This activity is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, focused on helping people stay healthy, well and in work.
What’s this project all about?
The Community Wellness Champion project in Wakefield, funded by Healthy Working Life, brings simple health checks and advice into local community spaces where people already feel comfortable.
The project is delivered through a coordinated approach by three VCSE organisations working with St Mary’s Community Centre in Pontefract, Havercroft and Ryhill Community Learning Centre and RedRoof Community Centre CIC.
Local residents can talk about their health and wellbeing, have a blood pressure check and get lifestyle advice. The team can also connect people to further health services or employment support if needed.
The programme recognises that good work supports good health. Helping people stay well means they are more able to stay in work, support their families and remain active in their communities.
This is Maria’s story (name changed).
A routine wellness check
Maria visited St Mary’s Community Centre for a wellness check. The centre offers adult education, wellbeing activities and community support.
During the session, Deputy Operations Manager, Lisa Rooke carried out Maria’s routine screening.
“We bring preventative health checks into community spaces so people can access them easily,” says Lisa. “It helps us identify health risks early and support people to get the right help before problems become more serious.”
Maria explained that she was already taking medication for high blood pressure.
As part of the standard assessment, Administrator, Donna Reevell took a blood pressure reading. The result showed Maria’s blood pressure was still significantly raised despite her current medication.
“When someone is already on medication, a high reading can mean their treatment needs reviewing,” says Donna. “Our role is to encourage people to follow up with their GP so they can get the right support.”
Donna advised Maria to contact her GP practice as soon as possible for further checks.
Taking action
Maria works full-time and cares for a young family. Like many people, her schedule is busy. However, after the wellness check she prioritised her health and arranged a GP appointment.
Further tests confirmed that her blood pressure was higher than previously recorded and was not being fully controlled by her existing medication. Following a clinical review, Maria’s GP increased the dosage of her medication. This adjustment helps manage her blood pressure more effectively and reduce the risk of serious complications such as heart attack or stroke.
Because the issue was identified early through a community check, the situation was addressed before it developed into a medical emergency or long-term health crisis.
Follow up
The Community Wellness Champions team carried out a follow-up welfare call to check on Maria’s progress. Maria said she was grateful for the encouragement to contact her GP. Without the screening, she believes she might have delayed seeking medical advice because of her busy work and family life. She continues to balance work and family responsibilities and now feels confident that her condition is being properly managed.
Why this work matters
The Community Wellness Champions project shows how accessible community health checks can improve health outcomes and support people to remain in work.
Donna said.
“When people are supported to stay well, they are more able to keep working, support their families and stay connected to their community.”
The project helps to:
- identify uncontrolled health conditions early
- encourage people to engage with GP and primary care services
- reduce the risk of long-term ill health
- support people to remain economically active
- remove barriers to healthcare for working families
Maria’s experience shows that even people already receiving treatment can benefit from community health checks. These simple interventions help make sure treatment stays effective and responsive to changing health needs.
Community impact
Maria’s story is just one example of the difference these wellness checks can make. Between 25 September 2025 and 13 March 2026, St Mary’s Community Centre carried out 113 wellness checks, helping local residents take positive steps to protect their health and wellbeing.
You can also read the 'community wellness champions help people stay healthy and in work' as a PDF.