pre-diabetes and, if I’m honest, feeling like I had lost myself. I was attending a Diabetes Prevention Programme when I learned about Healthworks and the additional support available through Wellbeing for Life, particularly around healthy...

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 was having a mental...

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 dawned on her that...

*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...

On 11 and 12 November 2025, our Training team delivered a two-day Adult Mental Health First Aid course at Durham County Council. How timely, that the participants’ graduation fell on the very first Mental Health First Aider day in England. Amazingly, we had ten graduations from this course – meaning there is now ten more people who have developed the skills to spot the signs of someone experiencing poor mental health, and how to assess the risk. This is an...

Looking back over the ten years of Wellbeing for Life (WBFL), we wanted to catch up with previous clients to see how they are nearly a decade later. One of these clients was Tim Duncan, a man who has accessed our service twice: the first being in 2016 following a serious health condition. Tim had a difficult year with a serious illness that resulted in open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. Following this, he was really struggling with...

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,...

We recently reconnected with 43-year-old Tony Teasdale who completed the 12-session Eatwise programme with Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) 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 strain. When the pair got...