Active Referrals
So you’ve been referred to us at Active Blaby to help you become more active to support your medical condition. It’s great to have you with us! The Active Referral Scheme provides professional support to inactive adults with health conditions; helping them to build their fitness in a way that is safe, effective, and sustainable. This can involve a specific intervention programme, or simply sign-posting to appropriate activities available locally.
The Active Referral programmes are physical activity interventions that take place over a set period of time, typically 10-24 weeks. They each have their own specific criteria, so referrals are screened before being accepted to a programme.
- Exercise referral – 12-week programme for inactive adults referred with low-medium risk long-term health conditions.
- Cardio-pulmonary rehab – 16-week programme for adults referred by the phase 3 cardiac or pulmonary rehab team at the hospital. Suitable referrals from other healthcare professionals may also be accepted.
- Back pain programme – 10–week group exercise programme for those referred with moderate low back pain.
- Steady steps – 24-week block of progressive falls prevention exercise for adults 65+ who have a history of falls, or feel unsteady on their feet.
What we’re asking for you is to look through the details on this page and get back to us with what you believe you would like to do. When you respond to us, we will start the process of trying to get you access to the programmes you would like to try out. You can respond to us via:
📧 info@activeblaby.org.uk
📞 0116 272 7703
If you don’t respond, you may not be able to access these programmes as there are very long waiting lists for services.
Please look through the additional information below to help find the most suitable activity for you.
Exercise Referral with Everyone Active – 12-week programme
Exercise Referral provides 12-week course of activity overseen by Exercise Referral Instructors (ERIs). Participants start with an initial consultation and induction before being able to access 12 consecutive weeks of sessions. There are a mixture of gym and studio-based hours available, and most participants will be able to use the gym outside of the ERI supervised hours. Participants are offered a programme review with an instructor after 6 weeks, to discuss your progress so far and adapt your programme if needed. At 12 weeks a final consultation is completed to measure progress and plan for how to remain active in the future. This currently takes place at Enderby Leisure Centre. If you wish to take part in a programme at Huncote Leisure Centre, we can make a note to contact you upon the site reopening. For more information, click on the button below.
Back to it – 10-week programme
Chronic low back pain programmes take place in 10-week blocks at a cost of £50 per block. Participants are screened to ensure that they are safe to take part and are likely to benefit. Sessions involve progressive mobilisation of the spine with Pilates-style movements, group discussion and pain management education. Participants are given home exercise recommendations to maintain progress between sessions. These programmes are delivered in groups so there may be a waiting list for the next one. For more information, please click the button below.
Back to it +
Our first back pain programme was so well received that participants wanted to continue the exercise beyond the 10 weeks! If you struggle with some back pain but are already somewhat active, you may not need to start a new course from the beginning. Sessions take place on Tuesdays 15:45-16:45 at Enderby Leisure Centre, and cost £5 per session.
Steady Steps Falls Prevention – 24-week programme
Steady Steps is a 24-week course of weekly exercise classes and home-based exercise aimed at older adults who feel unsteady on their feet. These programmes are delivered by Postural Stability Instructors (PSIs) and have taken place at a number of different venues across the district including leisure centres and parish halls. We are accepting referrals onto the waiting list at this time, but please be aware that it may be a while before a class becomes available in your area. Click on the button below for more information.
Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation with Everyone Active – 16-week programme
C-P Rehab provides a 16-week course of activity supervised by Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Instructors (CPRIs). It is aimed at those recovering from a recent cardiac/ pulmonary event or surgery, and those with a moderate-severe cardiac/ pulmonary condition. Participants start with an initial consultations including discussion health conditions, targeted goal setting, and a programme induction. After induction participants can access 16 consecutive weeks of sessions. This currently takes place at Enderby Leisure Centre. If you wish to take part in a programme at Huncote Leisure Centre, we can make a note to contact you upon the site reopening.
Other Services and Programmes
Do the activities outlined above sound good to you? If not, there are alternatives which may be more suitable for you as we just want to help you get moving a little bit more. The following activities are not specific Active Referral programmes, but may be just the right thing to help you get started.
Active Together Walks
Each week we have a number of led walks across the district, delivered by our Active Travel Officer and volunteer walk leaders. The routes vary each week and are a great chance to meet new people. All walks last around an hour, are free of charge and are a slow to brisk pace. To view our range of walks in the district, please click on the button below.
55+ Fit to Dance & Keep Moving
Fit to Dance classes are led by dance instructor Penny Dobson for adults age 55+ who want to develop and maintain their fitness and coordination using low impact dance workouts. Penny’s Keep Moving class includes a bigger focus on muscle strengthening exercises as well as the dance components. more information can be found by clicking the button below.
Easy Movers
Weekly circuit classes suitable for adults with health conditions and those trying to lose excess weight. Resistance bands are used for some of the exercises which can be purchased from the instructor at your first session for £1. These sessions take place once a week at Brockington College on a Tuesday for an hour at 17:15. They are delivered in the Dance Studio upstairs next to the sports hall. For more information, click the button below.
Nordic Walking
Penny Fielden is an experienced Nordic Walking instructor who delivers a number of weekly walks around the county. For more information on Nordic Walking, please visit our Nordic Walking page by clicking the button below.
Waterways Wellbeing
The Canal & River Trust are encouraging those wanting to improve their physical and mental wellbeing to have a go at their canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding sessions. For more information about the wide range of activities available on our canals, please click the button below. The contact for the programme is;
Contact: Sean Payne
Telephone: 07795 057 198
E-mail: sean.payne@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Leicestershire Weight Management Service
The LWMS offers a variety of support options depending on your needs, ranging from a self-managed programme using a smartphone app, to weekly contact with a nutritionist for a 12-week period. There also groups specifically for men.
If you have a BMI of 30+, we can make a referral on your behalf directly to the LWMS. We just need your permission to pass on your contact details and some information about your weight management journey so far. For more information on the service, please visit https://www.leicestershirewms.co.uk/.
Active Blaby Tai Chi
Tai Chi has many health benefits, and can support people of all ages. Some of the key benefits include:
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Can lower blood pressure
- Helps to improve balance to reduce the risk of falls
- Helps people with arthritis
We have new weekly classes starting in September. For more information visit our Tai Chi page by clicking the button below.
Community led Tai Chi
Sessions focus on mindful breathing practices, gentle loosening and stretching exercise, empty stepping practice and a Tai Chi sequence called the Chen 19 Form.
Please wear loose clothing and flat soled shoes.
Location |
Day & Time |
Cost |
| Glen Parva War Memorial Hall, LE2 9JD | Thursdays 15:45-17:00 | £7.50 |
| A Place to Grow, Enderby, LE19 4LX – outdoor class | Fridays 9:30-10:30 | £7 |
Contact: Laraine Tucker
Telephone: 07779 434 742
E-mail: larainetucker@icloud.com
As mentioned above, to access any of these programmes, you need to get in touch with us to let us know what you’re interested in doing. We can’t proceed without that and we don’t have the capacity in the team to chase you too often I’m afraid! So get in touch on;
📧 info@activeblaby.org.uk
📞 0116 272 7703
We look forward to hearing from you!
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