Scope
Description
In exploring how best to support children, young people (CYP), and families in leading healthy and happy lives, the Public Health team identified the limited evidence for traditional Tier 2 weight management services. Whilst exploring alternatives, we discovered several local authorities moving away from a weight- centric focus and adopting compassionate and weight neutral approaches*.
The key elements of these approaches include:
•Appreciate the role of the wider determinants of health that are beyond individual control.
•Accept and respect the diversity of body shapes and sizes.
•Address and challenge weight stigma and nurture self-esteem.
•Promote health and wellbeing for all through sustainable behaviours such as joyful movement and a gentler approach to nutrition.
•Focus on measures of health such as reduction in blood pressure and increased sense of wellbeing which can improve independent of weight loss.
Discussions with system partners, research into these approaches, and feedback from our schools' survey-highlighting CYP's concerns about body image-strengthened our interest in integrating these methods.
In June 2025, Public Health hosted a 'Healthy Lives' workshop for system partners where Doncaster City Council presented their compassionate approach. This was well received and sparked reflection on potential practice changes.
This work will contribute towards empowering professionals to support CYP and families in developing positive relationships with their bodies, food, and movement to achieve their health goals.
* The phrase 'compassionate, weight-neutral approaches' will be used in the rest of this document to include compassionate, weight-neutral, weight-inclusive and health gains approaches.
1. Scope
To support our move towards a compassionate, weight-neutral way of working, we are commissioning this training and support package. This has two key aims:
• introduce professionals from a range of organisations to compassionate, weight-neutral approaches, to reflect on their current practice and identify potential changes
•support project leads in Public Health to develop and refine our approach in North Northamptonshire
The training will be targeted at North Northamptonshire Council staff and wider partners-including health visitors, school nurses, youth workers, Family Hubs, children's social care, and the VCSE sector.
The provider will evaluate the training's impact through pre- and post-assessments. They will also support project leads in establishing a local community of practice and co-developing a set of principles to guide future service delivery.
A minimum of four three-hour sessions will be delivered, either online or face-to-face (not in an e-learning format). North Northamptonshire Council will be responsible for organising and funding the local venues. The delivery formats will be agreed during the mobilisation stage.
Delivery Start: January 2026
Implementation meetings: December 2025
End of contract: January 2027
The capped budget for this procurement exercise which is £5,000
Total value (estimated)
- £5,000 excluding VAT
- £6,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 1 December 2026
- 11 months, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80511000 - Staff training services
Contract locations
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
Participation
This procurement is reserved for
- UK suppliers
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
7 November 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
21 November 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Request for Quotation. Completed submissions to be returned to Stephanie.Steventon@northnorthants.gov.uk by no later than the Deadline for Submission of Bids, Friday, 21 November 2025.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Award criteria
80% quality
20% price
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Documents
Associated tender documents
AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO HEALTHY LIVES - TRAINING AND SUPPORT PACKAGE.docx
Contracting authority
North Northamptonshire Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQCM-5634-HGCN
The Corby Cube, George Street
Corby
NN17 1QG
United Kingdom
Contact name: Stephanie Steventon
Region: UKF25 - North Northamptonshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government