Weight and Wellbeing Programme

05/01/2026

Good morning everyone and wishing you all a Happy 2026.

This is an information post for all patients who attend St Cuthbert’s church hall for their weight and wellbeing appointments.

From next week (12th Jan) building work will be commencing at St Cuthbert’s Church. Therefore parking restrictions will be in place. A system has been set up to ensure fair and safe access to all users.

Parking spaces will be limited and not guaranteed. If spaces are available you may gain access but you must show your appointment reminder text to the building contractors on site at the main gates.

We recommend allowing extra time to attend your appointment to allow time to find alternative parking if required.

Please ensure you park within the spaces available and remain respectful and courteous towards all staff and fellow users at all times .

Many thanks for your support and look forward to supporting you through 2026

The weight and wellbeing team

18/11/2025

Hello all. We are pleased to announce that we have now secured a new venue for our Sacriston sessions which will resume in January 2026. The details are as follows:
Northern Integrative Health Practice
The Pinnacle, Durham Rd
Sacriston
Durham
United Kingdom
DH7 6FE

11/11/2025

Good morning all

Have you completed your 4 weeks of psychological support with the weight and wellbeing team?
Would you like to attend a workshop on emotional eating?

If the answer is YES then you can now book a place on one of the following sessions:

Tuesday 18th November 5pm-7pm at St Cuthbert’s, Darlington

Tuesday 25th November 4pm-6pm at Ferryhill

Tuesday 2nd December 4pm-6pm at Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland

Tuesday 9th December 3pm-5pm at Grange Villa community centre.

To book a place please text Debbie on 07917233391 with your name, D.O.B and your chosen venue.

23/10/2025

Good afternoon everyone. PLEASE NOTE on Thursday 30th October at 10.30 there will be a large funeral taking place at st Cuthberts Church in Darlington which will affect access to the site and parking. Anyone attending for an appointment at this time will have to access parking off site so please allow extra time for your appointment. Many thanks the Weight and Wellbeing team

22/10/2025

Vitamin D during Autumn and Winter – Keeping levels up!

From about late March or early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

But between October and early March we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods.

Sources include:

• oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, trout, herring or mackerel
• red meat
• egg yolks
• fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
• liver (avoid liver if you're pregnant)

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements.

In the UK, cows' milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as it is in some other countries.

Advice for adults and children over 4 years old

During the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.

But since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 µg (micrograms) of vitamin D (or 400IU) during the autumn and winter.

Do check with your pharmacist if you take regular medications for any other health conditions and check if taking any nutritional supplements whether it is included before taking)

Between late March or early April to the end of September, most people can make all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from a balanced diet.
You may choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months.

Reference: Vitamin D - NHS

01/10/2025

Good morning all
We are writing to inform you that from 7th October we will no longer be able to offer appointments at the Sacriston venue (The Fulforth Centre). We are currently looking for an alternative venue and will update you once a venue has been confirmed. During this time Catherine will be offering appointments on a Tuesday afternoon from the Grange Villa venue which we also use on a Monday.

01/10/2025

Good morning everyone
If you have completed the 4 weeks of educational psychotherapy sessions with Michele you can now register your interest to attend a new one off 2 hour workshop ‘A workshop to explore Binge eating, Emotional eating and Comfort eating’ which will take place in November (dates to be confirmed)
Please text Michele on 07769877456 with your name, and preferred venue and we will register your interest

27/02/2025

Good evening everyone
If you have completed the 4 weeks of educational psychotherapy sessions with Michele you can now sign up to a new one off 2 hour workshop ‘A workshop to explore Binge eating, Emotional eating and Comfort eating’

Monday 24th March 5pm-7pm Grange Villa
Tuesday 25th March 11am-1pm The Pavilion Peterlee
Tuesday 25th March 5pm-7pm The Fulforth Centre, Sacriston
Monday 14th April 12noon-2pm or 5pm-7pm, St Cuthbert’s, Darlington
Tuesday 15th April 4pm-6pm Ferryhill
Wednesday 16th April 5pm-7pm BishopAuckland

Please text Michele 07769877456 with your name, venue and time of your choice to book your place

See you then

17/12/2024

Hello to all. We are pleased to inform you that our weight and wellbeing psychotherapy sessions are now available for you to book for 2025. If you are currently receiving support from the weight and wellbeing team or you are waiting for bariatric (weight loss) surgery and you have not yet completed your 4 psychotherapy sessions please call us to get them booked. Please note this is a mandatory element of the programme and all patients are required to complete this. Hope to see you soon

07/12/2024

I thought I’d share the experiment below as I refer to it in the psychology education sessions focusing on behaviour change. See what you think.
The way we speak to others and ourselves has a huge impact on their lives and ours. This experiment is such a creative and powerful way to demonstrate the power and impact of words. Speaking to others and ourselves (our internal dialogue) with love and compassion can positively impact self-esteem and wellbeing. Be kind, especially to yourself and you will experience a ripple effect. Have a great weekend..,

Plants have feelings, just like people. So, what happens when you feed one plant with compliments and another with negative remarks? Watch how we got student...