Welcome to our December newsletter!
 Grab a cuppa and read on, or click the links to jump to the articles you're most interested in!
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Free Offers & Training
Free Living Well Academy training courses. Make a New Year’s Resolution - our free services can help! Complete a short survey and you could win a shopping voucher!
Spotlight On: Staying warm and well this winter
Warm spaces. What to do if you feel unwell during the holidays. Heart healthy soup recipes. Take control of your energy bills. Cost of living support. Finding low-cost food in Bradford district.
Your Health Matters!
Ditch the Vape campaign. You're not alone this winter - find local support. Get ready for the DrinkCoach January Challenge!
Active Bradford District
Let’s Move Government campaign. Ian’s inspirational BEEP story. Get active during the holidays!
Children & Young People
Measles - don’t let your child catch it. Book places for HAF holiday clubs.
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Community Voice
12 Excuses of Christmas: don’t drink/drug drive. Wrose Runners. Baby Week Bradford. Bringing health support into our communities. Healthier festive snacks and treats.
Free Offers & Training
FREE Living Well Academy training courses
 Adult Mental Health Aware
Tue 13 Jan 2026: 10am – 2pm
Location: Online - Microsoft Teams
Course code: MHFAhalf025
Adult Mental Health First Aid
(Limited spaces available - book now!)
Thur 22 Jan 2026: 9am – 4.30pm
Wed 28 Jan 2026: 9am – 4.30pm
Location: Face to face, venue central Bradford
Course code: MHFA030
(2 days - must attend both days)
What could your New Year’s Resolution be?
 If you’re thinking ahead about making a New Year’s Resolution, we can help!
Don’t leave it till the last minute, if you plan ahead and decide soon what your resolution might be, you’re more likely to stick to it and succeed!
Maybe you would like to become more active, lose some excess weight, stop smoking, cut down on alcohol or cook more hearty, healthy meals at home. If you bring the will power to succeed, we will support you all the way with our free services!
Make 2026 your year!
BEEP Exercise Referral Service
20 Minute Movement
Adult Weight Management Offer
Stop Smoking Service
Alcohol Support
Eating Well – Making Easy Swaps
We want to hear from you!
 Living Well aims to support people across our district to live healthier lives offering simple, friendly support and information to help them eat well, move more, and improve their overall health and mental wellbeing.
We’d like to hear from people in Bradford district to find out:
- What you know about us?
- Have you used our services?
- How did you get on?
- What do we do well?
- How could we improve?
All answers to the survey are anonymous and the results will only be used to help us improve our services in the future.
The survey should only take about 5-10 minutes to complete. At the end, you can choose to enter a prize draw to win one of three £25 Love2Shop vouchers as a thank-you for taking part!
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Spotlight On:
Staying warm & well this winter
Find a Warm Space
 Across Bradford district there are Warm Spaces, places where people can gather for free in a safe, friendly place and maybe enjoy a drink and some company.
The network of Warm Spaces is made up of libraries, community centres, church halls, sports clubs and other places open to anyone struggling with the rise in the cost of living. Warm Spaces are totally free to use and are open to everyone.
What to do if you feel unwell during the holidays
 If you’re feeling unwell, community pharmacies offer medical advice and treatments for minor illnesses.
Find pharmacies that are open after daytime hours here.
Make sure you order your repeat prescriptions through your local GP practice to see you through the festive break.
If you need an out of hours GP appointment or other medical advice call NHS 111 or click here to visit NHS111 online. They will advise whether you should visit A&E or if you can be treated elsewhere.
Accident and emergency departments are always very busy during the holidays, and you could be in for a substantial wait before receiving treatment.
There’s lots of advice available on the Together We Can website, just click the button below to find out more.
Heart healthy soup recipes
 The weather is getting colder so it's the perfect time to enjoy tasty, warming meals like heart-healthy soups.
For a heart-healthy and convenient meal you can make ahead of time, try these easy soup recipes from The British Heart Foundation. Click here to find step by step recipes and guidance on how to freeze them for later, including butternut squash, minestrone and chicken noodle soup.
Click here to jump to the end of this newsletter to find out how to make some healthier and VERY tasty snacks and treats!
Find lots of easy to follow soup recipes (and other delicious meals) on our website, just click the button below.
Help with energy bills
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Green Doctor offer free, impartial energy advice to help you save energy at home.
