The ‘strong and balanced offer’ project was developed to explore whether improvements could be made to leisure and health programmes aimed at middle-aged and older adults in Wigan Borough, using engagement with scientific research underpinned by a ‘co-creative’ approach as a foundation for making change. This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust. Project partners were: Inspiring healthy lifestyles, Wigan Council, Glasgow Caledonian University and Manchester Metropolitan University.