About Choose You

Laughing mature woman cutting vegetables in the kitchen at home
Slightly overweight family (mum, dad, girl of about 8 years old) walking in woods

Choose You is a free-to-access service that helps you to build healthy habits.

We’re here to help you choose to put your health first. We know everyone’s situation is different, which is why we offer advice and support designed to fit into your life, helping you to make practical changes that work – for you.

We know how hard it can be to make changes by yourself, so Choose You is here to support you every step of the way.

If you know you want to make some changes, but you’re not quite sure where to start, then click the button below and answer a few questions and we’ll help you from there.

  • Mum making healthy food in kitchen, primary school aged daughter in background
  • Teenage boy and mum on bikes in the wood
  • Elderly man jogging in woods
  • Senior man running and listening to music in park
  • A young woman smiling at friend, holding a coffee

Who we are

Choose You is a collaboration between three councils, Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, and Milton Keynes City Council. Together, we are committed to helping people across these areas adopt healthier habits, improve their wellbeing, and achieve their goals to quit smoking or lose weight.

Our wider Public Health teams work to improve community health and reduce inequalities through evidence-based support and cross-council initiatives. By identifying local health needs and collaborating with departments such as housing, leisure, and the environment, we provide or commission essential services, including:

  • Stop smoking support
  • Weight loss programmes
  • Sexual health services
  • The 0 – 19 Healthy Child Programme
  • Drugs and alcohol treatment and support services.

Through these initiatives, we help individuals and families in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes build healthier habits.

We believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, practical, and experienced health and wellbeing support. With our dedicated coaching, you’ll be given the tools, skills, and confidence to make positive changes that last. And if other challenges are impacting your wellbeing, we’ll guide you towards services that can help.

Why we do this

Research shows that factors like smoking, being overweight, low levels of physical activity, and misuse of alcohol or drug use are among the top risks to health and wellbeing in England. These challenges don’t just impact adults, they can affect children and families too.

Choose You is here to make a difference. Our approach is built on evidence and tailored to you. We aim to simplify access to the right support, whether it’s quitting smoking, managing your weight, or pointing you in the right direction to improve other life pressures like housing or the rising cost of living.

Our approach focused on you

We understand that everyone’s health journey is unique. That’s why our approach is:

Compassionate: we’re here to listen, support, and guide you without judgement

Personalised: our expert health and wellbeing coaches will work with you to identify what’s holding you back and create a plan that fits your life

Holistic: health isn’t just about physical changes, we also consider other areas of life that might affect your progress, like stress or financial pressure, signposting you to the right support.

Take the first step

Making a change can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Find out if you are eligible for support.