Kensington and Chelsea Council and Westminster City Council have commissioned our parent company Reed in Partnership to deliver the One You Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster service from 9 December 2024.
The service, which will be provided by Reed Wellbeing’s team, is evolving to better meet the needs of residents, helping them to lead healthier lifestyles and reduce instances of lifestyle-related cancers and cardiovascular disease across both boroughs. This transition marks a renewed focus on addressing health inequalities, with targeted support for those who need it most.
Modern day life makes it hard for people to live healthily, with bigger portions for everything we eat, more sedentary leisure options available and other lifestyle and financial pressures. One You gives people the chance to reappraise their lifestyle choices, put themselves first and do something about their own health before it is too late.
One You will continue to offer a comprehensive range of health and wellbeing interventions, including quit smoking support, weight management, physical activity programs, NHS Health Checks, and support to drink less. Support will be tailored to individual circumstances and needs, with options for personal or group sessions, and both in-person and online formats.
Enhancements to the service include the introduction of additional community support through partnerships with local organisations. This collaborative approach will enable more people to access timely and appropriate support to improve their health and maintain a better lifestyle. A single point of access will streamline the process, allowing residents to easily and quickly connect with the One You team. Services will be delivered through a range of accessible venues across both boroughs.
In 2025, the service will further expand with the launch of a new Digital Platform, providing enhanced online support.
Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster are areas of significant social and cultural diversity, with notable disparities in income, employment, and health outcomes. Life expectancy in the boroughs is among the highest in the country, however, there are significant disparities, with some demographics experiencing some of the highest life expectancy gaps in the country. Both boroughs also have a high prevalence of obesity in children and adults, contributing to long-term health issues. Around 40% of all deaths in England are related to behaviour. The One You service aims to bridge these gaps by providing accessible, high-quality health support to residents. Working closely with VCS organisation, partners and residents, support will be targeted towards those who need it most, including global majority/Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, people with a disability and those with mental health issues.
Westminster City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said:
The new Integrated Healthy Lifestyles service will help us tackle health inequalities in Westminster and I’m proud of the collaborative efforts between the council and our partners to deliver these vital services. Communities tell us that they need services to be easily accessible and person-centred, and I hope that our One You Westminster service will achieve this, and be truly relevant to our diverse communities. Supporting residents to live healthier lives is essential in order to tackle the life expectancy gap in Westminster, which is one of the highest in the country. We know that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. That’s why this service includes dedicated funding for co-producing community-led initiatives, ensuring it meets the needs of our residents. We understand the importance of involving residents in shaping the services they rely on and as such we are committed to putting residents at the heart of decision-making in everything we do.
Cllr Josh Rendall, Kensington and Chelsea’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said:
We are committed to working with residents and making the borough fairer by reducing inequalities. We all recognise the importance of healthy lifestyles, but also the challenges of achieving this. One You is a great way to support yourself and we have hundreds of residents who have used the service and improved their life. By making things more accessible and working with our diverse communities I’m sure Reed Wellbeing will build on the service and help more residents to enjoy longer and healthier lives.
Christine Lunn, Programme Director for Integrated Health at Reed Wellbeing, said:
We are excited to launch the One You Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster service, which will play a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of local residents. Reed Wellbeing has a strong track record of supporting people from all walks of life to access important support for their health. By offering tailored support and innovative health interventions, we aim to reduce health inequalities and people across the community lead healthier, happier lives.
For more information about the service, please visit oneyoukcw.co.uk