One year on from its launch, Choose You is celebrating a successful first year of helping residents across Bedford Borough take positive steps towards healthier lifestyles.
Choose You began in May 2025 as a free, accessible service designed to support people to quit smoking, manage their weight and build healthier habits that last. Over the past 12 months, the service has supported residents by providing personalised, flexible help.
In its first year, 878 Bedford Borough residents signed up to quit smoking, with 44 per cent successfully quitting, helping hundreds of people to reduce the risks associated with smoking.
Meanwhile, 188 Bedford Borough residents signed up to lose weight, with 38 per cent successfully losing between five and 10 per cent of their overall body weight, demonstrating the positive impact of tailored behaviour change support.
Choose You offers a range of support including tailored stop smoking programmes, behavioural change support, nicotine replacement options, as well as structured healthy weight programmes to help people make gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes. The service also signposts people to additional support, such as mental wellbeing, drugs and alcohol or sexual health services, where needed.
Residents can refer themselves directly, or be referred by a healthcare professional, making it easier than ever to access help at the right time.
Councillor Martin Towler, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Communities: Health and Wellbeing said; “This first year of Choose You has shown just how powerful it can be to get the right kind of support to the people who need it most.
“By offering practical, personalised help, the service has enabled residents to make positive changes to their health. We are proud of what has been achieved and, as we move into our second year, we want to help even more people quit smoking, manage their weight and maintain healthier lifestyles.”
Throughout its first year, the service has focused on removing barriers that can prevent people from prioritising their health. Choose You offers compassionate, non judgemental support to help people make achievable changes at their own pace.
Vicky Head, Director of Public Health said; “When we launched Choose You, our goal was to provide residents with practical, accessible support to help them quit smoking and lose weight. In just one year, the service has made a real difference, supporting people to take those first steps towards better health. As we build on this success, we remain committed to ensuring residents continue to have access to high quality, free support to help them make positive, lasting changes and live longer, healthier lives.”
The impact of the service can be seen through the real experiences of people who have taken part.
Amelia lost over 15kg through the healthy weight programme, describing it as “not a diet, but a way of living”. For Amelia she said the key was “Never missing a class. Every week, I learned something new”.
To view Amelia’s story visit https://chooseyou.co.uk/news/how-amelia-lost-over-15kg-and-found-her-confidence/
David (pictured) who had smoked for four decades said: “It was nice to have the encouragement and know that you aren’t on your own”. For David what really helped him was the connection, consistency, and compassion he received from the service.
To view David’s story visit https://chooseyou.co.uk/news/david-smoked-for-four-decades-choose-you-helped-him-stop/
Choose You is delivered in partnership by Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council.
Residents who live or work in Bedford Borough can find out more and self refer by visiting www.chooseyou.co.uk.