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Find advice to help you reduce your bills, and access other services and initiatives available. Their support ranges from advice on paying off debt with energy or water companies to spotting other concerns for a referral to other services. They can help you make your home more energy-efficient, saving you money and helping keep you warm in Winter.
Cost of living support in Bradford district
The rising cost of everything, from groceries to utilities, has been making, and continues to make it difficult to make ends meet.
This does not mean that you have to be ‘in crisis’ to admit you’re struggling, and it affects all of us, not just low earners.
Take a look at the support available, there might be something that helps you and keep checking back as new content is added regularly.
Finding low-cost food in Bradford district
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Find out where to get low cost and free food options in Bradford district. |
Find information on schemes including NHS Healthy Start, the Nourishing Communities Voucher Scheme, FoodSavers Network, free school meals, emergency food support, and more.
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Your Health
Catch your breath - anti vaping campaign
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A new campaign has launched to help tackle youth vaping in Bradford district. |
Bradford City FC Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Bradford City AFC, and Bradford Council have launched a campaign with two new films showing how nicotine addiction from vaping can influence and disrupt everyday life, while also challenging the misconception that vaping is seen as ‘cool’ among children and young people in social situations.
Watch: Catch Your Breath: Ditch the Vape (It's Annoying)
Vaping at sporting events carries a high risk of annoying those around you (and making you look daft).
Watch: Catch Your Breath: Ditch the Vape
Nicotine addiction is real. But you can take control.
Healthy Minds "You're not alone this winter" campaign
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Healthy Minds aim to support the mental wellbeing of everyone in Bradford District and Craven. |
Support is available for common winter struggles, including low mood, loneliness, student stress, financial worries and more.
You can search over 300 local services, from walking groups to counselling, filtered by specific needs and location with the Healthy Minds Support Finder
If you’re struggling with winter as a student in Bradford, click here to get tips on beating isolation, managing academic pressure, and finding local support.
However you're feeling this winter, please remember that you’re not alone. The Healthy Minds website is your first step to finding local mental health support.
Get ready for the DrinkCoach January Challenge!
 Has alcohol had an effect on your health and wellbeing? Feel better for 2026 by taking part in a DrinkCoach January Challenge! Set your goals and we’ll help you achieve them.
Choose one of three alcohol challenges, which can help you to drink less in a way that works for you - there’s a challenge for everyone!
Glass Half Full: Find it hard to break habits? Pour and order half measures. Half your units, calories and spend. Simple and effective.
Social Sips: Want to stop drinking alone? Only drink socially. Break habits, reduce units and improve mental wellbeing.
Wine Free Weekdays: Daily drinking becoming a habit? Save drinking for the weekends. Reduce weekly units and save money.
Challenges can be, well, a challenge. If you need extra support to stay on track with your challenge, you can book six free online coaching sessions with a DrinkCoach who will give you tailored advice and motivation. You can also take a 2-min test to find out more about your drinking habits.
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Active Bradford District
Let’s Move!
 This campaign features real Bradford families being active in familiar local places and aims to inspire families with easy, accessible and fun ways to build movement into their day.
More than half of our children aren’t getting the recommended amount of activity each day. (60 mins of activity every day, with at least 30 mins outside school times).
You don't need to buy expensive equipment or find lots of extra time to make a difference. Every bit of movement adds up to support their health and wellbeing.
Click the button below to find simple, practical ideas to get active together. Whether it's puddle jumping, playing tag, or turning everyday spaces into mini playgrounds, there are plenty of free, accessible ways to help your family move more and feel happier, more confident, and more connected.
Ian from Bierley is an inspiration!
 Ian Mitchell, 61 from Bierley completed a cardiac rehab programme and then realised he wasn’t really doing any physical activity, apart from walking his dog. When he visited his GP for a health check he noticed a banner about the BEEP Service and after being told his weight had crept up, it spurred him on to ask for a referral.
The info Ian received at his consultation helped him feel more confident about going ahead with an exercise plan, as he felt nervous after having a history of cardiac complications.
Ian now feels so much better for becoming more active. He’s lost weight, made new friends and feels the fittest he has felt in years!
Ian says: “I would definitely recommend the BEEP scheme. Whether it’s walking, swimming, gym work, whatever works for you, these guys will support you throughout the whole journey”.
Read more about Ian’s story
Get active during the holidays!
