Charnwood Physical Activity Referral Service

If you'd like to receive personalised support to move more, you are in the right place.

Physical activity is safe, even for people living with multiple long term health conditions. Regular physical activity, in combination with standard medical care, has an important role in the management and prevention of many long term health conditions. The benefits of physical activity far outweigh any risks.

This is why you can now self-refer to your local authority for information about the physical activity opportunities available to you in your local area.

Being physically active can be a very hard thing for people to achieve and there are many, wide ranging reasons why that is. We are here to help to try and understand your thoughts, beliefs, barriers and motivations so we can offer the most tailored support. Bear in mind that the majority of physical activity options will involve a cost.

Please complete the form below and a member of the Charnwood Physical Activity Service will be in touch.

In Charnwood there are a wide range of physical activities available ranging from specialist programmes such as Steady Steps Falls Prevention, Escape PAIN, and the 12-week exercise referral programme, to community activities including walking, cycling, running, social sport, circuit classes and seated exercise.

Before you complete your self-referral form, please take a look at the programmes we have available to better understand the help we can offer you.

Are you looking for specialised support about how to exercise with a long-term health condition?

Take a look at the information below to see which programme may suit your needs.

Have you previously fallen or are worried about falling: Steady Steps is a 24-week programme tailored to those who have previously fallen or worry about falling and is designed to help improve balance and stability. Delivered by Level 4 specialised Postural Stability Instructors, the classes are tailored to each individual's abilities and will progress in difficulty throughout the programme.

Do you have a condition that requires you to remain seated while you exercise: Seated Exercise classes focus on aiding the muscles used in everyday activity and is performed at a pace that suits participants. Research has shown that seated exercises can help to strengthen muscles and bone. Stronger muscles make every day activities such as washing, dressing, shopping or doing house work easier and less of a strain and stronger muscles help to improve balance and walking.

Do you feel that your condition would be most improved through gym and class based exercise: Exercise Referral is 12 week programme of personalised physical activity support for people with specific health conditions. Exercise Referral is ran at Charnwood Leisure Centres, available to people aged 16 years and over with an existing health condition that could be improved by physical activity. Your programme will be adapted by our fully qualified and experienced instructors to best support the management of your health condition.

Do you have Osteoarthritis in your hips/knees and experience pain because of it: ESCAPE-pain is a group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain that integrates educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regimen individualised for each participant. It helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can help themselves with, and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better. For this programme, please use the referral form on the ESCAPE-pain page.

Do you have a past or present heart condition? Our leisure centre provider Fusion Lifestyle are accepting referrals for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Scheme. The programme aims to promote gentle exercise as a means of enabling individuals to achieve and maintain better health. Individuals are encouraged to become independent exercisers so they can reap the benefits of leading an active lifestyle. Participants are offered safe and effective exercise under the guidance of qualified Exercise Professionals. For this programme, you must be referred by a consultant, GP or Phase 3 cardiac rehab nurse.

Are you looking for more information about wider physical activity opportunities in Charnwood? We co-ordinate a range of additional programmes that include walking, running, cycling, circuit classes, social sports and much more. We also work with a range of leisure and health and wellbeing partners that we can sign post you to.