We’re thrilled to share our new Impact Report for 2023-24! See what we’ve been up to.

Activity and Health

Why is physical activity so important for your health?

Being physically active helps to keep you fit, whilst fighting off many diseases and health complications. It also plays an extremely important role in supporting your mental health.

Physical activity is one of the best tools for keeping your body healthy.

Those living with long term health conditions are twice as likely to be inactive, even though there is lots of evidence that increased activity can actually help in the management of many long term health conditions.

Those who have been diagnosed with a health condition might be concerned about their ability to exercise. However, there are plenty of activities that can be modified to enable anyone to take part.

These pages will teach you about the benefits of physical activity. You’ll also learn how getting moving can reduce the risk, help you manage and even improve certain long-term health conditions.

At the bottom of each page, you’ll find resources, signposting opportunities and support in having conversations about the benefits of physical activity and its use in managing certain conditions. There are also e-learning pages available to assist with directive conversation support.


What are you looking for?


Exercise Referral Schemes: Improve your health with physical activity

Exercise Referral is a programme of exercise that is prescribed by your doctor, nurse, physiotherapist or pharmacist. It can help you manage your health by using exercise. The programme helps you take some simple steps to become more active safely around your medical condition. Details of where the schemes based are in Norfolk can be found below.

For further information about each scheme please contact the scheme directly.

Sessions in: Broadland, North Norfolk, Norwich and South Norfolk

Website: Broadly Active Website

Phone: 01603 430487

Sessions in: University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ

Website: Sportspark website

Phone: 01603 592398

Sessions in: Alive West Norfolk Centres in Downham Market, King’s Lynn and Hunstanton

Website: Alive West Norfolk Website

Phone: 01553 818001

 

Sessions in: Dereham Leisure Centre, Station Road, Dereham NR19 1DF

Website: Dereham Leisure Centre website

Phone: 01362 693419

 

Sessions in: Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford, Norfolk , IP24 3LH

Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420096271738216

Contact: [email protected] or 07725852817

Sessions in: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2ER

Website: Marina Centre | Great Yarmouth | Freedom Leisure (freedom-leisure.co.uk)

Contact: [email protected] or 01493 289119


Are you living with a health concern or long-term condition?

Active Norfolk wants to support everyone to be able to benefit from a healthy and active lifestyle.

Does your health condition stop you from being active? Would anything help you to be more active?

As part of our work to understand how physical activity can be used to improve health, we are conducting a survey. This will investigate how mental and physical health concerns and long-term conditions impact physical activity levels in adults. It will also explore what we can do to help.

Working closely with partners across the health and social care sectors, we have created a short 10-15 minute survey. This looks at health conditions and also activity levels.

By taking part in the long-term condition health survey, you will also help us ensure that the voice of people living with long-term health conditions is heard when designing future care and support services. That therefore means your contribution can have a positive impact on others in Norfolk living with health concerns.

If you need any information about the survey, be sure to get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.