The Welsh Assembly Government has invested over £4 million over the next three years to support the evaluation and development of exercise referral schemes in Wales.

The scheme will be introduced in Monmouthshire early in 2008. The National Exercise Referral Scheme will provide clients with the opportunity to participate in a number of supervised exercise sessions at your local leisure centre and local community venues.

Exercise has been shown to improve people’s health in many different ways. Exercise can help reduce blood pressure, help with weight loss, and help reduce cholesterol levels. It can also help reduce stress, anxiety and depression amongst numerous other benefits.

The National Exercise Referral Scheme is a 12 month Randomised Controlled Trial in the first instance to evaluate whether exercise schemes can help people. People who have low to moderate medical conditions, or are not moderately active more than 3 times a week, or are deconditioned through age or inactivity can access the scheme.

The Scheme will offer people the opportunity to build more physical activity into their life through activities such as walking groups, gentle exercise classes, tai chi, swimming and aquatic groups, leisure mornings, dance groups and even the fitness suite.

Once you are part of the exercise scheme you will have assistance from a specially trained exercise professional who will take you through a variety of group activities suitable to your medical conditions for a 16 week period.

During the 16 weeks you will receive one to one consultation sessions which involve goal setting, monitoring your progression and ensuring you get the best from the scheme. At the end of the 16 week programme you will receive a one to one with your exercise professional to discuss your pathway to continuing success with physical activity.

For further information on how you can get involved in the scheme download the leaflet National Exercise Referral Scheme.pdf or contact Joel Morgan, GP Exercise Referral Coordinator on (01633) 644286, or alternatively contact your local Leisure Centre.