 Instead of spending all day (or several days!) sitting in front of the TV during the holidays, wrap up warm and get out of the house for a walk and enjoy our local areas with friends and family!
Bradford Parks
Enjoy some of our amazing parks and greenspaces. Lots of them offer a wide range of facilities and also host activities and events.
Leeds to Liverpool Canal
The perfect place for a walk, wheel or cycle.
Bingley St Ives Estate
A country park with woodlands, coppice pond, adventure playground and a café.
20 Minute Movement
Ideas for lots of things to do across Bradford district with the 20 Minute Movement A-Z.
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Children & Young People
Measles – Don’t let your child catch it
 Measles can be a very serious disease and there has been a rise in cases in Bradford district.
Your child is at risk of measles if they haven’t had the MMR vaccination. Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed to give them the best protection. If your child is due to have the MMR vaccination but has not yet received them, no matter what age they are, you should contact your GP to ask about vaccinations as soon as possible.
Measles spreads very easily as it is highly infectious, and some people are at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell. These include unvaccinated young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems or long-term conditions.
- Call NHS 111 if you are worried about symptoms or need urgent advice
- Go online to 111.nhs.co.uk for assessment of people aged 5 yrs and over
- Call your local GP practice to find out about vaccinations
Free places at HAF holiday clubs
 There are more than 80 HAF holiday clubs offering a huge range of fun, free activities and experiences across the district during the Christmas school holidays.
Places are free for children who live in Bradford district and are eligible for benefits-related free school meals or have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). All children get a free healthy meal while at the club.
Places are limited so don’t delay, see what is on offer near you and book now to avoid missing out.
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Community Voice
Police launch crack down on drink and drug driving
 West Yorkshire Police have launched a Christmas drink drug drive awareness campaign.
Roads Policing Officers will be stepping up patrols in December and reminding people of the potentially fatal consequences of driving while under the influence. As part of the campaign, officers have shared some of the poor excuses they hear from drivers to try to justify why they were driving over the limit. The message has also been backed by the family of a man killed by a drink driver near Bradford.
Join a new running group in Wrose!
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The Wrose Runners is a free group led by Abbie who has a running group vision! |
If you want to become a better runner or just join for the socials this group is fully health-insured with trained first aid members. They always run as a group, so that no one is ever be left behind.
The group meets on Thursday evenings at 6.45pm at the Wrose Rock by the top of Carr Lane. Adults and young people age 10-11yrs and above are welcome (young people are the parent's responsibility for the whole run).
Why not join them for their Christmas run next week? It’s good fun and you will be welcome whether you come to walk or run!
Baby Week Bradford Event
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A special Baby Week Bradford event was held at the TFD Centre in Holmewood. |
The session was about bonding, creativity, and wellbeing, offering parents and carers tips and fun activities to support early development while enjoying quality time with their little ones.
Living Well advisors attended this fantastic event where the first 100 children received a free toy, making the day even more memorable!
Bringing health support into our communities
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Living Well attended events at mosques in Keighley to offer health and wellbeing support. |
Hundreds of people attended the events with many people visiting the Living Well stall for health checks and advice about stopping smoking, weight management, healthy eating, mental health, prostate cancer awareness and more.
Several cases of high blood pressure were identified and those people were referred for urgent GP or hospital follow‑ups.
These events highlight the power of community partnerships making health services accessible, raising awareness, and supporting people to take steps towards improving their wellbeing.
Healthier festive snacks and treats
 It’s easy to overindulge during the holidays, but you can make a few simple swaps to make snacking healthier!
Instead of crisps, chocolate and cakes, and other sugary highly processed foods, try unsalted and unroasted nuts and dried or fresh fruit for a quick delicious snack.
Get the whole family involved to make festive scenes on plates using fruit and raw veggies.
If you’re making mince pies, you can cut down the amount of pastry by leaving the tops open and popping a small pastry star on instead!
Click here to find an easy recipe for baking some flapjack cookies with honey instead of sugar!
If you’re making roast potatoes or parsnips, chop them into large chunks, so that they absorb less fat and cook them in olive oil as it's healthier for our hearts.
It’s still important to keep an eye on portion sizes, even when you make healthy swaps. Be aware of constant grazing too, this isn’t good for our health or our waistlines so if you have a snack, put it on a plate and put the rest away to avoid temptation.
Click here to find other healthy swaps you can make!
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