Active For Life
"There is now compelling evidence that physical activity is important for health and has great potential for health gain. Physical inactivity is strongly linked to a range of physical and mental health problems." - Department of Health 1995.
The Exercise Referral Scheme is a partnership venture between the Borough of Poole and a number of organisations including Bournemouth & Poole Primary Care Trust 
and is accessible to all GP medical practices.
The aim of the scheme is simple - more physical activity in our daily lives whether it be walking, dancing or DIY will improve our health. The scheme provides the correct advice and support to encourage many more people back to regular exercise.
Lack of exercise is a direct contributor towards coronary heart disease, the single most common cause of death in Britain. Regular physical activity promotes a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure.
The Allied Dunbar Fitness Survey (HEA 1992) showed that 80% of the population believes that regular exercise is important for health, BUT 70% of men and 80% of women do not regularly exercise enough to keep them healthy. For many people, there are significant barriers that prevent them from visiting a leisure centre - cost, clothes, transport, superfit images etc.
The Exercise Referral Scheme addresses these issues and makes leisure centres more accessible and enjoyable. The following are a few of the local partners supporting Poole's Exercise Referral scheme:
Everyone Active
Broadstone Leisure centre
How to join the scheme
In joining the scheme you will attend an exercise referral clinic at one of the designated leisure centres. There a doctor, nurse practitioner or a fully qualified exercise referral fitness instructor will perform a detailed health assessment and discuss how exercise will benefit your health. You then qualify for 12 weeks exercise, consisting of a personal exercise programme, put together by one of the scheme’s fully qualified fitness instructors to meet your health needs.
Here are just a few of the types of exercise programmes currently available at discouted rates;
- Personalised gym based exercise programmes
- Aqua gym circuit classes - using specially designed submerged resistance equipment
- Aqua aerobics
- Walking the way to health - short group led walks
- Nordic Walking introductory workshops
- Pedal back the years - special initiative to help people get cycling
- Supervised low impact circuit classes
- Instructor led studio based exercise classes
How much does it cost
There is no charge for the initial and review health assessments.
The charges for each exercise referral exercise programme at Rossmore Leisure Centre, Ashdown Leisure Centre and The Dolphin Pool are as follows;
- Gym visit £1.60
- Gym and swim £2.25
- Aqua gym (first 12 weeks) £2.25
- Aqua gym (After first 12 weeks) £2.50
- Aquafit classes £2.25
- Poole Heart Support group Month pass £8.35
- Poole Heart Support group Gym and Swim pass £10.35
Everyone Active monthly membership £17.00 (Plus £20.00 joining fee) Includes inclusive use of fitness facilities and certains exercise classes at all three Borough of Poole facilities
The charges for each of the exercise referral exercise programmes at Broadstone Leisure Centre are as follows;
- Exercise referral gym visit (for first 12 weeks) £3.00
Monthly membership options
- Option 1 (yearly) £325.00
- Option 2 (monthly) £32.00
Nordic Health Walk workshops (includes hire of poles) £2.50
Poole Healthy Walks are FREE
- Please note that prices may vary -
3X30 Active Healthlink concessionary card
To help motivate clients who complete the 12 weeks of exercise referral and to help increase their level of physical activity to at least 3 X 30 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity each week a card is issued which offers concessionary use of facilities for a further year.
The aim eventually is to help each client to progress towards achieving the higher target of recommended weekly physical activity which is 5 X 30 minutes of moderate activity each week.
Active Healthlink Network Partnership for Bournemouth and Poole
This is an exciting venture which, over the next few years, aims to offer the citizens of Bournemouth and Poole wide opportunities to be physically active and consequently improve their fitness. The partnership is an agreement between the Borough of Poole, Bournemouth Borough Council and Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust to work together to develop new ideas and projects which link the responsibilities of the local council with the promotion of good health.
The partnership will also work towards increasing physical activity participation levels accross the area and will help communicate more active opportunities for local people by registering everyone onto active3X30.co.uk
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