Exercise Referral
Exercise referral schemes are long-term health condition prevention and management programmes that aim to improve health and wellbeing.
What is an Exercise Referral Scheme?
Exercise referral schemes are long-term health condition prevention and management programmes, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of sedentary and inactive adults who are at risk of developing or who have an existing long-term health condition. These schemes are designed to help individuals self-manage their condition more effectively and with more confidence.
Why access an Exercise Referral Scheme?
The scheme provides opportunities for people with underlying medical conditions, or those at risk of developing conditions to become more active in a safe and welcoming environment and raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity, helping to create long-term behaviour change. Regular physical activity can help you manage your weight, have a positive effect on you mentally, improve your muscle and joint functions, and benefit your heart health too. Not only will it help you manage and control existing conditions, but it will help protect you from developing other health complications as well. Some of the key benefits of moving more include:
- Manage and reduce pain
- Help them to manage their long-term condition
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay mobile
- Sleep better
- Improve mood
- Peer support
What does the Exercise Referral Scheme involve?
You will have a consultation with the Exercise Referral instructor, who will find out what is important to you and will help you to find activities that you will enjoy! You will then have review's every few weeks, which will enable the instructor to support you through the scheme to a healthier lifestyle. Activities vary at each centre but may include:
- Walking sports or led walks
- Group exercise classes such as chair-based exercise
- Casual swimming or water-based activities such as Aqua
- Gym based exercise
- Social groups including coffee mornings for increased peer support
- Condition specific activities, such as for MSK conditions.
Eligibility
Exercise referral schemes will often have eligibility criteria, for example being aimed at inactive adults, 16-18 years and over (different sites may vary), with a low or moderate risk long-term condition. Please note that eligibility requirements differ between providers, so please check with your local provider whether you are able to access their scheme.
Referral
Health and social care practitioners can refer you to the scheme by completing a referral form and sending it to the leisure provider.
Price
This is a chargeable scheme. Prices may vary per site or activity. Pay-as-you-go and direct debit options may be available, depending on the site or activity.
How can professionals refer onto Exercise Referral Schemes?
Please check with the specific leisure provider for a list of eligible referrers. Most Exercise Referral Schemes will accept referrals from GPs, nurses, physios or other health care practitioners, but different sites may vary.
Everyone Active
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To find out more about the programme visit - Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme.
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Eligible referrers consist of all health professionals.
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Option to join via Membership or Pay As You Go (PAYG).
Inspire All
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Download their referral form.
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Send your referral form to the corresponding leisure centre's detailed below:
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The Venue Leisure Centre 1 Elstree Way, Borehamwood, WD6 1JY: tvexercisereferral@inspireall.com
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Furzefield Leisure Centre Mutton Lane, Potters Bar EN6 3BW: ffexercisereferral@inspireall.com
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Bushey Grove Leisure Centre Aldenham Road, Bushey, WD23 2TD: bgexercisereferral@inspireall.com
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Eligible referrers consist of: GPs, Practice/ Community/ District Nurses, Hospital Consultants, Doctors and Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Health Visitors, Community Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Professionals, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals, Dieticians
Better (Healthwise)
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Complete the referral form and send to Healthwise.WelwynHatfield@gll.org
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Eligible referrers consist of: GPs, Practice Nurse, Hospital Consultants, Doctors, Community Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Professionals, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals, and Dieticians.
Keep Moving (Birchwood)
- Keep-Moving Programme is a GP Referral Scheme run by Hatfield Town Council. It consists of two months membership at Birchwood Leisure Centre. It includes access to the gym and some of the fitness classes provided by Hatfield Town Council.
- Eligible referrer consist of: GPs, Practice Nurse, Hospital Consultants, Doctors, Social Prescribers. To complete the referral form, enquire here.
Active Herts
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This scheme is a self-referral process detailed through the links below:
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Broxbourne: Complete the self-referral form.
Active Watford & Three Rivers
- This scheme is both self-referral and referrals accepted from healthcare professionals (GPs, link workers, nurses etc.).
- You can contact Karen Stephanou at healthadmin@watfordfc.com for further details.
Find your local Exercise Referral Scheme
Use our interactive map to find your local exercise referral scheme.
