8 Ways to Be Well in 2025...

January is a time for taking stock, setting goals and, for many of us, thinking about our health and wellbeing.

Whether it's losing a little weight, improving your diet, or giving up bad habits, let us help you keep those New Year resolutions with our '8 ways to Be Well in 2025'...

1. Get 2 months of leisure HALF PRICE! 🙌

Thinking of joining a gym? Our Be Well leisure centres are so much more!!! As a Be Well fitness member you’ll also get unlimited swimming, bundles of group exercise classes from BodyPump to Yoga, and fun social sports sessions such as walking football, netball and the insanely popular pickleball!

We’ve got centres in Wigan, Leigh, Robin Park, Ashton, Howe Bridge, Hindley and Standish… and one membership covers them all, which is ideal for fitting workouts around your work and homelife. Plus all members get a FREE PT taster session and a FREE personalised workout plan made just for them by our friendly and knowledgeable team of instructors, who are always on hand to offer advice and support. You can even update your routine free of charge anytime you like as you make progress… all you have to do is ask!

There are membership options for couples, students and juniors – and, better yet, join now and you’ll get your first two months HALF PRICE! Just make sure to use the special discount code NewYearBeWell at checkout.

2. Find FREE activities with the Be Well app 📱

3. Try Couch to 5k! 🎽 It’s a great way to be more active and absolutely perfect for beginners. Seriously – even if you’ve never run before, you’ll be really surprised by what you can achieve. Download one of the many free apps or podcasts (such as this one from the NHS) and try it for free in your own time, or join Be Well’s fun social group runs and get tips and encouragement from our friendly run leaders. Our new 10-week programme has just started but there’s still time to get involved if you’re quick… so book a spot now via the Be Well app or website. It’s just £2 per session or FREE for Be Well members. You can find out more about Couch to 5k on the Be Well website.

4. Looking to watch what you eat? 🍏 At Be Well, we don’t believe in diets or fads (tip: they never work!). Instead, we can help you make lots of small but significant changes that will add up to lasting health benefits. Cut through the nonsense and discover the facts about nutrition with our range of free digital guides covering topics from fat, carbs and protein to portion size and metabolism. If you are aged 18+, have a BMI over 25 and think you need more support, our health advisors can get you on track with a fully-funded 12-week programme of support. Find out more on our website.

5. Inspired by Strictly?! Come dancing! 💃 Dancing is a great way to get fit fast! So step up, find your rhythm and work up a sweat with our very own professional dancer Danielle. Our Dance Fitness classes are great if you just want to have fun – but there’s also a Dance for Weight Management programme for those who’d also like advice and support with nutrition and achieving a healthy weight. Find out more on our website.

6. Are you a smoker? 🚭 If so, the best thing you can do for your health this year is to quit… and the Be Well Stop Smoking Service is here to help! Research shows you’re FOUR TIMES more likely to succeed when you have the right support, so getting in touch with our FREE service is an absolute no-brainer. You can speak with an advisor, get a CO (carbon monoxide) reading, receive information and advice, set a quit date when you’re ready, and select which nicotine replacement therapy option is right for you. Check out the Be Well website for more on how we can help you make a fresh start in 2025.

7. Doing Dry January? 🍻 Or turning to plant power for Veganuary? Awareness months can make us think about our lifestyles, but the most important thing is finding the right balance. Keep an eye on our latest Be Well blog articles for tips and advice on a range of topics – including ‘What is sober curious?’, ‘Does being vegan always mean being healthy?’ and ‘How to set intentions you can keep'.

8. Learn to Swim 🏊‍♀️ Whether you’re planning your big summer holiday and want to get the kids pool-ready, or you just want to keep your little ones safe around water, swimming lessons are so important – and with Be Well you’re in safe hands. All our lessons are delivered by experienced instructors and follow the official Swim England framework so you can track your child’s progress. Find out more on our website. We also have lessons for adults too!

The latest news

It's been a cold start to the year... ❄ 

...and the freezing temperatures are set to stay with us for the weekend, so please keep an eye on the forecast, travel safe and check on older or vulnerable friends and neighbours with an amber health alert in place.

Our gritting teams have been out across the borough throughout this cold snap salting key routes, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the forecast with our teams on standby all winter.

Despite the cold weather and icy conditions, our bin crews have completed around 149,000 collections out of the 153,000 homes in Wigan borough this week. Any that were missed will be collected on Monday - thank you for your patience.

The United Utilities website has advice and support if you have frozen or burst pipes, and on protecting your home during cold weather.

January is also one of the busiest times for the NHS. If you need to get health advice quickly, please contact NHS 111 either online or by calling 111. They can provide expert advice on whether you need to go to A&E, your GP or another service, and make sure you get the right help without unnecessary trips to hospital. Get more information and health advice this winter.

Staying safe from the flu this winter 🤒 

Flu cases are rising sharply across Greater Manchester, especially amongst children aged between 5 and 14, so please make sure you take steps to protect your health and the health of your children.

Here are some simple yet effective tips to stay well:

🧼 Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to prevent the spread of germs.

🤧 Feeling unwell? Stay home to rest and recover, and to avoid spreading illness to others.

🧽 Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, especially frequently touched areas, to keep your environment germ-free.

🧻 Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, bin it immediately, and wash your hands afterwards to reduce the spread of infections.

The flu vaccine can also be a vital tool in reducing the severity of flu symptoms, and clinics for school-aged children are being held across Greater Manchester.

📞 Appointments can be made by calling 03333 583 397. The clinics will run from 11-18 January. 

If you are not eligible to have the jab through the NHS you may be able to arrange to have it privately. Information will be available at your local pharmacy. #StayHealthyThisWinter

What's on

HOME... An exhibition at the Turnpike 💙💛

It's your last chance to visit the 'HOME: Ukrainian Photography, UK Words' exhibition at The Turnpike Gallery in Leigh. On until 25 January, it brings together Ukrainian artists who offer distinct ways of seeing and thinking about 'home'.

Ukrainian curators Max Gorbatskyi and Viktoria Bavykina have selected a breadth of perspectives, with works that explore identity, landscape, experimental art, folk and popular culture.

Presented by Open Eye Gallery, the exhibition has toured in Liverpool, Salford, Leeds, Rochdale and Edinburgh, with a final display at UK Parliament planned for March 2025.

More of what's on...

🦢 Do you want to escape the stresses of daily life and reconnect with the great outdoors? Head to Pennington Flash on Sunday 19 January (1pm-3pm) for Be Well's first nature walk of 2025. You’ll explore our beautiful surroundings, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the company of your fellow walkers. So lace up your walking shoes and get ready for an adventure! Book your free spot via the Be Well app or website.

Our communities

🚨 Has your business been impacted by the New Year floods? The Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub's team is ready to help you with immediate advice and support to get you back to business as usual.

If you need support, contact the team now:

📞 0161 359 3050
📧 bgh@growthco.uk

📢 Are you living with type 2 diabetes? NHS Greater Manchester want to hear from you about how you would like to get information and support to help manage your condition. Family members, carers and health professionals are also invited to share their views by completing a short online survey before 2 March 2025.

Here for you

Struggling with household costs? 💛

Are you struggling with food, energy, water bills or other essential costs? 

You may be eligible for the Household Support Fund. This fund is not means tested, so if you are struggling financially, you can apply.

There is a variety of support available for:

• Payments or vouchers towards food
• Help towards energy costs
• Other essential items