Active Life Scheme

The Healthy Living Centre is living up to its name by helping local people improve their health and fitness.  And we don't just mean the super - fit honing their muscles in the gym - we reach out to a massive cross section of the community, from one year olds to eighty year olds.

Part of that is an Active Life programme which is a joint initiative between the Primary Care Trusts Health Promotion team and Chesterfield Borough Council as part of national and local plans to reduce health inequalities and promote health improvement.  The scheme aims to increase the physical activity levels of adults who are mainly sedentary or inactive and who are either living with one or more long term health condtion or are at risk of developing such a condition.  The target is to get clients involved in regular participation aimed at nationally recommended levels of 5 x 30 minutes moderate activity per week.  Referrals to the Active Life programme can come from GP's, Practice Nurses, Health Visitors, Community Mental Health practitioners, physiotherapists and other health practitioners.

The health benefits of exercise are well established and our team of Healthy and Active Trainers are well qualified to deal with health problems such as:

• Heart disease/ stroke risk
• Hypertension
• COPD/asthma
• Osteoarthritis (including hip and knee replacement)
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes
• Mental health - stress, anxiety, depression
• Weight reduction
• Chronic joint/ muscle problems

Chesterfield Borough Council and its partners operate an exercise referral scheme from Queen’s Park Sport Centre and the new Healthy Living Centre. The GP referral scheme lasts for 20 sessions and is supervised by qualified staff who will make sure that you will have a safe, effective and enjoyable start to a more active healthier lifestyle.

Who will benefit?
Exercise can play a key role in assisting postoperative recovery, mobility, insomnia, back pain and weight loss, as well as improving self-esteem and fitness. In addition, research has proven that regular exercise can improve a broad range of physical and psychological medical conditions including amongst others;

• angina
• diabetes
• arthritis
• obesity
• hypertension
• asthma
• anxiety
• depression

How the GP Referral scheme operates
A local GP, Practice Nurse, Consultant or other medical professional refers patients by issuing them with a 'Referral Form'. This referral gives details of any medical problems the patient may have which will need consideration with one of our qualified instructors when formulating an appropriate exercise regime.

Following a referral by your surgery, you will then be contacted by a member of our staff for an appointment at the Centre.

The First Session
Your first session will take the form of a simple but effective fitness assessment. It will be with one of our qualified GP referral instructors and will last approximately 45 minutes.

We will need you to complete a medical questionnaire and take part in the assessment. Part of the assessment will involve cycling on an exercise bike or walking on a treadmill, so please wear loose comfortable clothing and soft soled shoes or trainers. Pending the results of the fitness test and the reason for referral, an exercise programme will then be put together by the instructor.
At the end of the 20 sessions, a final assessment will be conducted to show the positive results that have been achieved and encourage the new exercise regime to continue.

Costs
The first 5 sessions are FREE as part of the scheme thereafter the cost per session is £2.50.
Membership to the centre can then be continued after the course at a concessionary rate.

Exercise in the Community

Chair exercise in the community is held every Friday. 2-3 pm at Staveley Fire Station.  These sessions are of benefit to anyone with mobility problems and costs just £2 per session.  The program is run through Andrea Walker, a qualified Instructor, on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council.  Come to the Healthy Living Centre on Fridays and go for a walk along specially assessed routes with our experienced walk organiser Andrea Walker (and that is her real name!)

For more information contact andrea.walker@chesterfield.gov.uk