The project aims to improve wellbeing and health outcomes for adults living with COPD and their families in North and West Bristol. Centred on co-production and community engagement, the initiative will deliver information sessions, establish peer support networks, and introduce a COPD Passport to enhance patient care and coordination.
The service will be delivered through a co-production model, working closely with expert voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners and people with lived experience of COPD to ensure the programme meets real community needs.
The initiative includes 12 annual information sessions; eight delivered face-to-face and four online during winter months to support vulnerable patients. These sessions will provide newly diagnosed patients and their families with essential knowledge and skills to better manage their COPD, including:
“COPD hits our most vulnerable communities hardest. Working directly with patients and VCSE partners means we’re building something that actually works for North and West Bristol residents – not just a programme designed in an office. This is about breaking down barriers and ensuring every patient has equal access to the support they deserve.”
— Helen Tite, Founder, iCareiMove
Peer Support Groups will be established across North and West Bristol to offer anyone with a lung health condition a friendly, welcoming space to connect with others. Developed with local community partners and shaped by lived experience, these groups will provide supportive environments where people can share insights, draw strength from one another and build confidence through genuine peer connection. Peers are experts by experience – offering understanding, encouragement and practical ideas that reflect the realities of living with a lung condition. Each session will be inclusive, reassuring and rooted in community connection, ensuring everyone feels understood, valued and supported.
“We’ve been meeting as a lung health group for years and it makes a big difference. We come away feeling more confident, we learn new things from each other, and it’s good to be with people who understand what living with a lung condition is really like. It reminds you you’re not on your own. There’s friendship, support, and a feeling that we’re all in it together.”
– Breathe Easy Peer Support Group
A key innovation of the programme is a locally co-designed COPD . The Passport will be produced in both printed and electronic versions, enabling patients to track their health, manage their condition, and access support services available specifically in North and West Bristol.
The programme places special emphasis on reaching minoritised communities and ensuring accessibility for housebound patients, addressing the health inequalities that disproportionately affect COPD outcomes.
iCareiMove will also train facilitators from partner organisations to deliver sessions alongside clinical professionals, ensuring sustainable, community-embedded support throughout the contract term.
“The North & West Bristol Locality Partnership is excited to have commissioned iCareiMove to facilitate our community COPD programme. We know that some communities in our locality are disproportionately affected by COPD. The programme is designed to provide additional help and support for people newly diagnosed with COPD in the heart of their neighbourhood. It will help place the individual at the centre of their care and address health inequalities by working alongside residents, health professionals and local VCSE organisations.”
– Joe Poole, Locality Director, Bristol
For media inquiries, please contact: icareimove.com/contact-us.
Proudly part of the Future Fit Group, iCareiMove, provide specialist health and wellbeing services designed to enhance quality of life for midlife and beyond. With over 20 years of experience, including trusted partnerships with the NHS, Local Authorities and private sector clients we improve individuals through education, movement, and lifestyle support. We deliver innovative programmes and training that help people thrive through life stages such as menopause, ageing, and beyond. Our expert-led bespoke programmes are dedicated to empowering people with the skills and knowledge they need.
This holistic approach not only improves quality of life but also supports a more efficient, caring environment. Together, we can foster safer, stronger, and more empowered communities.
About: The North & West Bristol Locality Partnership serves 183,700 people and is one of six locality partnerships across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Locality partnerships are made up of health, social care and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations and groups, working alongside local people and communities to improve wellbeing and health.