New Health Service Launched for Residents

Live Well Reading and West Berkshire is a new integrated healthy lifestyle service for people across West Berkshire and Reading. Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and Reading Borough Council and delivered by ICE Creates, it brings several support services under one roof.

The service replaces separate offers with a single point of access. Each person gets a dedicated wellbeing coach, so you won't have to repeat your story to different teams.

It's open to anyone aged 16+ who lives, works or studies in West Berkshire or Reading, or who is registered with a local GP. From October you can get stop smoking and stop vaping support, adult weight management, physical activity programmes, emotional wellbeing help, behaviour change and wider healthy lifestyle support. Within the first six months the service will add accessible weight management for people with learning disabilities.

Patrick Clark (Lib Dem, Wash Common), executive member for public health and adult social care at West Berkshire Council, said: "We want West Berkshire and Reading to be places where everyone has the opportunity to live well and stay well. This new service will provide easier access to support, helping residents make positive changes that improve their health and wellbeing. By working closely with local communities, voluntary organisations and health partners, we have created a more connected approach that puts residents at the heart of the support they receive."

Dr Matthew Pearce, director of public health for Reading and West Berkshire, said: "By preventing ill-health, particularly for those most at risk, we can improve people's lives and help address unfair differences in health. The creation of Live Well will make it easier for community organisations and clinicians to refer local people to the right support services at the right time, as well as enabling them to self-refer. People will be better able to access behaviour change support, so they can take action earlier, improve their health and wellbeing, and prevent any needs from escalating."

More information at livewellrwb.org

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter