Lifestyle project has right recipe to boost health and wellbeing

People in Swansea have been given the recipe to help improve their health and wellbeing as part of a new lifestyle scheme.

The Llwchwr Healthy Lifestyle Project provides local support for people who want to make improvements to their health and wellbeing.

It is available to anyone aged 18 and over who is registered with GP practices within the Llwchwr Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC), which covers the Gorseinon, Gowerton, Penclawdd and Pontarddulais areas of the city.

Pictured (l-r): Nick, Julie and Alan who took part in the group, with Emma Crocker, from SCVS.

Funded by the LCC and run by Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), the project delivers three courses - a cooking and nutrition course, health and wellbeing course and Community Food and Nutrition Level 1 course.

The courses cover different elements to help improve health and wellbeing, such as nutrition, physical activity and practicing cookery skills.

Patients registered with a GP practice within the LCC can either be referred to the project by practice staff and other primary care services or they can self-refer.

The courses have already been helping people within the Llwchwr LCC area, including several members of the Gowerton Stroke Survivors Group.

They initially took part in the health and wellbeing course, before later deciding to also complete the cooking and nutrition course too.

Emma Crocker, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager for SCVS, said: “During the health and wellbeing course, we looked at physical activity, mental wellbeing, alcohol reduction and more.

“Each person took something away from the sessions and during the last one we looked at goal setting for the future.

“I spoke to them about the other courses we provide, and they were all interested in the cooking and nutrition course too.

“That course is about upskilling and trying new foods and just inspiring people to have a go at cooking. We want them to use the skills they have learned on the course at home and share with family and friends.

“Each week we chat about what people have cooked at home and then we talk about what we are going to make during the session.

“People choose which ingredients they want to use and take their meals home with them.”

For members of the Gowerton Stroke Survivors Group, Emma also discussed different types of equipment that could be used to make cooking as easy as possible, such as an electric tin opener.

The group also talked about adapting recipes to use frozen or pre-chopped ingredients too.

During the six-week course, they made a stir fry, apple crumble, chicken curry and brownies, among other things.

Alan Hardie is just one of the people who has benefitted from the project.

“It has been brilliant and had a positive impact on everybody,” he said.

“Doing the wellbeing course, with the exercise and mental wellbeing advice, has given me resilience. We all shared our own experiences.

“The cooking course was hands-on. It can be easier to buy processed meals, but the course introduced us to different vegetables and recipes and inspired us to want to cook for ourselves.

“We were shown lots of different techniques, such as knife skills, and it helped to be in an environment where we could explore different techniques and recipes.

“We have all learned something new and it’s given me the momentum to keep my healthy lifestyle going.

“Since I had my stroke, I would help with the prepping and stirring of meals at home. But the course has given me a bit more encouragement to do more.”

Pictured: Alan using the equipment during one of the sessions.

Gerry Taylor was so inspired by the information provided during the health and wellbeing course that he made the decision to stop smoking for good.

“I decided to quit because of the information and encouragement that Emma gave me,” he said.

“I had wanted to do it for a long time but Emma showed me the different benefits of giving up smoking and I was quite amazed by it all.

“She pointed me in the right direction and I managed to get the support I needed.

“The cooking course has also helped me to change my diet completely. I don’t rely on microwave meals anymore and I have lost a bit of weight too.”

The support provided in the courses can be adapted to meet the needs of the people taking part.

They have also helped Julie Bennett who took part in both courses alongside Alan and Gerry.

She said: “I can’t move one side of my body due to my stroke so I didn’t think I could do certain things.

“But the cookery course has shown me different ways of doing them, such as using cutting boards that stick to the edge of the table and electric tin openers.

“It has been helpful for me, and I’ve enjoyed chatting to other people.”

Llwchwr LCC lead Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj said: “The lifestyle project is designed to help people adopt healthier habits and empower them to take control of their overall health and wellbeing.

“It seeks to raise awareness about the negative effects of unhealthy living and aims to support individuals in making better choices by encouraging nutritious eating and regular physical activity, ultimately helping them improve their health and quality of life.

“I am pleased to see that the team’s efforts have already made a positive impact, helping many people adopt healthier lifestyle.

“I hope this journey continues to grow and that even more individuals benefit from our service and embrace a healthy lifestyle.”

Follow this link to the SCVS website where you can find more information about the scheme.