For help and inspiration for your own self-care strategies, initiatives and events, here is a series of exemplary self-care case studies that you can learn from to help empower your population.
Many of the case studies on this page are the winners, commended or shortlisted entries from our annual Self-Care Awards and judged by individuals with years of experience and knowledge in the health and public health sector.
Do consider applying for our Awards if you too are doing something inspirational to empower people in taking care of their health and wellbeing. Go to our awards page or get in touch for more information. Email selfcare@selfcareforum.org.
2025 Case Studies
Take Five to Age Well
Developed through co-design with older adults, clinicians, and charities, Take Five to Age Well blends digital and offline tools to ensure accessibility, particularly for carers and those who are digitally excluded. Since its 2023 pilot and 2025 national rollout, it has engaged over 5,000 participants and 500 partner organisations, demonstrating that self-care can be inclusive, low-cost, and highly scalable. The initiative has become a blueprint for preventative care and healthy ageing across the UK.
Winner of the 2025 Self-Care Award, the judges felt the initiative was amazing and important and were hugely impressed by the number of collaborative partners as well as the long-lasting impact of the intervention.
Embedding a culture of self-care in healthcare education
The Queen’s University Belfast, School of Nursing & Midwifery integrates self-care into healthcare education to tackle stress, burnout, and poor wellbeing among students and staff. Through a 12-week assessed module, a digital platform (The Wellbeing Shelf), and peer-led support groups, it has reached over 2,000 users and trained 120+ peer leaders. By positioning self-care as a professional competency, it sets a new standard for wellbeing in healthcare training.
Highly commended at the 2025 Self-Care Award, the judges appreciated how it embedded self-care into the professional curriculum and agreed that developing this understanding early on would ultimately benefit patients. They also felt it would be valuable to see the initiative replicated nationally.
Virtual Wrist Fracture Self-Care Protocol
Swansea Bay University Health Board introduced this model during the COVID-19 pandemic, empowering patients with minimally displaced wrist fractures to manage recovery at home. Assessed virtually and discharged with self-care guidance, patients reported 92% satisfaction, no surgeries required, and annual savings of £13,500. Now adopted for other stable fractures in the UK and abroad, the protocol is a proven, scalable approach to patient-centred fracture care.
Highly commended at the 2025 Self-Care Awards judges felt this initiative was well executed, showed great energy, and demonstrated clear evidence of cost savings. They also saw strong potential for it to be successfully replicated nationally.
C-section Self-Care Recovery Bundle
Lansinoh UK worked with the NHS to support women with postnatal recovery through Hydrogel Pads for incision care, a CPD-accredited training module for healthcare professionals, and Clinical Pearls—short, evidence-based prompts. With 1,200 professionals trained and 20,000 support units distributed, it’s improving maternal wellbeing and demonstrating how ethical collaboration between healthcare and industry can deliver lasting impact.
Highly commended at the 2025 Self-Care Award, the judges appreciated how the initiative integrated self-care into clinical practise and were impressed by how it empowered mothers after C-sections, giving them valuable support at a crucial time in their lives. It was also commended for it's effective collaboration between a commercial organisation and the NHS.
Promoting excellent physical wellbeing
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s step challenge initiative offers a holistic, inclusive, and scalable approach to staff self-care—combining digital tools, tailored workshops, and team-based activities that have engaged over 2,100 participants, improved emotional and physical wellbeing, and inspired wider adoption across Wales.
Finalist in the 2025 Self-Care Award. The judges praised the initiative for its impressive reach and impact, thoughtful behavioural design, and strong execution—highlighting how staff voices shaped a well-supported, far-reaching programme with clear ripple effects across the organisation.
Torbay Wellbeing Network Group - Self-Care Week
Torbay’s Self-Care Week 2024 brought together over 340 partners to deliver free, inclusive activities—like wellbeing walks, mindfulness, and creative sessions—focused on older adults, isolated residents, and frontline staff. Aligned with Baby Week and Carers Information Day, the initiative embedded self-care into daily life, strengthened community ties, and inspired lasting change, with 100% of surveyed participants reporting they gained new self-care skills.
Finalist in the 2025 Self-Care Award, the judges praised the initiative for its strong collaboration, effective use of Self-Care Forum resources, and meaningful community engagement—delivering excellent outcomes, adaptive learning, and a lasting legacy.
7 Days of Self-Care Scorecard
COPE Scotland, in partnership with the University of Glasgow’s Byres Community Hub and the School of Health and Wellbeing, developed the Seven Days of Self-Care Scorecard—a practical, inclusive tool that helps individuals build consistent wellbeing habits through visual tracking, reflection, and community engagement, with wide-reaching impact across Scotland and beyond.
Finalist in the 2025 Self-Care Award, the judges recognised the initiative for its impressive collaboration and creative execution. Launched during Self-Care Week with Self-Care Forum resources, it transformed a simple idea into meaningful action.
Great Place to Work Scheme
Westbank’s “Great Place to Work” initiative embeds self-care at the heart of its workplace culture, offering staff meaningful wellbeing benefits—from flexible leave and wellbeing days to health walks and discounted essentials—that empower them to feel valued, supported, and able to prioritise their own health while caring for others. Westbank Community Health and Care is a Devon-based charity.
Finalist in the 2025 Self-Care Award. The initiative was praised for valuing staff wellbeing and demonstrating strong leadership with replicable support structures and impactful data.
Embed lifestyle medicine into primary care
Dr Callum Leese from Aberfeldy Medical Practice urges surgeries to integrate physical activity into primary care because it is highly cost effective. A 3rd of the UK population is physically inactive costing the economy £7.2 billion, with £1 billion burdening the NHS. He said smoking cessation advice needs to be given 50 times for one success, whereas physical activity advice requires only 12 interactions for positive results. Research supports that healthier doctors lead to healthier patients, highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals leading by example. This push for lifestyle medicine is not just a medical directive but a societal shift towards better health and well-being.
Aide Health digital service for LTCs
Aide Health is a digital service that helps patients and their clinicians better understand and manage chronic disease, specifically comorbidity. Results from a pilot showed the service improved users self-care practise with 75% medicine adherence rates, and 80% retention after 30 days.
