Sefton residents are being encouraged to take advantage of activities offered by local community groups to kick start a healthy new year.

Local partners of wellbeing organisation Living Well Sefton have something to appeal to a wide range of people looking to keep to their new year resolutions. Additionally, the Living Well Sefton mentors work on a one-to-one basis over a period of time with people to set – and achieve – realistic lifestyle goals.

Active Lifestyles – the Active Ageing Programme is a free 12-week programme designed to help with the prevention of falls for those aged over 65 in South Sefton with classes held once a week at different sites. People’s strength and balance will be improved through a series of exercises and there is also a social element to the programme.

Brighter Living Partnership – a free16-week Brighter Mondays course covering arts and crafts, cooking and healthy eating sessions as well as learning coping skills and days out starts on Monday, 29 January between 1pm and 4pm at its base in Southport Community Centre, Norwood Road, PR8 6HQ. “Through the programme we want people to meet new friends, learn new skills and pass on their own knowledge and experience,” explains Matty Smith, senior Living Well Sefton mentor.

Citizens Advice Sefton – whether it’s wondering if you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to, needing help with benefit forms or trying to cope with debt after Christmas then the Living Well Sefton mentor can help. “These types of money worries can affect your health and wellbeing but the mentor supports people over a period of time and it could be that our other partners can also help,” says Jane Groves, Operational Development Manager.

Feelgood Factory – to help increase people’s mental wellbeing, the Netherton-based healthy living centre is running several Think Differently, Cope Differently courses. The first of these free five-week sessions to learn coping skills begins on Thursday, 8 February from 10am to 12noon at the Feelgood Factory, Glovers Lane, Netherton. A further one is being run at the Woodvale Community Centre, Meadow Lane, Ainsdale, PR8 3RS at the same time on Wednesday, 21 February.

Fun4Kidz – social activities include craft classes and photography club, plus a job club, food banks and, through a Reaching Communities grant, the L30 Community Centre group is planning to extend these in 2018 to include programmes, workshops and events that the Netherton community say are important to them. Debbie Stephens, Chief Executive, remarks: “These additional sessions will help local people and families to start friendships which will also strengthen the Netherton community.”

May Logan – the Bootle-based healthy living centre has just the thing for those in pursuit of a healthy life. There is a free health walk every Thursday starting at 10am when people can have a chat while strolling and on a Wednesday between 1pm and 3pm the Roots gardening project welcomes anyone interested in learning about growing fruit and vegetables.

Living Well Sefton mentor Natasha Wilksberg is starting a free body yoga fusion session at the Knowsley Road centre from Thursday, 25 January at 4pm until 5pm involving a mix of kettle bell, body weight and yoga exercises for women aged over 18. Steven Richards, a Living Well Sefton mentor, explains: “We are aiming to improve healthy eating behaviours and fitness levels for residents living within Sefton by providing exercise sessions which can be sustained within a home environment.”

Smokefree Sefton – Public Health England’s new year smokefree campaign highlights how smoking kills 79,000 people per year in England.  Smokefree Sefton is an e-cigarette-friendly service which can help anyone wanting to stop smoking and have clinics throughout the borough offering free advice and support. “By quitting cigarettes 2018 can be wealthy as well as healthy,” says Colette Kearney, Team Leader.

For more information on the partners and their activities, ring the central number 0300 323 0181, email: LWS@seftoncvs.org.uk or visit the website: www.livingwellsefton.org.uk/