Welcome to the Living Well February newsletter!
Grab a cuppa and read on, or click the links to jump to the articles you're most interested in!
Community Voice
Meet the Living Well Team! Sing for Health! Transforming Hollingwood Avenue
Free Offers &Training
FREE Living Well Academy Training Courses
 Living Well Introduction to Mental Wellbeing
Wednesday 25 February 2026: 10am – 11am
Location: Microsoft Teams (online)
Course code: LWMH005
Adult Mental Health Aware
Tuesday 3 March 2026: 10am – 2pm
Location: Microsoft Teams (online)
Course code: MHFAhalf025
To book places, click the pink buttons above or click here to send us an email. Please include the course title and course code along with your contact details.
New courses starting with Restore Recovery College
 Mindfulness Yoga
Starts Wednesday 25 February for 6 weeks.
10am – 12noon.
St Christopher’s Church, Holmewood Road, BD4 9EJ
Manage Your Stress
Starts Wednesday 25 February for 6 weeks.
12.30pm – 2.30pm.
BD4+ Community Trust, St John’s Bowling Hub, Neville Road, BD4 8TU
Anger Management
Starts Thursday 26 February for 6 weeks.
12.30pm – 2.30pm.
St John the Evangelist Church, 22 Bierley Lane, BD4 6AA
WRAP (Wellness, Recovery, Action, Plan)
Starts Thursday 26 February for 6 weeks.
10am – 1pm.
The Community Shop Tong Street, Avenue Retail Park, BD4 9RQ.
Call 07538 218 491 for more info or click the button below
Save a life with a FREE 15 min CPR course
 |
|
Step-by-step guide on how to respond to a cardiac arrest. |
February is heart health month, it could be YOU who saves a life. Learn CPR for FREE with this quick 15-minute online training course.
Click the button below to start your free online training.
Bags of Taste Free Home Cooking Course
 |
|
All you need is a kitchen and a phone! |
Are you worried about the rising cost of food and how to eat healthily on a tight budget?
Join a free home cooking where you’ll learn how to make delicious, healthy meals for less than £1 – all you need is a kitchen and a phone!
Cook at home at your own pace, with support over Whatsapp or by phone showing you step-by-step and sharing short videos and tips. The groups are fun and it’s a great way to make new friends.
To get started, you will receive a free bag of food delivered to your door with all the ingredients you’ll need for seven meals (3 recipes) so that you can join in with this 2-week course. You will also get tips and advice on how to budget and save money when you’re shopping.
At the end of the course, you’ll receive more exciting recipes, so you’ll be able to continue saving money while cooking, sharing and enjoying great food!
For more information or to register for the course online click the button below or call/WhatsApp: 07751 890 912 or email: Bradford@bagsoftaste.org
Back to top
Spotlight On: Stopping Smoking
Even if you’ve tried before, this time… You CAN quit and Living Well CAN help!
 Thinking of quitting smoking? Even if you’ve tried before, this time you really can quit for good! Quitting is the best thing you can do for your health (and your wallet!) and Living Well is available to help you every step of the way.
With the free Living Well Stop Smoking Service you’ll get:
- Flexible phone or face‑to‑face support
- A personalised quit plan
- NRT, prescribed medications
- Free 12‑week vaping kits
- Expert advice to keep you on track
You’re three times more likely to quit with the right support than going it alone.
Health benefits start fast:
- After 20 mins: Your pulse begins to return to normal
- After 48 hrs: Carbon monoxide leaves your body, taste & smell improve
- After 1 year: Risk of heart attack falls to half that of a smoker.
With No Smoking Day on 11 March 2026, now is the perfect time to set your quit date!
Ready to quit?
Call 01274 437700 or click the button below to visit our website and start your journey to a smoke free life!
Ramadan: A Supportive Time to Quit Smoking
Ramadan Kareem. The month of Ramadan naturally shifts daily routines across Bradford, creating a helpful environment for anyone thinking about reducing or quitting smoking.
Why stop during Ramadan?
Built‑in breaks from nicotine. Fasting introduces long periods without smoking, helping lower nicotine levels and ease cravings.
Fewer daily triggers Changes to meal times, social habits, and work routines reduce the usual cues that prompt smoking, making it easier to try new patterns.
Strong community support Family, friends, mosques, and workplaces all play a part in creating a supportive atmosphere that can make healthy changes feel more achievable.
Quick health benefits Just a short time without smoking can improve breathing, circulation, energy, and sleep benefits that build throughout the month.
