Southport Care Worker Laura Roche goes to UK Slimming World Finals

AN inspirational Southport Care Worker who has lost over half her body weight is among just 48 people chosen from over 7,000 to compete in the annual Slimming World finals on:- Sunday, 5 October 2025,  in Alfreton, Derbyshire.

Laura Roche, 42, was competing after being voted:- 'Slimming World Woman of the Year 2025' in her group:- 'Slimming World Southport With Dee' and has also achieved her Club 50 Award.  Her journey began in September 2023 when she was asked by her work to escort a person to his Slimming World group because his regular carer was on holiday.  Laura lost 10st 8lbs through Slimming World, after initially saying:- "it was the last place I wanted to go."  Since joining, Laura has gone from:- 20 stone 13lbs to 10 stone 5lbs; going from size 26 clothes to sizes:- 8 to 10.

Before she went Southport MP Patrick Hurley, was among listeners, as Laura stood up in her group meeting and shared the moving story of her weight loss journey.   At the pre-competition event she delivered a true inspiration, sharing her story with others and encouraging people who are overweight to:- "put yourself 1st" and make changes to improve your life, at:- St Simon and Jude's Church, in High Park, Southport.  In the meetingShe told MP Patrick Hurley and fellow Slimming World members:- "The last place I wanted to go to was Slimming World! I was bringing somebody I support while my colleague was off on holiday. It was during that group, while I sat at the back and tried to blend in with the wall, that I witnessed the wonder that is Slimming World. During that session I watched a session with a lady called Viv who is in her 70s hit her target. Hearing her passion, and lamenting the fact that she wished she had done it sooner, got me thinking. I sat there and I thought:- 'I don't want to be the weight that I'm at her age,' but would I even get to her age, being the weight that I was? I have got polycystic ovarian syndrome, and I have struggled with my weight for over 20 years. Over the years I put more and more weight on, resulting in me being in massive amounts of pain, debilitating IBS, crippling migraines, esophageal reflux, and just feeling utterly miserable about myself. Later on, after that group, I bought myself a new pair of boots and as I sat on the end of my bed, I could just about get my feet into them but I couldn't even bend down to do the boots up. That was it for me. I sat there and cried and I knew there and then that something had to change. I spoke with my friend Donna, who was a member of the group, and said:- 'could I sit with you?' That was the lifeline I needed, so I could be with friends. I absolutely fell in love with Slimming World. Group is a magic place, a safe place, where there's no judgement, and amazing support. I truly love the members, they've come to mean so much to me, as has my Consultant, Dee, and I look forward to seeing them every week. I look forward to hearing all the support, the tips, the recipes, going through the magazine, listening to all the amazing stories that are so inspiring; 1 of them being a chap when I had only just started my journey saying:- 'I ate myself thin.' I had gone from starving myself, because that was what I needed to do, to now, where I have never eaten so much in my life, through eating well and making better food choices. Me and my Mum get Slimming World Kitchen every week, and it was life changing. We would cook together, we'd make the most amazing food, and it has had such a massive knock-on effect. Mum joined Slimming World just after me and she has now lost 6 stone. My nearly 20-year-old son eats somewhat healthier than he did, and I have a younger brother who has lost 6 stone. During Covid, we got a dog, and I was so ashamed that I could not walk my dog around the block without being in massive aunts of pain. I heard about Slimming World's:- 'Body Magic' so I thought:- 'right that's what I'm going to do.' I started off slowly, just walking around the block, building it up, building it up. Now, me and my dog are out an hour in the morning, and an hour at night. When I started Slimming World I was over 21 stone and a size 26. I'm now 10 and a half stone and size 8-10. Getting to my final target weight and my Club 50 has been an absolute dream come true. My Mum said to me once:- 'it's not selfish to be selfish and put yourself first' and I implore you all to do the same. Putting myself first has allowed me to be there for my family. I have gone from a near recluse, who only ever left the house to go to work, because I was ashamed, to thinking:- 'I can't wait to go out.' I'm seeing friends, I go and see people where I wouldn't before, I make plans, I love shopping. I love going into a clothing shop and not putting my hand at the back, finding something to wear at the front. I will have my picture taken now. I have gone from saying:- 'I can't' to saying:- 'yes I can' and I have never been happier."

