Living Well in Sale and Partington

Live Well is Trafford’s approach to supporting residents to improve their health and wellbeing through stronger communities, earlier support and better access to local opportunities. As part of the initial Live Well pilot in Sale and Partington, Trafford Council commissioned Healthwatch Trafford to gather the views and experiences of local residents.

Healthwatch Trafford conducted a survey between March and April 2026, receiving 765 responses. A further 11 residents took part in three focus groups held in Partington and Sale. The research explored what helps residents maintain their wellbeing, what barriers they face, and what improvements they would like to see within their local communities. The project was informed by the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.

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Key Findings

• Most respondents reported good wellbeing. However, 16.7% of respondents rated their wellbeing as poor or very poor.
• Physical activity and connecting with others were the two wellbeing factors that residents considered most important. These themes appeared consistently throughout the survey and focus groups.
• The most commonly reported barriers to wellbeing activities were time pressures related to work, caring and family responsibilities, followed by cost and a lack of awareness of available activities and support.
• Respondents with a disability or long-term health condition were less confident finding information about local services and support, and were more likely to experience physical and mental health barriers to participation.
• Many residents said they would find additional wellbeing activities useful. Physical activities, social activities and wellbeing-focused activities were the most popular types of support identified by respondents.
• Survey respondents frequently requested more opportunities for exercise, social connection, learning and creative activities. Many also highlighted the importance of accessible community spaces and better promotion of existing activities.

• Focus group participants in both Sale and Partington emphasised the importance of community centres and community spaces in supporting wellbeing. Participants described these spaces as important places for social connection, volunteering, information sharing and community-led activity.
• Awareness of local opportunities emerged as a significant issue across both the survey and focus groups. Many residents said they did not know what activities were available locally or where to find information about them.
• In Partington, participants expressed concerns about the loss of community facilities and the impact this may have on opportunities for social connection and community activity. In Sale, participants highlighted the need for better coordination and promotion of existing wellbeing opportunities.