A focus on wellbeing Ramadan encourages reflection and self‑care, making it a meaningful moment to take steps toward a smoke‑free future.
If you’d like support to quit smoking this Ramadan, the Living Well Stop Smoking Service is here to help. Call 01274 437700 or click the button below to visit our website
Yorkshire Shisha Study
 The Yorkshire Shisha Study is a University of York PhD research project which wants to understand more about how adults – aged 18+ - who consider shisha smoking to be part of their culture, view shisha and what health initiatives would be culturally relevant and acceptable to them.
You don’t have to have ever smoked shisha to take part, you just have to consider it to be part of your culture. Taking part is confidential and involves a 1-to-1 online chat with a non-judgmental researcher (who has smoked shisha on and off throughout her life, as part of her culture).
Eligible participants will receive a £15 Love2Shop e-gift card to thank you for taking part.
If you think you might be interested, click here to take the 2-minute eligibility survey.
If you would like more info please click here to send an email or click the button below.
Back to top
Your Health
NHS Healthy Choices Quiz
 How healthy is your lifestyle? Adults can take the new NHS Healthy Choices Quiz to find out!
You will be asked about your lifestyle, eating, alcohol, movement, smoking and vaping, your mental health and sleep. (You won't be asked for any personal health details, like your weight or blood pressure, or your medical history).
You will get your result which will include a score out of 10 and a summary of how you did in each section. Then you will get recommended apps and advice that can help you make a change that lasts!
You can also decide to receive your results in an email, you will then get motivational emails that are focused on areas you could improve if you score a 9 or less.
5 Steps to successfully losing weight
-
Understand what has caused your weight gain. Have you been eating out more, eating different foods (like takeaways or ready meals), snacking more or being less active than usual?
-
Understand what a healthy weight is for you and set yourself an achievable weight-loss goal. Break your weight loss down into small achievable goals and take it one step at a time. Losing just 10% of your body weight can make a massive improvement to your health.
-
Make changes that will work for you! Making a few small and achievable changes to the foods you eat and increasing the amount of activity you do can be the most effective way to lose weight. Slow and gradual weight loss is the best way to go!
-
Eat a balanced diet. Make some healthy swaps. Eat less processed foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar and instead eat more fruit, vegetables, beans/lentils and lean meats like fish and chicken with the fat trimmed off.
Eat smaller portions of carbohydrates (bread, pasta, etc.) and swap for wholegrain versions. Make sure you eat protein-rich foods and plenty of vegetables with each meal, to fill you up for longer.
-
Get support from friends and family. Don’t try and do it all alone, weight loss is difficult and can take a long time so lean on friends and family for support and to help keep you motivated.
The following links can help you to get started!
Easy healthy food swaps
10 tips to be more active
Make lunch boxes tasty and healthy
Learn about eating well
Find out how to make healthy tasty snacks and treats
Find out about food groups with Eatwell Guides
Try some delicious low cost family recipes
Get 12 weeks free membership with Slimming World, APNA Healthy Living or The Brotherhood
Click here to check your BMI (Body Mass Index)
You can also find useful information on the British Heart Foundation website, click the button below to find out more
Back to top
Active Bradford District
Join your local ParkRun
 Are you up for the challenge of running, walking, or wheeling 5km in your local park on Saturday mornings? Or do you just want to come along and watch or volunteer?
ParkRun is FREE for everyone! ParkRun is INCLUSIVE for anyone! In ParkRun, there is NO PRESSURE because there are no winners and nobody comes last!
It’s an opportunity to join with others and take part in something local to you, make new friends and quite often, there’s the opportunity for a catch up after the event over tea and cake!
Many people who take part in ParkRun say that they have increased their fitness and physical health, experienced an improvement in their happiness, mental health and sense of community and can better manage symptoms of long-term health conditions.
Adult ParkRuns set off at 9am every Saturday for people aged 15 years and over:
Cliffe Castle Keighley
Myrtle Park Bingley
Roberts Park Saltaire
Lister Park
Horton Park
Bowling Park
Junior ParkRuns set off at 9am every Sunday for those aged 4 to 14 years:
Bowling Park
Roberts Park
Free e-bike Scheme
 Do you want to improve your mental health or do you have a physical health condition that you feel could be helped with the use of an E-bike for everyday journeys, shopping, work, appointments, etc.?
