The Active 4 Health Scheme The scheme was set up by Active Ealing as part of the councils first Public

Service Agreement (PSA) and was funded through this grant by the council for the first 3 years until August 05. There were two separate parts to the scheme: A. Exercise Referral scheme B. Teenagers scheme Scheme aims: To encourage and support participants to develop active healthy lifestyles. To help reduce participants risks of diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension, certain cancers and many other conditions and diseases. To increase the activity level of 2300 people over a 3-year period. Participants to increase their activity level and maintain this move for a period of 12 weeks and at least half to maintain it for a further 3 months. To encourage and introduce participants to structured supervised activity sessions. For the PSA period 2002/05 a total of 1679 participants on the programme achieved an increase in physical activity level from their baseline and maintained this increase for a minimum period of 12 weeks. A) The Active 4 Health Exercise Referral Scheme End of Scheme report The scheme was set up by Active Ealing as part of the councils Public Service Agreement (PSA) and was funded through this grant by the council for the first 3 years (02/05). It was further funded by Ealing PCT for another year and has now come to a formal end as of 31 st May 2006. Aims: To increase the activity level of those resident (aged 18 and over) who have conditions such as diabetes, CHD, obesity, high blood pressure and numerous other diseases. To increase the activity level of those resident who are at risk of developing conditions particularly due to lack of activity. To encourage and introduce residents to structured supervised activity programmes. To support residents in developing active healthy lifestyles To support the council in meeting its PSA targets of raising the activity levels of 2300 people over the 3-year target period and therefore entitle LBE to a reward from central government.

Scheme development: February 2003 - Scheme first piloted at 1GP practice in Southall referring 2 patients per week to Dormers Wells Leisure Centre Patients received a free personal consultation with an exercise referral instructor followed by up to 6 months of discounted usage of certain facilities including the gym, the swimming pool and aqua classes December 2003 Scheme expanded borough-wide following the training of an additional 15 instructors Free scheme registration and patient referral was made accessible to all Ealing PCT GP practices and other health professionals such as diabetic nurses, cardiac risk nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians etc Scheme has at some point operated at all of the activity centres listed below: o Gurnell Leisure Centre o Reynalds Sports Centre (Acton) o Perivale Track & Gym o West London YMCA o Elthorne Sports Centre o Featherstone Sports Centre o Energize Health & Fitness o Acton Swimming Baths o Hanwell Health Centre o Southall Sports Centre By 2006 82 Ealing PCT GP practices had registered on the scheme plus other health professionals including the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Department, the Lymph Oedema Service and falls service all based at Ealing Hospital Trust On average 40 patients per month have been referred to the scheme and have registered on the scheme at the various sites listed above During the life of the scheme there were 6772 visits to activities such as the gym, swimming, aqua-aerobics and even conditioning classes. Quotes and comments from patients have included: "I have found the scheme very beneficial to my health especially as my blood pressure has decreased, and I feel so much better because of this. I now have a positive attitude. Long may the scheme continue and be of help to many others" My energy levels have increased, my depression is a lot better, more positive about the future and at making decisions " "I have found this scheme very good for my health. My blood pressure has come down a great deal. I feel much better in myself"

The scheme met all its aims and provided many residents with an opportunity to develop and benefit from active health lifestyles and as such reduce their risks of disease and / or improve their conditions. The Ealing Primary Care Trust has indicated that it may introduce a similar scheme in the near future. B) The Active 4 Health Teenagers Scheme End of Scheme report The scheme was set up by Active Ealing as part of the councils Public Service Agreement (PSA) and was funded through this grant by the council for the first 3 years (02/05). There was further funding through the LEAs Aimhigher programme and through the School Sports Coordinator programme for a further 2 terms bringing the scheme to an end in July 2006. Aims: To increase the activity level of teenage girls in Ealing; in particular those girls who had the lowest activity levels To encourage and introduce teenage females to structured supervised activity sessions that are not normally available to them To support teenage girls in developing active healthy lifestyles and reduce their risks of diseases such as obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis To support the council in meeting its PSA targets of raising the activity levels of 2300 people over the 3-year target period and therefore entitle LBE to a reward from central government To support schools and help pupils achieve 2 hours of quality physical education; a target set by central government Scheme development: January 2003 - Scheme first started at 3 borough high schools offering free extra-curricular sessions such as street dance, football, aerobics, basketball and cycle training August 2003 Free salsa and street summer dance academy offered to teenage females in Northolt January 2004 Scheme expanded to include more schools, most of which had a number of sessions per week January 2004 - Introduce new activities such as hip-hop, jazz dance, self-defence, kickboxing and netball August 2004 Free street & hip hop summer dance academy offered to teenage females in Southall, Acton and Ealing September 2004 Total of 25 weekly sessions being run at various borough high schools for the next academic year Scheme has at some point operated at all the schools listed below: o Acton High School o Cardinal Wiseman RC school

o Dormers Wells HS o Drayton Manor High School o Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls o Elthorne Park School o Greenford High school o Featherstone High School o Northolt High School o West London Academy (formerly Compton HS Sports College) Between January 03 and April 06 there were 56,398 attendances by the girls at sessions such as: o Fitness gym o Swimming o Tennis o Netball o Trampolining o Street dance o Salsa o Aerobics o Kickboxing o Pilates o Football o Cricket o Basketball o Judo Quotes and comments from parents, students and teachers: Participation within these sessions has been taken up with enthusiasm and many of the girls who have taken part have continued similar programmes at Dormers Wells Leisure CentreI whole heartedly support the PSA programme as I have witnessed the benefits of it at first hand. Participation of activities by girls has never been higher at Dormers Wells High School.
Apart

from the fact that the classes keep us fit & healthy, it also helps us mentally, as it relieves us from stress and worry of school workthe class has improved relationships between students. I used to be quite unhealthynow I actually enjoy exercisingI feel safer when I am out on my ownI am able to defend myself using kickboxing techniquesI care more about looking after myself now. PE was never my favourite subject but I enjoy these classes Part of the problem has always that commercial gyms do not cater for this age range and they are also very expensiveit has been great to see Drayton Manor being able to offer some

alternativesthis is fantastic way to keep the students active, healthy and also out of mischief after school. The scheme met all its aims and provided many females teenagers with an opportunity to develop and benefit from an active health lifestyle.