A significant increase in life satisfaction for people participating in GP exercise referrals has been emphasised in a survey we have commissioned across Greater Manchester.
It shows the mean scores for patients taking part were 1.9 points better than for those on a waiting list, using a scale of 1-10. By comparison, previous studies of changes in life satisfaction have found that moving from unemployment to finding work leads to an average 0.5 point increase.
The survey has been commissioned by GM Active, a collective of 12 leisure and community organisations representing all 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester, and conducted by State of Life, which works with its clients and economists on how to measure and report on the socio-economic value of physical activity. Using a tried a tested methodology recommended by the Treasury, State of Life has pioneered the creation of Wellby scores for people such as Sport England, parkrun, Youth Sport Trust and Ofcom.
The GM Active survey of more than 1,700 people either on a waiting list for a GP referral or taking part in a programme, also shows significantly improved scores for happiness, anxiety, loneliness and feeling worthwhile.
State of Life founder, Will Watt, says: “These results are what we call first findings and although there is similar work going on elsewhere, they’re significant because you’ve got a former health minister and Treasury secretary, Andy Burnham, as mayor, and integrated health authorities. This puts Greater Manchester ahead of the game in evidencing the worth of physical activity, and that could influence national guidance.
“What’s more, we’ve carried out what’s known as regression analysis. This means we’ve taken into account factors such as age, health, disability, socioeconomics, and employment status to give us more confidence that any positive difference we see in the scores is actually due to participation and not anything else.”
A repeat data collection is now underway until the end of January – described as creating ‘gold standard data’ – after which the findings will be broken down borough by borough and fed back to GM Active, whose strategy is focused on addressing physical inactivity and improving population health and wellbeing throughout Greater Manchester.
Andy King, GM Active Chair, says: “Will and his team at State of Life are doing a fabulous job, so a big thank you to them. The early results are really encouraging as they help demonstrate the positive impact the referral schemes are having on participants, and this helps us to evidence the impact they are having across Greater Manchester.
“This piece of work along with others such as UK Active with its MSK hubs and the collaboration with six ICBs; the Active Partnership’s ongoing work on health pathways with Move Consulting, and the great work Dr Coral Hanson is leading on in Scotland with the Physical Activity Referral Standards, will contribute to the evidence base that our sector can contribute to the government’s transformation of health care; treatment to prevention, hospital to community and analogue to digital. There’s still a lot to be done, but this is a significant step forward.”
The following State of Life questions produced these Wellby scores:
Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?
Participants 6.7, waiting listers 4.2.
Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?
Participants 6.98, waiting listers 5.29.
Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday?
Participants 3.67, waiting listers 4.65.
Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
Participants 7.28, waiting listers 5.62.
Multiple choice answers to the question: ‘How often do you feel lonely?’ showed a decreasing trend among participants and an increase among waiting listers.
Carol was an active hill walker, participating in a walking group as well as enjoying her own walks.
Unfortunately, she developed osteoarthritis and walking downhill became too painful, so she had to stop this activity.
As a child, Carol had never learned how to ride a bike so decided to join the free ladies-only Cycle & Stride sessions, funded by TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) and on this occasion delivered by Your Trust in Rochdale.
After attending four sessions, at the age of 61, Carol learned how to ride a bike for the very first time.
If you have never learnt to ride a bike; would like to develop your cycling skills, or become more confident cycling in traffic, you can access cycle training in Manchester.
TFGM is currently running FREE cycle training for all levels of rider (and non-rider) at two Manchester locations:
Bikes and helmets are provided for free.
“I went along to the cycling event with some trepidation as I had never ridden a bike before. From the first moment I was made to feel really welcome and there was a lovely group of ladies present. The instructors were fabulous and within the hour I was cycling! Oh the freedom!
“I never thought I would find anything to replace my beloved hill walking, but I think I may just have found it. I would like to urge anyone thinking of giving it a go to just do it! I have purchased my own bike now and it has given me a new lease of life.
“I would now like to be able to progress to longer bike rides and to meet up with other cyclists to see all of the beautiful countryside that surrounds the Greater Manchester area. The idea of seeing new places and people fills me with excitement. I would like to say thank you to all involved. It’s truly a worthwhile scheme and it has changed life for me.”
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
Amanda joined the Nutrition, Exercise and Wellbeing Programme at Your Trust in Rochdale to gain confidence, get support to lose weight and to become active and get fit.
