Pioneering wellbeing company is named

​​​​​The name of the new wellbeing community interest company (CIC) formed by the University of Northampton and its partners has been announced.

The First for Wellbeing name was revealed on Tuesday 1 December at a celebration event marking 10 years of community interest companies.

At a time when budgets are being radically reduced by the government, this new venture is a first of its kind in the UK and represents a pioneering approach to service delivery, creating a prevention service that will bring together services from across three organisations that will enable people to feel healthier and better about themselves.

The types of services First for Wellbeing may offer could include smoking cessation clinics, help with weight management, debt advice, befriending services, support for people to improve their physical activity levels or improve their literacy.

The new company has been created by Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University.

The name was agreed following a period of consultation and engagement with residents.

Feedback gathered from residents at county-wide roadshows is helping to design the new company; and the results of an online wellbeing survey have also been used to find out residents’ views on what services they would like First for Wellbeing to offer.

Councillor Robin Brown, Northamptonshire County Council’s cabinet member for health, said: “The founding partners of First for Wellbeing are committed to improving the wellbeing of the population of Northamptonshire and by working together, and with a wide range of other organisations we are developing new and innovative ways to achieve positive health and social care outcomes for our community.

“Partnership working provides enormous opportunities and benefits to residents and this remains a strong driving force behind the new company. First for Wellbeing is a key part of our next generation council model and an exciting time for health and wellbeing services as we change the way Northamptonshire supports its residents to improve their wellbeing”

First for Wellbeing will offer a  ‘tell your story once’ approach which for the first time will provide residents across the county with an online or face-to-face single wellbeing assessment and easier access to integrated preventative services. It is expected that First for Wellbeing will be operational by summer 2016.

For more details about First for Wellbeing, visit the website​.