New brief advice training projects underway in Blackburn with Darwen and Northumbria

Health Equalities Group (HEG) has begun delivering its “Why weight to talk?” training programme in two new regions: Blackburn with Darwen and across Northumberland and North Tyneside. These commissions mark the latest phase of collaborative work with NHS and local authority partners to strengthen frontline capability around non-stigmatising, compassionate conversations around healthier weight.

Both regions face persistent challenges related to health inequalities. The training is being used to build local capacity to respond more effectively and equitably, particularly in communities where trust in services may be fragile. Importantly, these new partnerships reflect growing demand from public health teams for credible, values-led training that supports local healthier weight pathways in a way that resonates with both professionals and the public.

“Why weight to talk?” is a universal training offer for staff working in public health, healthcare, education, and the VCFSE sector. It equips professionals to deliver brief advice that is evidence-informed, person-centred, and grounded in the realities of people’s lives. The training avoids generic health messaging and instead locates the experience of weight within a broader context of poverty, food insecurity, poor housing conditions, and adversity. Particular attention is given to weight stigma, and its impact on trust, service engagement, and avoidable harm, and how practitioners can recognise and respond to it sensitively.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the programme is being delivered as a blended model. In-person training is focused on staff working directly within Primary Care Networks, while online sessions are available to a wider network of professionals to extend reach, connect services, and gauge wider interest across the system.

In Northumberland and North Tyneside, HEG is partnering with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a three-year project using a train-the-trainer model. This will support the development of an internal delivery team capable of rolling out the programme across multiple services, embedding the approach into routine training and workforce development.

For commissioners seeking to embed upstream thinking into everyday roles, “Why weight to talk?” offers a tested, adaptable model. It provides a structured route to building workforce capability while aligning with broader strategies for health equity, safeguarding, and compassionate care. In a policy environment that increasingly calls for trauma-informed practice and compassionate approaches, the programme offers both practical tools and cultural alignment.

With additional partnerships in development for 2025/26, HEG invites expressions of interest from partners in local authorities and NHS Trusts looking to strengthen their prevention offer and embed non-stigmatising practice across place-based delivery. We will also be following up in the next month with a special edition newsletter exploring how we can take a compassionate approach to care.

For an informal discussion about the programme, please contact: michael.viggars@heg.org.uk