Keep reading to hear what fantastic achievements Amanda had reached by the end of the 12 week programme.
During the course, our friendly, fully qualified team give support to lose weight, set achievable goals, make healthier food choices, exercise to help with weight loss and learn skills to prevent weight gain.
A GP, practice nurse or health advisor can refer you to the programme or you can self-refer by contacting 01706 923685 or exercise.referrals@rochdale.gov.uk or by clicking the link below.
At the end of the 12 week programme, Amanda has had some fantastic achievements:
“Over the 12 weeks, I’ve learned a lot of things including what to eat, how much to eat and the daily allowance of salt and sugar. I’m now cooking with herbs and spices rather than jars and use the eat well plate as a guide of what to include in my meals.
“And I’ve increased the amount of fruit and veg that I’m eating each day. The programme is excellent, and I would recommend it to everyone.
“Attending the group was my first achievement but every bit of information given is broken down and made easy to understand and follow which is what I needed.
“I’m feeling better and am more active, and people are noticing a difference. It’s also made a big impact on my mental health and wellbeing as I now feel that my depression and anxiety are more manageable.”
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
This project was one simply aimed to engage African and Caribbean women in swimming lessons for a 10-week period.
The participants would be provided with a Soul Cap, made to manage Afro hair, and taught how to swim with the intention of improved confidence and water safety, while becoming more physically active and having a positive impact on overall health and wellbeing.
The Soul Cap itself was the subject of controversy at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where it was banned – a move overturned two years later.
Among discussions about this and Black History Month, conversation turned to giving women from African and Caribbean backgrounds the chance to learn to swim and to encourage continued activity for health and wellbeing purposes beyond that.
GLL and Buzz agreed to joint fund the project, which would engage two cohorts of a total of 20 people in swimming lessons.
Information regarding the project was made available to local community groups that supported the BAME communities and encouraged those interested to register their interest.
There were five leisure centres across the city that were being made available: Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre, East Manchester, Hough End, Moss Side Leisure Centre and North City Family and Fitness Centre.
Women from the African and Caribbean community were the initial target participants; however, one male and a few South Asian women were given the opportunity to participate.
The project hoped to achieve improved water confidence along with the confidence to go swimming independently following the project which would in turn provide positive movement towards improved health and wellbeing.
A celebration event was held with some of the participants, stakeholders and local councillors to showcase the impact and give the participants recognition for their achievement in taking part.
Feedback from those who took part included:
The celebration was well received and provided an opportunity to seek further funding to support similar opportunities via a Neighbourhood Investment Fund application to support wider opportunity for the African and Caribbean community.
This what some of those who completed the project had to say…
*Images sourced from The Black Swimming Association
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
The Bury Live Well Service compromises of four neighbourhood teams that focus on the needs and priorities of each neighbourhood.
Our teams will provide free personalised support. We believe in creating a healthier community where everyone can:
We help people to…
We have supported thousands of people across the Borough of Bury to reach a healthy weight; build more activity into their daily life; stop smoking; eat better; and generally improve their health and wellbeing.
We are here to help people stay well, stay independent, and enjoy life for longer. We help people to…
Janette was referred to us from physiotherapy suffering with neuropathy, which was causing severe balance issues.
She had experienced many falls, one of which had resulted in a broken nose. As a result, she was anxious about having further falls and had greatly reduced her activity levels due to fear.
She also has Raynaud’s disease and was getting very cold, white hands and feet which was painful and scary at times. She wasn’t medicated for this and wasn’t sure what she could do to help.
She had been given exercises for her hands and feet by physiotherapy but was looking to take a wider-ranging approach to her health and to develop an overall more active lifestyle.
She was medicated for restless legs which were worse at night and had suffered with vertigo in the past but put it down to stress.
She also had bursitis in her hip and had had injections some time previously which had helped with pain but had some limited range of movement and had lost some lower body strength.
Janette was supported by Live Well officers Cheryl and Bev. Janette originally had a face-to-face consultation with Chery at Castle Leisure Centre when Cheryl provided a full wellbeing timetable as well as details on how to book classes, what each class covered and all other relevant information.
As a result, Janette started Monday morning classes run by Bev in Ramsbottom, which is ideally located for her to walk to, thus already giving motivation to increase regular walking.
Over 13 months, Janette has attended regularly and consistently on a weekly basis. Through regular strength, balance and cardiovascular exercises, she has improved her fitness and strength levels as well as her balance.
