Health Trainers support residents to make long-term lifestyle changes

In February this year, LiveWire in partnership with Liverpool City Council, established the LiveWire Liverpool Health Trainer service.

During this time, the programme has been invaluable in supporting more than 800 people across the city to make significant changes to improve their health and wellbeing.

This has included helping a grandmother learn how to swim; supporting a veteran to integrate back into society and find work after leaving the forces; and helping a number of individuals to lose a significant amount of weight, reducing their risk of health conditions linked to obesity, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The service is completely free and offers one-to-one support, guidance and motivation to help people lose weight, stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption or reduce stress and anxiety.

Health Trainers are different from other health professionals; they have been recruited from the local community, bringing with them a range of skills, experience, local knowledge and an understanding of how difficult it can be to make healthy choices.

They work from community buildings – such as libraries and leisure centres and also a number of GP surgeries – and support people through a 12-week programme; developing a health plan and setting achievable goals to try and make long-term changes to their lifestyles.

They have undergone extensive training and keep up-to-date with all the latest health information to provide comprehensive advice and signposting to their clients.

Dianne Clarke, operations manager of the LiveWire Liverpool Health Trainer service, said: “Our team of Health Trainers work hard to support and motivate individuals who want to become healthier but don’t know where to start.

“We all face challenges in our lives which may affect our health in some way. Whether that’s wanting to get fitter, control weight, reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking or minimise stress; one of our friendly Health Trainers can provide the help and encourage to help people achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle.”

Councillor Tim Beaumont, Mayoral lead for wellbeing, said: “Simple lifestyle changes can make an enormous difference to people’s health, and also prevent the need for medical help.

“The Health Trainers are doing a fantastic job helping support those who need encouragement and assistance to change their lives for the better.”