Return of Exercise on Referral to Bishop’s Castle and Church Stretton leisure centres

Shropshire Council has announced the return of the Exercise on Referral scheme to leisure facilities in Bishop’s Castle and Church Stretton now that centres have reopened as part of the government’s roadmap to recovery.

The Exercise on Referral scheme provides clients with the opportunity to engage in a structured programme of physical activity or exercise under the guidance of a suitably qualified exercise professional. The skills, knowledge and experience of the instructor allows them to work with clients experiencing a range of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, high/low blood pressure and anxiety/depression.

The objective is to provide a positive introduction to being active which may act as a catalyst to long-term behaviour change. It will also be available to those clients who may not have exercised for some time and would benefit from some structured support, although a referral is still required.

The Exercise on Referral programme begins with a personal assessment by the instructor who works with the client to design their own exercise programme specifically to meet their ability and health needs.

The programme is usually gym-based but will include water-based activity where appropriate.  After following the programme of exercise over a number of weeks the client will be given an end-of-programme assessment to check their progress and help them decide how they may wish to continue exercising.

Clients are generally referred by their GP or a Health Care Professional to the exercise professional who develops an exercise programme based on their goals and preferences.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place, tourism and transport, said: “After a frustrating 15 months it is great to be able to announce our Exercise on Referral scheme is back up and running.  Many people have missed the opportunity to kickstart an improvement in their health and wellbeing and this scheme is designed to support that process.

“We’re also excited to have recruited an Exercise on Referral Coordinator who has 20 years+ experience as an exercise professional and they have spent the last few weeks contacting local GPs and health professionals telling them we can now accept referrals.”