Exercise Referral Scheme
As part of our social responsibility towards the improvement of the health and wellbeing of our local community, InspireAll offers a Physical Activity Referral Service across both Hertsmere and Milton Keynes.
An exercise referral scheme is where there is a referral by an appropriate professional to a service where there is a formalized process of assessment of that person’s need; the development of a tailored physical activity programme to meet that need and monitoring of the individual’s progress.
In Hertsmere the scheme runs at Bushey Grove Leisure Centre, The Furzefield Centre in Potters Bar, and The Venue Leisure Centre in Borehamwood following the National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) compliant Physical Activity Referral Service.
In Milton Keynes the scheme is known as AMKERS and has been developed in accordance with the National Quality Assurance Framework for Exercise Referral Systems.
You may be eligible for this service if you are inactive, are over 16 and have a medical condition such as poor mental health, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, or COPD. Further details on the inclusion criteria can be found here.
Getting referred to The Exercise Referral Scheme could be the first step to increasing your activity levels and improving your long-term health and wellbeing.
What Does the Exercise Referral Scheme offer?
We will be with you every step of the way;
- One-to-one consultation with one of our exercise referral professionals to discuss your medical conditions, medication, goals and exercise plan.
- Gym induction to show you how to use the equipment following your own personalised plan
- eGym induction (where applicable)
- 6 and 12 week reviews to monitor your progress and update your exercise plan
- Concession membership
How to Get Referred?
In Milton Keynes
Via your GP; if you think you might be eligible for the scheme please ask your GP for a referral. You can then pop in, telephone or email Bletchley Leisure Centre to make an appointment. Please bring the completed referral form with you to your first appointment. You can download a copy of the form here
In Hertsmere
Via your GP; if you think you might be eligible for the scheme please ask your GP for a referral. You can then pop in, telephone, or email your local InspireAll leisure centre to make an appointment. Please bring the completed referral form with you to your first appointment.
Other Clinicians; there are also a number of other clinicians who can refer you to the scheme. A list of eligible referrers can be found here. Please print a copy of the referral form here and take it to your clinician for completion before scheduling an appointment at your local InspireAll leisure centre.
To speak to a member of InspireAll’s Exercise Referral team about your eligibility or for more information about the scheme please contact
The Venue Leisure Centre in Borehamwood – tvexercisereferral@inspireall.com
Furzefield Leisure Centre in Potters Bar – ffexercisereferral@inspireall.com
Bushey Grove Leisure Centre in Bushey – bgexercisereferral@inspireall.com
Bletchley Leisure Centre in Milton Keynes – exref.bletchley@inspireall.com
Active Herts Project
Active Herts is a valued and exciting project that is supporting local residents of Hertsmere to get active.
We know that getting active can be difficult so our local, friendly and professional Get Active Specialists can help you get started.
Working with the Get Active Specialist, you will work through a series of free 1:1 consultations to set a personal plan of action that will make it simple for you to fit physical activity into your daily life.
Your Get Active Specialist can offer advice, support and will help you to find a fun and friendly activity to suit you for up to 12 months, based on your fitness level and interests, with everything from free walks to badminton, from dance to swimming there are lots of activities available at reasonable prices.
If you are over the age of 16, living in the borough of Hertsmere and are currently doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity or sport per week then the Active Herts project might be suitable to you.
For further information on the Active Herts Project please contact
sports.development@inspireall.com or visit Active Herts.
Keep Active, Keep Well
The Keep Active keep Well Programme is specifically designed by the British Lung Foundation to help people manage their breathlessness – Chronic obstructive-pulmonary-disease (COPD).
The collaborative pilot project is a great example of successful partnership working across the health and social care system involving MK CCG, Milton Keynes Council Sports Development, InspireAll and Local GP’s.
Surgeries refer patients to the 12-week course. The course aim is to help patients with COPD to learn more about their condition and how they can still have an active life through a behaviour change exercise programme. The course is theory/practical based and takes place at Bletchley Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes. Practical activities have included laughing yoga, tai chi, ballroom dancing, circuits, swimming and indoor bowls. If you feel you would benefit from this programme, please speak to your GP.