Healthy living service, Feel Good Suffolk marks three years of helping people feel good this month. Whether the aim is to stop smoking, manage weight or increase physical activity, those involved explain more
This October marks three years since the launch of Feel Good Suffolk, the healthy lifestyles service which provides free support to help people stop smoking, to manage their weight and become more physically active. Feel Good Suffolk is run through a partnership of Suffolk County Council’s public health team, Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, West Suffolk Council and Abbeycroft Leisure. Since launching in October 2023, Feel Good Suffolk has supported over 3,800 people to stop smoking. New data released this month shows the service has played a key role in helping to further reduce smoking rates in Suffolk to 8.5% of the adult population. This has reduced from 10.5% the previous year and means Suffolk smoking rates are now below the national average.
Through its unique partnership, Feel Good Suffolk has been able to make a huge impact on the health of Suffolk residents. People can refer themselves for support or many people also get referred by GPs and other health professionals.
It’s not just smoking where the service is making a difference. Over the past three years Feel Good Suffolk has also helped 1,901 people to achieve a clinically meaningful weight loss (at least 3% of their body weight). 2,721 people have also accessed support to increase their physical activity and Feel Good Suffolk wellbeing walks run in partnership with The Ramblers have seen 32,200 attendances over the past three years.
Demand for Feel Good Suffolk service continues to grow with Feel Good Suffolk receiving 22% more referrals over the past year than in 23/24 and 78.5% more smoking referrals than in its first year.
Georgina Howe, Strategic Manager for Feel Good Suffolk, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating three years of Feel Good Suffolk. The impact we’ve made on people’s lives shows what’s possible when public services work together around the shared goal of improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing. We’re seeing first-hand what a different small, positive changes has on people’s health, confidence and wellbeing. It has huge benefits for wider society too.
“We have a brilliant team working across Suffolk who are empathetic and non-judgemental, spending time to get to know our clients and work out how best to help them. We’re really proud of what’s been achieved so far, and that’s thanks not only to our staff but also to the partners and organisations we work alongside across Suffolk every day. It’s never too late to make positive changes to your life so when you’re ready, we’re here to help so please contact Feel Good Suffolk if you’d like to find out more.”
On top of delivering its key services, Feel Good Suffolk also works hard in the community by attending events and tackling health inequalities by reaching out to new groups and communities. This work has included:
- Creating stronger links with NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, local hospitals, GP practices and pharmacies
- Working closely with Abbeycroft Leisure and other leisure centre providers in Suffolk including Ipswich Fit, Everyone Active and Places Leisure
- Delivering training to many organisations to help them have supportive conversations with their service users about healthy lifestyles – including Citizens Advice, job centres and other council departments
- Building partnerships with a range of community organisations across the country to help more people access our services – including Anglia Care Trust, Turning Point, libraries, food banks and more
- Launching the Five Dinners service in Suffolk, providing free access to this meal planning website which can encourage people to eat more healthily, saving money and food waste.
Some comments from people who Feel Good Suffolk has helped:
Sophie from Ipswich who was helped to stop smoking: “This might sound cheesy, but I feel like Holly (Her Feel Good Suffolk Advisor) probably saved my life!”
Vic from Stowmarket: “I am so glad I no longer smoke. If you are wanting to become smoke-free I would encourage you to get in touch with Feel Good Suffolk – you have nothing to lose, and it will make you feel better.”
Lucy from Bury St Edmunds who was helped to become more active after serious illness: “Before I would just hurt all the time and feel so lethargic but now, I feel like my body has life in it again!”
Anyone needing more information can visit feelgoodsuffolk.gov.uk
Featured image of members of the Feel Good Suffolk team who work across the county – supplied
Leave a Reply