Wellbeing for 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. “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...

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...

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. Previously diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary...

A group of residents Ireshopeburn and Upper Weardale have enjoyed the Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) Eatwise programme so much, that they’ve decided to continue meeting as a weekly social support group. Meeting in Ireshopeburn Community Centre, the group was led by Wellbeing for Life Community Connector, Nicole Martin. Over the weeks, with Nicole’s encouragement and through the shared support as a collective, the group made steady progress towards each of their individual goals. Nicole said of the group: “It’s been...

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...

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 help from the County Durham Resilience service. He...