She has increased the weights she can lift, as well as her cardiovascular and muscular endurance.
During classes, Bev also aims to educate members on how to help stay as safe as possible in their everyday life, for example foot placement when standing, techniques for going from sitting to standing safely and being aware of head movements, speed of movements etc. when doing any balance work.
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
The Bury Live Well Service compromises of four neighbourhood teams that focus on the needs and priorities of each neighbourhood.
Our teams will provide free personalised support. We believe in creating a healthier community where everyone can:
We help people to…
We have supported thousands of people across the Borough of Bury to reach a healthy weight; build more activity into their daily life; stop smoking; eat better; and generally improve their health and wellbeing.
We are here to help people stay well, stay independent, and enjoy life for longer. We help people to…
Cheryl was referred to us by the stroke team at Fairfield Hospital following a stroke in 2022 and kept falling, which had a huge impact on her quality of life.
Cheryl’s confidence massively declined as she chose to stay at home due to having a fear of falling when she was on her own.
While Cheryl was receiving regular physio after her initial stroke to restore loss of movement, she could not drive. She was very restricted and felt like she put a lot of pressure on her husband who was taking her to the appointments so gradually stopped going.
Over six months of regularly supporting Cheryl with regular check ins and face-to-face chats there was a massive change in Cheryl’s wellbeing.
Cheryl started attending two wellbeing classes per week and can do the advanced options of the exercises set.
Cheryl thought she had lost her independence forever, and never thought she would be able to drive again. She now independently drives herself to the classes every week, which was a huge milestone for her and her family.
Live Well Officer Lizzie Howard says:
“From meeting with Cheryl face-to face in her initial consultation, I could see how much of an impact the physical and mental health outcomes from the stroke had had on her life, the sudden changes at home, at work and in her relationship.
“Cheryl did not feel safe exercising on her own therefore I suggested we started off with trying one strength and balance exercise class at her local leisure centre, as I felt they provided the correct support for her to feel confident whilst exercising.
“Cheryl started to come to my strength and balance class on a Friday morning. This was great as I was able to have regular contact with her, checking in with her week by week, setting her little tasks to do each week, making sure she was making progress and giving her the praise she deserved.
“Some tasks involved reaching out to friends and going for a coffee or going to the garden centre and treating herself.”
Cheryl is no longer a frequent faller, since being under Bury Live Well Service Cheryl hasn’t had a single fall, with Cheryl’s strength, balance and mobility getting better each week, she has the confidence to do other activities she never dreamt of doing.
Cheryl says:
“For the first few weeks I found the exercises quite difficult and was very tired afterwards.
“After a few months, I was more able to complete the exercises and started to notice improvements in my mobility. At this point, I started a second chair-based class and began to go to classes twice a week.
“The improvements to my mobility and balance have been terrific. I now can walk much further and feel my balance has greatly improved and have I have not had any falls since starting the classes.
“Another great improvement has been the ability to stand up from a chair and sit back down, which is particularly useful when there are no disabled toilet facilities available!
“My family and friends have all commented on the improvement I’ve made. My husband says it is startling.”
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
Good Boost was initially introduced at Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre as part of a six-month pilot programme looking at the uptake and effectiveness of a water-based muscular skeletal (MSK) programme.
The Good Boost session at Arcadia has since become part of the wider MSK offer, which is a UK Research and Innovation Project including ESCAPE Pain and Good Boost run across Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre and Hough End Leisure Centre.
Each six-week block can accommodate up to 10 people. Participants must complete an initial sign up process which takes approximately 30 minutes and includes a series of questions about their condition and the pain they experience.
Once this is complete, weekly sessions will require the participant to log in to a tablet which is collected from reception on the way in and set it up on the pool side to follow their personalised programme and enter changes with their condition or pain levels.
The session is facilitated by a member of staff, in this case Clive, who is the Health Living Instructor across Manchester leisure centres.
For the purpose of this case study we’ve concentrated on a course which had eight participants, of which Anita (63) and Donna (51), both from Beswick, who are the longest attending having begun attending (seen right with Clive).
Donna found out about the Good Boost offer while searching for classes that supported those living with muscle and joint pain and came across the Better website with the Good Boost information.
Donna, who lives with scoliosis and trapped nerves, took the information to her physio who she regularly visits at Crumpsall Hospital who then gave her the go ahead to get involved.
