Out of 12,000 Slimming World groups across the UK and Ireland, our Stevenage Saturday group was named one of the top five finalists for Group of the Year 2026! From our weekly meetings at Fairlands School to the national awards ceremony in Birmingham, this is the story of an extraordinary achievement and the wonderful members who made it possible.

Niki and Chris joined Slimming World separately, lost an incredible ten and a half stone between them and fell in love along the way! After reaching the national Two Together finals, their story had an even happier chapter: a wedding, where I was honoured to read a very special Slimming World-themed poem.

When Richard Andrews joined Slimming World, he dreamed of completing a hill walk in Wales. One year, nine stone and countless determined steps later, he achieved his goal. A wonderful story of confidence, friendship and discovering what is possible.

In 2024, my Slimming World groups celebrated two wonderful milestones: Pearl status in Stevenage and my first Gold Award in Hitchin. With 71 members reaching their target weights that year, these awards were about so much more than trophies. A look back at some very special achievements and the people who made them possible.

In January 2018, The Comet shared my story of losing almost six stone and becoming a Slimming World Consultant. Nearly nine years later, I am looking back at where it all began, what has changed and why supporting others still means so much to me.