Liverpool City Council’s healthy weight programme, Liv Life Liverpool, has been shortlisted for a Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Health and Wellbeing Award, recognising its work to improve health and tackle inequalities across the city.
Liv Life Liverpool is Liverpool City Council’s commissioned healthy weight service, delivered by ICE Creates. The service takes a holistic, community-based approach, supporting adults, children, young people and families to make sustainable lifestyle changes that improve health and wellbeing.
Unlike traditional weight management programmes, Liv Life Liverpool takes an emotionally informed, person-centred approach, recognising that maintaining a healthy weight is influenced by a wide range of social, economic and environmental factors. The programme focuses on building confidence, improving food knowledge and skills, increasing physical activity and supporting positive behaviour change, helping people achieve healthier lives in ways that work for them.
The service is delivered in neighbourhoods across Liverpool through schools, children’s centres, community hubs, primary care and voluntary and community organisations, making support accessible within the communities where people live, learn and work.
Since launching, the programme has made a significant impact. During 2025, 94 per cent of participants accessing structured weight management support lost weight, with 78 per cent achieving a loss of at least three per cent of their body weight and almost half (46 per cent) achieving a clinically significant five per cent weight loss. Participants have also reported increased confidence, healthier eating habits, greater levels of physical activity and stronger family routines.
Liv Life Liverpool was commissioned following evidence highlighting the need for earlier intervention to tackle obesity and reduce health inequalities. The programme prioritises residents living in areas of greatest deprivation, families experiencing disadvantage and communities that have traditionally faced barriers to accessing healthy weight support.
The programme brings together schools, healthcare professionals, community organisations and voluntary sector partners to create a joined-up system that supports prevention, improves access and helps residents achieve lasting improvements in their health.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture at Liverpool City Council, said:
“We’re delighted that Liv Life Liverpool has been shortlisted for an RSPH Health and Wellbeing Award. It recognises the importance of supporting people to improve their health in ways that work for them and reflects the commitment of everyone involved in delivering the programme.
“Reducing health inequalities is one of our key priorities. By working with communities and partners across the city, we’re helping people build healthier habits, improve their wellbeing and access support closer to home. It’s fantastic to see that work recognised nationally.”
Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, said:
“By taking a whole-system approach and working alongside communities and partners, the programme is helping people develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to make sustainable changes that improve their health. Being shortlisted by the Royal Society for Public Health is welcome recognition of the collaborative work taking place across Liverpool to reduce health inequalities and improve population health.”
The Royal Society for Public Health Health and Wellbeing Awards celebrate organisations and initiatives making a positive contribution to improving health and reducing inequalities.
The shortlisting reflects Liverpool City Council’s ongoing commitment to prevention, partnership working and supporting residents to live healthier lives through accessible, community-based services.
Visit the Liv Life Liverpool website to learn more: https://www.livlifeliverpool.org/
Find out more on the RSPH website: https://www.rsph.org.uk/news/
