Join one of our focus groups and share your experiences of how weight is talked about in health, care or community settings.
These conversations are part of a wider project to help health and care services improve how they communicate, so people feel listened to, respected and supported.
We’ll be running multiple, small, friendly groups over the coming months across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – including online options.
You can take part if you are aged 18+ and have personal experience of conversations about weight in health, care or community settings.
We’ll be talking about:
- How conversations about weight feel to you
- What language or approaches you have felt were helpful or unhelpful
- What could make these conversations better in future
Plus, you’ll receive a £20 high street shopping voucher to thank you for your time!
Focus groups
Please check back regularly for future dates and locations. Information about the dates and times of our focus groups will also be shared on our social media channels.
Kingswood
- Date: Monday 1st June 2026
- Time: 1:30pm – 3pm
Barton Hill
- Date: Monday 22nd June 2026
- Time: 1pm – 3pm
Yate
- Date: Wednesday 24th June 2026
- Time: 11am – 1pm
Filwood
- Date: Thursday 25th June 2026
- Time: 1pm – 3pm
Weston-super-Mare
- Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2026
- Time: 2pm – 4pm
Weston-super-Mare
- Date: Monday 29th June 2026
- Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Interested in taking part?
Complete our online form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/qDsuNb1zDj
Or email: info@thecareforum.org.uk for more information.
Why take part?
By sharing your experiences, you can help shape:
- How health and care staff talk about weight
- How services can work with people more respectfully
- Future training and guidance for health and care professionals
We’re keen to hear from people from a wide range of backgrounds, including:
- Disabled people
- People with long‑term health conditions
- People from Black and other minoritised ethnic communities
- LGBTQ+ people
- People living in different neighbourhoods across the area
You don’t need any special knowledge or preparation – just your own experiences.
Kevin Peltonen-Messenger, CEO of TCF, said:
“Weight stigma has no place in modern health and care. I am proud that TCF, via our Healthwatch services, is leading this initiative. This approach is an important step towards changing the culture embedding empathy, tackling inequalities, and ensuring services work with people, not against them.”
Dr Georgie MacArthur, Consultant in Public Health, North Somerset Council, said:
“We are delighted to be supporting this work so that we hear the voices of people across our communities and better understand how weight stigma affects experiences of health and care services. This approach will help us to co-develop practical tools that enable a more compassionate, inclusive and respectful approach for everyone.”