We need your support! - Aviva Community Fund

This project is called the sixsix programme as it runs for 6 hours for 6 weeks. It is a weight management programme, which also promotes positive mental health for the community. The project is founded on the principles of life coaching which is recognised by NICE Guidelines Talking Therapies, as an effective intervention and is currently used extensively across the community.

We intend to run 3 ‘lifestyle coaching’ programmes, to help a total of 50 overweight or obese adults, for 6 hours a day for six weeks, understanding both the physical and psychological dimensions of weight loss. The sixsix programme focuses on interventions to promote positive mental health within both a group setting and individual one to one coaching sessions. We need £4,760 to make this happen, for life coach trainer costs (£2160), 100 post course life coaching sessions for 50% of individuals on a needs basis (£2000), and printing per course (£600). We will cover all other costs including the venue, PR, and an awards ceremony for the people who’ve attended.

With regards to obesity, the results from the 2010/11 Health Survey NI, (published, November 2011), were that of 4,000 people surveyed, 59% of adults were obese (36%) or overweight (23%). The Northern Ireland rate is 49 per 1,000 patients. Life expectancy and disability rates from weight related illnesses such as Diabetes, heart disease and stroke and the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders to disability benefit uptake, shows that health inequalities are most pronounced in the urban constituencies of North and West Belfast. We recognise the correlation between obesity, poor mental health and disability within our community and that this type of intervention can have positive outcomes in helping people remain or regain mobility, and remain in or return to the workplace.

The effectiveness of the sixsix programme is that it is designed to be based within the community and is delivered by accredited and recognised lifestyle coaches who have personal experience of the subject, which allows for better outcomes. In Northern Ireland, it is estimated that obesity costs the NHS £254 per person. This will cost around £153 per person which presents a cost effective solution.

Alongside tackling obesity, we aim to address health inequalities in the community. Mental health in NI costs £2.7 billion per year, with areas in social deprivation suffering more from mental health than any other areas. We recognise the correlation between trauma, deprivation, obesity and poor mental health, therefore, the sixsix programme is delivered within the most deprived areas of our community and has an understanding that deprivation and decades of civil unrest in this community have impacted on both mental and physical health. 

The experiential group setting of the classes acts as a support structure for helping people who find it difficult to change or who are not motivated, through positive reinforcement and encouragement of networks of people who can support each other in making healthier choices.

The programme is designed (initially) to help adults who struggle with weight gain, but we understand that, in general, parents provide the 'food environment' at home and that any positive change will be acted on and passed onto their children, (this is where the greatest impact will ultimately be seen).

You should vote for this project as it differs from private 'slimming clubs' or public health promotion in that it attempts to remove social, financial and environmental barriers that prevent people making positive changes to their lifestyle. Secondly, it is based on current advice and does not promote products. Thirdly, it works with individuals from 'their model of the world', i.e.: it understands the realities of losing weight in the modern world and adapts a listening, rather than lecturing style.

To vote for this project, visit the our project page on the Aviva Community fund website here

Thanks for your support!