Anita, meanwhile, was awaiting a hip replacement and also has slight curvature of the spine.
Both Anita and Donna have had a positive experience from attending Good Boost sessions.
They both wanted to share their positive results and endorse the programme for those considering either applying it to their centre, or taking part themselves.
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
Active Ageing aims to help people maintain their independence through keeping active in later life. Along with the health benefits of becoming more active, our participants enjoy getting out of the house and meeting like-minded people.
We work closely with NHS professionals, Primary Care Networks, Adult Social Care and other local organisations as part of a wider offer and support network for residents across the Wigan borough. We are a part of the local Falls Strategy and Pathway.
Our team of qualified and experienced instructors support participants to improve their wellbeing, mobility, strength and balance with a flexible programme that can be adapted to meet their aspirations and interests.
Activities are held in a variety of settings across the borough to meet demand and to focus on areas of most need. Home exercise is also provided for people unable to attend sessions in the community.
This could be a result of their health conditions, confidence, or access to transport. This helps us to focus support with people in lower socio-economic groups where these barriers maybe more prevalent. We are currently exploring integrated support with re-ablement which will further strengthen our aim to reduce health inequalities and support hospital discharge.
In Wigan, hospital admissions of the over 65s due to a fall are amongst the highest in Greater Manchester, while GM is above the England average.
Deaths following a falling is also on the rise. The proportion of over 75s in Wigan is high compared to other areas of Greater Manchester and projections show that this population is rapidly increasing.
Be Well (Wigan Council) is committed to taking a life course approach to reducing the risk of falls by providing a range of opportunities to help people improve their balance, increase muscle strength and promote bone health.
During the sessions we work with participants, so they know how to get off the floor safely if they fall, put strategies in place to support them getting up and advice on what to do if they are unable to do so.
This is practiced in sessions and techniques demonstrated to support this. We have had many examples over the years of where this has been successful, and participants have been able to help themselves. Before accessing our activities, they needed to call for help, sometimes from emergency services or where they have had a long lie increasing the risk of complications.
Recently, we have started to explore how we can help our residents who do not access our services to Age Well by increasing awareness about the importance of strength and balance, as well providing resources to help people move more, including the Super 6 Exercises, Winter Wise booklet and home exercise videos.
For Falls Awareness Week in 2022 we took this further, and the team produced a film to demonstrate what to do if you fall following the advice we provide in our sessions.
This was made available on our website and shared with partner organisations.
In December 2022, ahead of the paramedic strikes, when this message was more important than ever, we re-released the film on Wigan Council’s social media channels.
We were aware that it may not be seen by our target audience, but the aim was to provide friends and family with the information to help their loved ones.
Analytics from Facebook showed that the post reached 6,528 people, the content was displayed 6,528 times, engaged with by 357 people and shared 28 times.
We also shared the video with our partners, so it was available to people that they support.
A Strength and Balance participant at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre explained that her husband had fallen at home over Christmas. She assisted her husband following the backward chaining process to get back up. Their granddaughter was there who is a nurse, and she couldn’t believe that he managed to get up using backward chaining steps as shown the group session.
Another Strength and Balance participant, this time at St Anne’s Church, Shevington said he was out for a meal with his wife when. He found another gent had fallen in the toilets. Using the backward chaining process that he has learnt in the group sessions he managed to help the stricken gentleman to get back up to standing (with support from another member of the public). Without knowing these steps this gentleman would’ve required an ambulance callout to get him back on his feet.
Every time we help our residents to stay balanced, avoid an injurious fall or get back on their feet without support we reduce costs in the wider system.
Figures from the Falls Tool correct as of 2016 show that:
Resource – Unit Cost
GP visit – £36.00
A&E visit – admission – £100.53
A&E visit – no admission – £90.29
Ambulance call-out to hospital – £236
Non-hip fracture – hospital inpatient stay – £7,949
Hip fracture – hospital inpatient stay – £8,955
Hip fracture – 1st year follow-up costs – £527
Hip fracture – 2nd year costs – £2,212
Geriatric long-stay – £14,659
We would like to spread the word further and welcome you sharing this film with your own residents:
Ideas and projects are continuously evolving and progressing at GM Active. View our latest news stories below to find out how we are moving as one and contributing towards building the healthy, happy and prosperous Greater Manchester we all aspire to.