Or click on your Council area below to find details of the exercise referral provider:
Broxbourne |
Dacorum |
East Herts |
Hertsmere |
North Hertfordshire |
St Albans City and District |
Stevenage |
Three Rivers |
Watford |
Welwyn & Hatfield |
Broxbourne
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Active Herts
|
07506 503 316 or andrew.rix@ broxbourne.gov.uk |
activeherts.org.uk |
For pay as you go sessions in the community, the first 6 sessions are FREE, then after the initial 6 sessions it costs £4.50 per session.
|
|
Laura Trott Leisure Centre John Warner Sports Centre |
07506 503 316 or andrew.rix@ broxbourne.gov.uk |
activeherts.org.uk | £24.95 for 5 months (please note: participants are tied into the first five months and then will return to the standard rate in the sixth month). |
Dacorum
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Berkhamsted Leisure Centre |
dacorumreferrals@everyoneactive.com |
Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre |
dacorumreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
East Herts
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre |
easthertsreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
|
Everyone Active Hartham Leisure Centre |
easthertsreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
Hertsmere
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Active Herts Please contact Lee Bruce directly for specific addresses |
07741 248 852 or lee.bruce@nhs.net | activeherts.org.uk | FREE. |
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Inspire All Bushey Grove Leisure Centre |
01992 584 000 | inspireall.com | £31 per month for 12 months. Enquire for other price conditions (e.g., PAYG). |
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Inspire All Furzefield Leisure Centre |
01707 850500 or ffexercisereferral@ inspireall.com |
inspireall.com | £31 per month for 12 months. Enquire for other price conditions (e.g., PAYG). |
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Inspire All The Venue Leisure Centre |
020 8386 9886 or tvexercisereferral@ inspireall.com |
inspireall.com | £31 per month for 12 months. Enquire for other price conditions (e.g., PAYG). |
North Hertfordshire
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Hitchin Swimming Centre & Fitness Centre |
Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. | |
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Active Herts Please contact Lee Bruce directly for specific addresses |
07741 248 852 or lee.bruce@nhs.net | ||
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Everyone Active North Herts Leisure Centre |
Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. | |
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Everyone Active Royston Leisure Centre |
Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
St Albans City and District
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Batchwood Golf Course & Sports Centre |
stalbansreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active Cotlandswick Leisure Centre |
stalbansreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active Harpenden Leisure Centre |
stalbansreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre |
stalbansreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
Stevenage
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre |
stevenagereferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
Three Rivers
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Active Watford and Three Rivers Enquire for address (addresses can vary e.g. GP surgeries, Watford FC stadium, community centres, etc.) |
07710 096 398 or Alison.Goodchild@ watfordfc.com | watfordfccsetrust.com | FREE. |
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Everyone Active South Oxhey Leisure Centre |
threeriversreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active William Penn Leisure Centre |
threeriversreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
Watford
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Everyone Active Watford Central Leisure Centre |
watfordreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Everyone Active Watford Woodside Leisure Centre |
watfordreferrals@everyoneactive.com | Everyone Active's GP Exercise Referral Scheme | A 25% discounted on membership for 6 months or PAYG option. |
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Active Watford & Three Rivers Enquire for address (addresses can vary e.g., GP surgeries, Watford FC Stadium, Community centres etc.) |
Karen Stephanou at: healthadmin@watfordfc.com | watfordfccsetrust.com | FREE. |
Welwyn / Hatfield
| Provider | Contact | Website | Price |
|
Better (GLL) Hatfield Swim Centre |
01707 629660 or Healthwise.Welwyn Hatfield@gll.org |
better.org.uk | £25 per month. |
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Better (GLL) Hatfield Leisure Centre |
01707 629596 or Healthwise.Welwyn Hatfield@gll.org |
better.org.uk | £25 per month or £5 PAYG. |
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Keep Moving Birchwood Leisure Centre Longmead, Birchwood, Hatfield AL10 0AN |
wellbeing@hatfield-herts.gov.uk |
https://birchwoodleisure.co.uk/fitness-wellbeing/strength-boutique-gym/ |
FREE for Hatfield residents, 50% off for non-Hatfield residents |
Get in touch…
For further details about Exercise Referral, please contact hsphealth@herts.ac.uk: hsphealth@herts.ac.uk