Encouraging people to lead a healthy lifestyle

Cheshire West and Chester Council company Vivo Care Choices has become the tenth organisation to sign up to the Healthy Weight Declaration Partner Pledge, which aims to support the actions the Council has set out in its Declaration on Healthy Weight.

Launched in 2015, the Declaration was developed by Food Active, which is part of the Health Equalities Group and supports local authorities across the north west region.

The Council signed the Declaration back in February 2019, adopting a set of commitments to support and enable a system-wide approach to healthy weight across Council departments and partners. In autumn 2019, the Council’s Eat Well Be Active Group worked closely with Food Active to develop the Partner Pledge and supporting materials.

As part of its Partner Pledge, Vivo will attend regular Eat Well Be Active Group meetings and promote healthy weight, eating well and being more active. It will also act as a champion for its staff, people using services and carers and families, as well as people in the wider community.

The Partner Pledge also supports Vivo’s Carbon Neutral Plan, which has 12 key aims to help the organisation become carbon neutral by 2025. Small changes to people’s daily routines, such as eating more healthily and looking at alternative, active ways of travel, can help create a greener and cleaner environment.

Alistair Jeffs, Vivo Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to pledge our support for the Council’s Declaration on Healthy Weight and help champion a healthy lifestyle.  

“We take the health and wellbeing of everyone connected with Vivo very seriously and there is plenty of support available for all our staff, people using our services and carers and families.

“With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic bringing many challenges over the last couple of months, we’ve put a lot of emphasis on health and wellbeing and issued regular information and advice so people know what support is available to them. As part of our pledge, we’ll promote healthy weight, eating well and being more active whenever we can.

“We’re also looking forward to being part of the meetings so we can help shape the local campaigns in west Cheshire to promote healthy lifestyles.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Eat Well Be Active Group, added: “We’re pleased to see one of our Council companies sign up to the Healthy Weight Declaration Partner Pledge.

“Vivo provides valuable support for vulnerable people in our communities and the message about eating healthily and keeping active is very important.

“The health and wellbeing of residents across west Cheshire is something we care greatly about and providing support is going to be particularly valuable as we all continue to cope with the effects of COVID-19.

“Our Declaration on Healthy Weight is a great way for organisations to help us spread the word about healthy weight, eating well and being more active to their staff, partners and the wider community.”

Alex Holt, Programme Lead at Food Active, added: “The partnership approach taken by organisations and Cheshire West and Chester Council is fantastic.

“There is a real willingness to work together for the benefit of staff and the community. Vivo is a significant employer in the region and this pledge has the opportunity to influence many lives, including staff and people using services alike.”

Many other organisations across the borough have already pledged their support for the Council’s Declaration on Healthy Weight. If you are an organisation in west Cheshire and would like to show your support by signing the Partner Pledge, please contact: publichealth@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Pictured - Gareth, who uses Vivo's services, enjoys keeping active and playing football in the garden.