We’re continuing on the theme of “wrap-around” care this week, as we catch up with Solihull Lighten Up.
The scheme has been running for a year now, and we’re delighted to report its continued success:
- In the last year, 772 clients have lost a total of 2567.6kg, or 404st 3lbs
- A total of 595 people have been to Slimming World thanks to Solihull Lighten Up, and 236 to Weight Watchers
- 90 people have been referred to a Dietitian or Behaviour Change Advisor to receive one-to-one specialist support
The Lighten Up programme is known for offering free vouchers for commercial weight loss programmes like Weight Watchers or Slimming World. But it’s so much more than that!
In the last blog post, we wrote about the ways in which Gateway’s services let the client lead. We believe that asking someone what their priorities are, believing them, and working with them to build self-confidence and resilience creates a programme of support that is more successful and more sustainable.
And that’s how Solihull Lighten Up works: by offering people a package of support that is tailored to their needs. So, as well as vouchers for the commercial weight loss groups, Solihull Lighten Up offers a range of extra specialist help and advice.
Once a person has started on their weight loss journey, staff at our Lighten Up Help Centre (like Bob, pictured above) make regular phonecalls to check in with them, offering a little extra motivation, making sure they’re happy with the help they’re getting, and checking that they’re on their way to achieving the goals they’ve set out for themselves.
We also work with local organisations in Solihull to offer free referrals to activity groups, including dance classes and cooking sessions.
And for people with slightly more complex needs (including people with learning disabilities, disabled people and their carers, people with mental health issues and recent ex-smokers) we offer up to 12 months of one-to-one support from a Behaviour Change Advisor or Dietitian.
In Solihull, the north of the Borough – including Fordbridge, Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Bickenhill and Smith’s Wood – has a particularly high prevalence of obesity, so we’re particularly keen to work with people in these areas.
The personal touch
Across all of our services, we find that a little extra one-to-one help and motivation goes a long way. Read what some of our clients have to say about Solihull Lighten Up’s extra level of support:
“I would never have done this without seeing you and having these appointments.”
“It will give me incentive and it’s nice to know I will be monitored.”
“Your phonecall helped me a great deal. It’s made me more optimistic and helped with the weight programme and cheered me up.”
Taking the time to listen, being flexible and adaptable, and letting the client lead makes a huge difference to people’s outcomes. That’s why this way of working is at the heart of Solihull Lighten Up – and across all of Gateway’s services.
If you live in Solihull and you’d like to kick-start your weight loss journey with a bit of extra help, contact us to find out if you are eligible for the Solihull Lighten Up programme. Contact our Lighten Up call centre on 0800 599 9880 or via email on lighten.up@nhs.net.
I’m intrestEd in loosing weight .
Hi I’ve piled on a stone in lockdown boredom as much as anything and would be interested in trying to lose weight to help my mobility