You must:
- Be aged 18yrs+
- Live in the Central Keighley, Bradford Moor/Barkerend or Manningham/Girlington areas
- Be a maximum weight limit of 15.7 stone (100 kg) for a Standard Ebike
- Be a maximum weight limit of 18.8 stone (120kg) for a Cargo Ebike
- Be between 5 2” – 6’ 2” tall (157.48cm - 187.96cm)
- Apply before August 2026
- E-bike loans are available for 2 to 8 weeks, subject to availability
- Limited numbers are available
- Priority will be given to people with a mental and/or physical health condition.
To apply, please click the button below to send an email with your full name and a brief statement (maximum 100 words) explaining why you’d like to join the e-bike scheme to support your well-being.
Referrals can be made on your behalf by health professionals or voluntary community organisations (these will be prioritised).
If you have questions, please contact the Active Travel Team on 07483 901017.
Back to top
Children & Young People
Let’s Move Bradford!
 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are launching a new “Let’s Move!” campaign in areas of Bradford where children are often less active, or where they find it harder to access opportunities for play and exercise.
It’s recommended that children do at least 60 minutes of activity each day. This can include lots of different activities like walking, cycling, scooting, indoor/outdoor games and sports or even just dancing at home!
“Let’s Move!” aims to help families find and enjoy simple, pressure-free ways to move more together and have fun whilst doing it.
When children move, they feel happier and healthier. Click here to find simple ideas to get active together on the JU:MP website.
Veg Power - Bang in Some Beans!
 This Veg Power campaign designed to help families eat more beans, lentils and pulses, without changing everything they cook. It’s about adding beans to everyday meals you already know and like, in small, affordable and realistic ways.
Beans and pulses come in many different shapes, colours and sizes but one thing they have in common is that they are cheap, filling, versatile and easy to use (especially tinned versions).
Veg Power is perfect for busy families, there’s no special ingredients, no complicated recipes, just simple steps that can make meals healthier, cheaper and better for the planet.
Breastfeeding Friendly Places
 |
|
Find breastfeeding friendly places in Bradford district |
Breastfeeding can be tricky at first, but once you've mastered it, you'll probably find it's the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby. Breastfeeding has lots of benefits for you and your baby. It’s tailor-made for your baby and contains vitamins and minerals, it offers protection from some infections, and it helps improve your baby's long-term health. Any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial, but exclusively breastfeeding your baby for 6 months offers a lot more protection.
Bradford district welcomes breastfeeding here, there and everywhere! Organisations across the district are part of the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme, offering a welcoming space where you can feel comfortable breastfeeding your baby. All four of the Bradford District Family Hubs are Breastfeeding Friendly and all 27 Bradford District Libraries in the district are too.
Click here for more helpful information and support about breastfeeding.
Back to top
Community Voice
Come and meet the Living Well Team!
 |
|
Two events where you can come and meet our friendly team! |
Look out for our gazebo and come say hello! Our friendly team can help you find out about improving your health and wellbeing. They can offer you access to lots of free services including managing your weight, stopping smoking, becoming more active and more!
Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley: Wed 27 Feb, 11.30am – 4pm
The Broadway, Bradford: Fri 27 Feb, 11.30am – 4pm
Sing for Health!
 Come along and experience the joy of singing around the piano. All Voices are Welcome!
Monday 23 February from 1.30pm – 2.30pm at Darley Street Kitchen (second floor).
Click the button below to send an email to find out more.
Partners unite to transform Hollingwood Avenue, Great Horton
 A major clean-up has transformed part of Hollingwood Avenue in Great Horton reopening walking routes to local shops, schools and community spaces by cutting back vegetation and clearing rubbish.
These routes are now safer, brighter and more welcoming to use. The Day of Action was carried out by Bradford Council’s Neighbourhoods Service along with the Neighbourhood Policing Team, local Councillors and Scholemoor Beacon Community Centre.
These hard-working teams also cleared 75 gullies, improving drainage and reducing flood risk, and removed 2.5 tonnes of waste from backstreets and neglected land. The area is now much brighter and more open, with improved visibility which will hopefully deter anti-social behaviour.
Plans are being made about ways to maintain the improvements with regular monitoring, community engagement and setting up a Street Watch for the area. Residents may also be able to adopt the area and turn it into a community green space, which would help to improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing by providing clean green spaces and walking routes and building a sense of community and belonging.
Huge thanks to all partners, Councillors and everyone else who has helped.
If you would like to raise any concerns about a p location near you, and would like to be involved in a similar Action Day, please click the button below to send an email and make sure to include your contact details.
Back to top
Stay Up To Date! Follow Us On Social Media
 X - Facebook - Instagram
Back to top
|