Laura has transformed her life; and her family's by rethinking her approach to food and wellbeing through the support of Slimming World Consultant Dee Wright and her fellow members. She said:- "I plan what I'm going to eat throughout the day, or throughout the week, and I'm never bored. The health benefits stop me going back to the way I was. I have got my wall of inspiration, I have got my pictures. I will never go back to the weight I was. I spent years hiding. I'm not going to hide any more. I had this mentality previously that I was so big, that I shouldn't be eating. I didn't used to eat breakfast; I would then get the munchies around 11am and I would plonk myself next to a a toaster. Then, if I was working, it would be a packet sandwich, a packet of crisps and a bottle of pop and then a microwave meal out of the freezer section for tea. If I was at home, it would be pasta bake, roast dinner, eggs and chips. Now, being a Slimming World Target Member, I love:- 'overnight oats.' I love baked oats with fresh berries. I've discovered:- 'overnight Weetabix'; which is like cheesecake! It's amazing! I love Mug Shots, fruit and yoghurt. And then for tea, for the 3 days when I'm not working, we have Slimming World Kitchen Meals that we cook together, and then when I'm working I absolutely love the Lunch Bowls and they sit in the freezer at work. Roasted veg is life changing. I have not boiled veg for months. We always pick a pasta meal, a rice meal, and a veggie meal, and then we always pick a mystery meal that we have never had before. Last week it was Spanish meatballs and rice which was absolutely amazing. We have never had a bad meal from them. There are meals that we might not have again, but we enjoyed them at the time. Or if we have got them again, something I might not put all the spice in! What I like about it is that not only does it feed me and my Mum, but I always tell my son what I'm making, and sometimes he'll say yes, and sometimes he'll say no. I also love pudding. You can sit there with yoghurt and a piece of fruit, and that's nice. But if you get a sundae glass from Tesco, you put your yoghurt in it, you put your berries in it, you get your Sweet Freedom; the chocolate sauce is half a Syn for a teaspoon; drizzled that over the top, and it's like a proper pudding. When it's in a sundae glass it feels special. When a new Hi-Fi bar comes out I think:- 'what pudding can I make from it'? I made 1 with Skyr baked apple cinnamon syrup. My new thing for next week is to try fish. I have always had an aversion to fish for years, but I have thought:- 'no, I'm going to try fish.' There is a cupboard full of boxes. Before I go I will prepare my veggies, my lunches, and my breakfasts. My favourite:- 'speed food' to snack on is apples. I will always have apples with me, oranges with me, I have always got my Hi-Fi bars and my Skinny bars. I always end the day, with a cup of tea and a Skinny Bar or a Hi-Fi bar. For me it is a reward at the end of the day; I've done it and I have ended it with chocolate."

The changes have been dramatic. So much so that Laura is pleasantly surprised by her own appearance. She said:- "When I decided to lose weight, I wanted to see my progress. Where I work, the lady has a big floor to length mirror. I took a picture face on and a picture side on. Every month I took pictures. It wasn't until about month 3 that I could see any difference. But now I can look through a whole 18 months or so and see myself slowly shrinking. Now when I look in the mirror, I'm shocked at my own reflection. I expect my former self to be looking back at me and I get a bit of an:- 'ooh' moment. We are all on the same journey. Some of us have got mountains to climb, and some of us have got hills, but we are all in it together. Novody joins Slimming World to win a competition. I'm truly humbled that my group voted for me and I have got this opportunity. Getting to go to Slimming World Head Office is amazing. To be pulled out from that many people, that in itself is just fantastic. I have won already, because my group thought of me enough to put me through."

Slimming World's healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, has allowed Laura to lose weight without going hungry.

The plan is based on science backed principles of energy density and satiety, and includes:- every day, family friendly foods like pasta, rice, lean meats, fruit and vegetables.

Dee Wright, who runs the Slimming World group Laura attends, said:- "I'm so proud of Laura and everything she's achieved. She's a real inspiration to the whole group and my other 2 groups. Her commitment, positivity, and support for others make her a truly deserving winner. We're a close knit group who celebrate each other's success every week, and she really does show just how life changing losing weight with Slimming World can be. Her Club 50 award is a true testament to her strength and commitment and how life changing and life saving her journey has been. In my 8 and a half years as a consultant, this is the third time I've presented this award and each time it's a powerful and emotional moment because results like this are impossible without support, and that also makes me incredibly proud of every member in the group who played a part in this too."

New members are always welcome. You can call Dee on:- 07711566153.

Families welcomed at:- 'Celebrating 1 Community' Open Day at Southport Mosque

FAMILIES enjoyed an inspiring and well attended Open Day hosted by Southport Islamic Society Mosque.  Faith leaders from:- Muslim, Jewish and Christian places of worship came together to share a message of community, friendship and togetherness.  They were warmly welcomed by Imam Ibrahim Hussein at an event organised by the Light Foundation.

The theme of the occasion was:- 'Celebrating 1 Community.'

Among others giving speeches were Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Mark Blundell, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, Southport and District Reform Synagogue Chair Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe, Merseyside Police Head of Local Policing Natalie Perischine, Southport Hospital Chaplain Jan Fraser, and Holy Family Church Parish Priest Father Kevin McLoughlin.

They spoke in front of Light Foundation banners which declared:- 'Facilitating Cohesive Communities.'

The Mosque was packed with local families who enjoyed a look around the facility, chatting with people there and enjoying some delicious food.

A Light Foundation spokesperson said:- "We were delighted to welcome people to come and join us for a special:- 'thank you' Open Day to show appreciation for your support during a challenging year for our communities. It was an afternoon of friendship, good conversations, and gratitude, whilst celebrating the strength of being:- '1 community,' as we continue to collectively work towards building a kind and united society."

Southport MP Patrick Hurley said:- "It was a pleasure and a privilege to speak at Southport Mosque's Open Day today, to promote good community and neighbourhood relations. Too often, we see division where there should be unity and conflict where there should be co-operation. Whether it's marches or protests or visible expressions of our identity, we all need to be mindful of those who disagree with us or who feel intimidated by our actions. In the interests of being good neighbours, let's rise above the divisions that politics can feed, and recognise that some things are more important."

Cllr Marion Atkinson said:- "It is a true privilege to be at this Mosque for a true celebration not only of faith, but of friendship, understanding, and a shared purpose. Today, we gather to learn not just about the rich traditions and values of Islam,. But to re-affirm something even deeper; our commitment to building a society where every person feels seen, respected, and valued. A society where diversity is not just tolerated, but embraced as a source of strength. In our borough we are proud of the diverse tapestry of cultures, languages and beliefs that make up our community. But cohesion does not happen by accident. It is built day, by day, conversation by conversation, handshake by handshake. It is built when we open our doors as you have done today, and invite others in with warmth and generosity."

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