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Slimming group wins top UK award thanks to Port Glasgow 'boy done good'
A Port Glasgow slimming group has won a prestigious UK award at a glittering ceremony.
A PORT slimming consultant has won a prestigious UK award at a glittering ceremony. International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
Joe Glancy's local group were crowned Slimming World's Group of the Year 2025 at the big bash in Birmingham - beating off competition from more than 11,500 groups and 4,000 consultants across the UK and Ireland.
The group's members, who meet every Saturday at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Port Glasgow, have lost more than 400 stone between them this year.
(Image: Slimming World UK)
(Image: Slimming World UK)
(Image: Slimming World UK) Joe, 51, said: "It is such big deal. When I heard Port Glasgow being called, I nearly died.
"And then having to make a speech to 1,000 people was very emotional.
As far as I am aware I was the first ever Scottish winner.
"A lot of Scottish consultants were there wearing their kilts and waving the Saltire. It was a great atmosphere."
Contributed
Contributed Joe, of West Woodside Avenue, is no stranger to awards, also collecting the the group's prestigious gold award for the third year running.
The dad-of-two started with 13 members, and the group now has around 250.
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Joe also enjoyed an all-expenses holidays to Athens with his wife Elaine in May as part of the nomination for Group of the Year.
He said: "I can't express how grateful I am. The trip included a trip to the Pantheon and Acropolis, Greek dancing and cooking lessons, a visit to the Olympic Stadium and the Temple of Poseidon, finished off with a cruise on the Aegean Sea with the best consultants in the company.
"To follow this up with winning UK Group of the Year against 4,000 consultants in the UK and over 7,500 groups and having to do a speech to over 1000 people - bearing in mind this is in oor wee Port - is testament to the incredible members, my friends, that come to me every Saturday morning.
"I love them all so much and am proud to help in whatever way I can."
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The Port Glasgow Group were awarded the title based on the group's outstanding quality in a number of key areas.
This included members' incredible weight-loss success, the vibrant and inclusive atmosphere of the group, members' success from their very first week, close friendships and the consultants' ability to encourage and motivate the group.
On average, the Port Glasgow group's members average first week weight loss is over 4lbs with some members losing as much as 11 or 12 lbs in their first week.
Joe, lost 5 stone with Slimming World himself before becoming a self-employed consultant, alongside his full time job in EE, achieving his target weight after the premature passing of his dear friend.
Joe said 'I'm absolutely over the moon that we've won. Every member in our group is an absolute star as well as my friends.
"They have worked so hard to transform their own lives while cheering on and supporting their fellow members,
"Real friendships have been formed, and I am so lucky they trust me to help - especially listening to my terrible patter every Saturday morning!
'I truly believe I have the best, most rewarding, role in the world and having our incredible group recognised with this award makes it even more special."
Joe also says there is no quick fix to weight loss but that support is there for anyone who is on weight-loss medication.
Joe said: 'There's so much buzz at the moment about weight loss drugs, but the truth is there's no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight and, most importantly, keeping it off.
"It requires real change, to build long term healthy habits and understand and change your relationship with food.
"My members know that it's possible to lose weight – and maintain that weight loss – without these injections, and their incredible transformations inside and out, right from their very first week, are proof of that.
"However, we also understand the appeal of interventions like weight loss jabs when you're absolutely desperate to lose weight, so we'd never judge anyone for taking them.
"Everyone is welcome to get support at our group.
'It's the support we provide at Slimming World that sets us apart. We focus on equipping members with lifelong tools and support to lose weight and keep it off.
"With every milestone reached, you see their confidence grow and their lives change along with their clothes size."
Joe's Port Glasgow Slimming World group, which is also the biggest in the UK, takes place every Saturday, with sessions at 7.30am, 9am and 10.30am.
For more information contact Joe on 07944340609
