COVID-19
The coronavirus outbreak is a challenge for us all and, for a while, our daily lives may look a little different. Here are some ways we’re helping you to look after your physical and mental health at this time.
Helping you to help others
Our refreshed training offer
Smoking
Updated guidance and the #QuitforCovid campaign
Weight Loss
The latest from the Slimming World and WW groups
Physical Activity
Now more than ever it’s important to look after your physical and mental health
OUR TRAINING OFFER
Five Ways training
As part of the public health response to coronavirus, we have developed a tailored offer to help you develop the knowledge and skills to support your own and others’ wellbeing during this time.
Our Five Ways to Wellbeing training sessions will be delivered virtually for groups of 15-20 people. This 60-minute free course will help you to be inspired to live the Five Ways to Wellbeing. It will empower you to build a personal action plan to integrate these values into your lifestyle as well as sharing ideas with those that they support, live or work with.
You’ll be able to see scheduled training and book a place through Eventbrite.
Helping you to help others
We're developing further training modules to support you in supporting others through the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more.
Smoking
As emerging evidence shows smokers with coronavirus are 14 times more likely to develop severe respiratory disease, Public Health Dorset is joining health professionals in calling on smokers to #QuitforCovid. To encourage Dorset smokers quit, we’re providing 8-10 weeks of NRT free of charge. Stopping smoking brings immediate health benefits, particularly to the heart and lungs. Start your stop-smoke journey today.
Weight loss groups
Slimming World and WW are running virtual sessions whilst face-to-face ones are not possible. This means that people who meet the eligibility criteria can still benefit from a referral to their choice of Slimming World or WW for a kick-start weight loss programme.
How can a virtual slimming club referral help me?
Virtual referrals offer many of the same features and benefits that Slimming World and WW are known for. The main difference is that the Groups or Workshops are run online rather than face-to-face. Your Consultant or Coach will give you guidance on how to join these virtual sessions.
When will face-to-face sessions start?
Due to the uncertainly of the situation, we can’t be sure when group sessions will be back to normal. However, we know that the slimming clubs are working towards getting these going by September.
How will my referral be affected?
If you would like to join our kick-start programme, it is worth thinking about what would work best for you. For example, would you prefer to wait until face-to-face sessions are back up and running before starting?
If you are already attending Slimming World through our kick-start programme, you will be invited to go back to your face-to-face group as and when this reopens. Groups will gradually reopen starting in August. There will still be virtual support for those who need it. Please speak with you Consultant for more details.
If you are already attending WW through our kick-start programme, virtual Workshops will continue to take place. We don’t know the details of when people will be invited back to face-to-face group Workshops yet but WW are working towards this. We or your WW Coach will let you know when things change.
I’ve heard WW are opening some Express Workshops - can I attend?
WW’s Express Workshops are part of their phased return to their usual service. These sessions allow people to be weighed, see a Coach and visit the Healthy Habits bar, without the group element of a full Workshop. Here at LiveWell, we know how valuable group support is, so we are waiting until group Workshops are back up and running before asking our clients to go back to the face-to-face service. Also, we are aware that Express Workshops are only happening in a few venues and would like to make sure people have equal access across Dorset.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Both Slimming World and WW are still accepting new paying members for their virtual programmes, and in some cases offering a discounted rate. Check out the Slimming World and WW websites for more information.
Slimming groups not for you? That’s ok! Speak to our friendly team to find out about what else is out there to help you achieve a healthy weight, including our LiveWell Coaching support.
Physical activity
Being active, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day can really help you feel both physically and mentally strong. Even though it may feel harder to be active when you’re at home, there are lots of ways you can reduce the amount of time you spend sitting and increase how much you move. Explore this list of resources and tools highlighting ways and opportunities to be active within the home during isolation and whilst maintaining social distancing. Browse our blogs and articles for tips to keep active at this time.
Our team of Advisors and Coaches are on hand to offer support and guidance. Contact us today to find out how we can support your next step to LiveWell. You can call us on freephone 0800 840 1628.
Five Ways Challenge
The coronavirus outbreak is a challenge for us all and taking care of our own health and wellbeing can be the first thing to slide when we’re focused on taking care of patients, friends, family and loved ones. We’ve created the Five Ways Challenge based on the Five Ways to Wellbeing to showcase ways to look after your mental health and wellbeing. Learn about the Five Ways and join the challenge here.