East Ayrshire Health and Social Care team has played its part in developing what is said to be the UK’s first Active Wellbeing suite.

Based at the Rose Reilly Sports Centre in Stewarton, the suite is equipped with Innerva’s specialist power-assisted equipment and is designed to support the over 65s, people with mobility issues, those with chronic medical conditions and individuals recovering from injury.

‘The reality is that the over-65s are reluctant to use traditional gyms. By working with our health and social care partners, we’re creating a direct pathway to activity for individuals who wouldn’t normally walk through our doors’ [Greig Russell]

About one East Ayrshire resident in four (26.7 per cent) has at least one long-term condition. The new suite features 11 pieces of Innerva’s equipment and offers a welcoming space for those who are least active in the community.

As well as working with the Health and Social Care team, East Ayrshire Leisure collaborated with East Ayrshire Council’s Community Health Activity team to bring the project to fruition. Links are also being established with local GP practices, allied health partners, community connectors, mental health teams and other third sector partners – such as Chest Heart Stroke Scotland.

Overcoming older people’s aversion to gyms

Greig Russell, who is East Ayrshire Leisure strategic lead, said: ‘Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of disease and disability, yet we know that people tend to become less active as they age. The reality is that the over-65s are reluctant to use traditional gyms. That’s why this new Active Wellbeing Suite is so important. By working with our health and social care partners, we’re creating a direct pathway to activity for individuals who wouldn’t normally walk through our doors.’

Mr Russell noted: ‘We’ve built the space, now our partners are helping to bring people in. I can confidently say to my industry colleagues: if you want to get your local health care practitioners around the table and into your facilities introducing a project like this is the key.’

The impact of the suite is already being felt. After just three weeks, none of the 14 patients with arthritis, who were referred and supported by health and social care practitioners and the CHAT team has dropped out. This, the organisers say, is a significant improvement compared to previous programmes, where drop-offs after the first week were common.

‘The clients have not only stayed with the programme, they have bonded socially. The suite is more efficient too – a single member of staff running the class is now able to reach 14 people in the same amount of time they would normally spend with just three or four individuals,’ Mr Russell added.

Free introductory gym memberships

To support the project launch, the trust is introducing a new Active Wellbeing membership. For £10 per month – with the first month free – individuals on the activity on prescription programme will receive 12-months’ support from the CHAT team in addition to access to the Active Wellbeing suite, referral classes, swimming pool, main gym and use of a Boditrax body composition and activity tracking platform. After 12 months, the goal is to encourage customers to take out mainstream memberships and maintain their active lifestyle habits in the long term.

Mr Russell added: ‘The timing of this project couldn’t be better as we welcome the CHAT and Older People’s Wellbeing teams. Working together, we’re removing barriers and creating a seamless pathway into activity to make it easier for people to improve their health and wellbeing.’

Liz Wright, Innerva’s national sales manager, said it was ‘remarkable’ how East Ayrshire Leisure had ‘galvanised support from health, social care, local government and third-sector partners to make it happen’.  

Rose Reilly, the women’s football trailblazer and the sports centre’s namesake, officially opened the Active Wellbeing Suite.

Innerva, part of the Shapemaster group, is a British designer and manufacturer of power assisted exercise equipment. Fo0r more information, see: www.innerva.com