Ruils wellbeing

Aims

Using the changes in our understanding of food science to improve the lifestyle of a targeted group of clients. Methods used will include pre and post intervention surveys on lifestyle. There will be workshops covering the basic areas of food groups as well as hands on cooking simple dishes in a nutrition laboratory. 

Target groups

Any person wanting to come onto these courses needs to be recommended by a health care professional (e.g. GP, nurse, social prescriber or weight management programme) by filling in the form by following the link below.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Any adult aged 18 and above who is considered to fall into the following groups:
  • Weight management
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Mental health (not acutely ill)
  • Adults who live alone e.g. young adults, widow/widowers
  • Carers
  • Single parents
  • Any person wanting to improve their understanding of healthy eating

All participants will also need to have a  contact telephone number and an active email address or have access to someone who can help with the evaluation of the course.

This pilot project is based at St Mary's University, Twickenham. Referrals at this stage will only be considered from neighbouring areas e.g. boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow. More sites will become available once the pilot stages are completed. 

Exclusion Criteria

  • Some cases of mental health – because the workshops will involve some level of interaction with a partner in a pair or a group, referrers may consider whether the client is able tolerate such activity without disruption. E.g. an acute relapse of a severe mental illness may not be suitable.
  • Clients who are not willing and able to participate in the pre and post evaluation of the project which will include simple written questionnaires and follow up telephone calls.
  • Any person who is not able to get to the nutritional lab independently. The nutrition lab is well served with public transport links including the buses 33, and local rail stations Strawberry Hill and Teddington.

Workshops

Each workshop will combine educational activities and hands-on cooking illustrating the themes for that workshop:

  1. Introductions – change behaviour, aims of the sessions, ultra-processed foods
  2. The gut microbiome and plant-based foods
  3. Fats and carbohydrates
  4. Proteins, legumes
  5. Nuts and seeds. Budget friendly healthy eating

Costs and Resources

The workshops will be free but will require a £5 booking fee that will be refunded at the end of the course if the client has attended.

All food and drink will be provided. There will be no alcohol to be consumed on the premises.  

Date & times

Each consisting of five weekly workshops of 2 hours duration held on Tuesday afternoons from 5-7pm.

1st Pilot
  • 11th March 2025
  • 18th March 2025
  • 25th March 2025
  • 1st April 2025
  • 8th April 2025
2nd Pilot
  • 6th May 2025
  • 13th May 2025
  • 20th May 2025
  • 27th May 2025
  • 3rd June 2025  

Site

All the sessions will be held at The Nutrition Lab that has up to 6 - 8 stations that each has a cooker and worktop facilities as well as a break out area for teaching. This will allow 12-14 persons to be recruited for each cohort. The nutrition lab is well served with public transport links including the buses 33, and local rail stations Strawberry Hill and Teddington. There is no parking on site but there are nearby roads, with some having parking restrictions. 

St Mary's University
Waldegrave Road
Strawberry Hill
Twickenham
TW1 4SX

Referrals

If  you are a client who is keen to come onto the course you will need to be referred by a healthcare professional that could include:

  • Social Prescribing Teams (ask your GP reception for a contact details for your social prescriber) 
  • Weight management Teams
  • Social Services
  • Others – GPs, nurses and any other allied health care professional

Make a referral

Any enquiries please send email to: info.e4bh@gmail.com

Future   

Once the pilot stages are over they will be evlauted to enable applicaions for funding for a roll out for more courses.