Livewell is celebrating being nationally recognised as the Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative in the UK for its innovative contribution in helping improve wellbeing in Derby by the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE).

The APSE awards are designed to recognise excellence in local government frontline services across the UK.  They showcase the very best examples of service provision, new initiatives and personal commitment.

The service offers free lifestyle programmes to help adults and children manage their weight, stop smoking, get fitter and improve their overall wellbeing. The 12-month programmes combine one to one and group support with fun activities and educational workshops to help families to change their lifestyles for the better.

Since 2013, over 15,000 people have been supported to transform their lives thanks to Livewell’s innovative behaviour change model.

In the financial year 2017/18, the service helped 1160 people quit smoking, performed 936 health checks, saw 61% of clients achieved at least 5% weight loss, 70% improve their quality of life and 1891 children engage in Active Schools.

Livewell was also accredited by Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) for its Lose Weight Feel Great course and won two awards at Active Derbyshire’s Towards an Active Derbyshire Awards 2019. The team along with clients and volunteers were finalists in five of the eight categories.

Councillor Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said: “This is a fantastic reward for a fabulous service. I am very proud of all the team for their efforts this year and all the years building up to this recognition. I hear so many inspiring stories from people whose lives have been transformed by the dedicated work of the team and volunteers and long may it continue.”

Livewell's Kellie, Rob and Dawn with the APSE award