We will send you a text message once we have received your referral form inviting you to make an appointment. Please ring us on 0161 207 7000 to make an appointment.
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The Exercise Referral Scheme is for the people of Oldham with existing medical conditions. They can access a wide range of physical activities at a specially reduced rate and get advice on the best type of exercise to meet their individual needs. Once you have been referred onto the scheme you will receive a consultation, health check and a personalised 12 week plan designed specifically for your needs.
We will send you a text message once we have received your referral form inviting you to make an appointment. Please ring us on 0161 207 7000 to make an appointment.
Your free consultation will initially be part of a small group induction which will take about 45 minutes. By attending
this session you will receive a Free Active Card that will
provide you with discounts on a wide range of OCL products.
At the induction we will provide:
After you’ve completed your one to one appointment you are now ready to start your exercise. An instructor will discuss your goals. We will also provide you with an individual programme. If at any time you need any support you can contact us to discuss your progress.
At week 10 we will contact you again to make your next appointment for your final week 12 assessment. At this appointment you will have opportunity for us to update your programme and discuss your progression.
For more information, Download the Exercise
Referral Booklet here.
There are a wide range of activities both gym based and class based to choose from for patients that have been through rehabilitation programmes.
If you feel that you would benefit from the scheme, are 16 and over and are suitable to join then you need to speak to your GP/Practice Nurse/Health professional about being referred. Your GP or practice nurse will complete a referral form and give you our contact details.
The benefits of being more active are:
Exercise Referral is suitable for anyone who is currently inactive and has any of the following health conditions:
You can Pay as you go for 12 weeks, or we have a fantastic exclusive offer to join as a member which gives you unlimited use of the Gym, Classes, Pool and Sauna and Steam Room facilities, (with 1 month minimum term). All activities such as exercise classes, swimming and gym sessions are heavily discounted and are not free.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exercise referral scheme is aimed at people over 16 years of age, who are not used to being regularly physically active and have a medical condition. The scheme is designed to provide opportunities to exercise that are fun, rewarding and that can be incorporated into everyday life.
The scheme targets clients who are at risk of developing chronic disease providing an opportunity for referrals to access a high quality supervised exercise programme to improve health and wellbeing.
There are a wide range of activities both gym based and class based to choose from for patients that have been through rehabilitation programmes. You will be able to access a wide range of activities.
Activities include:
The benefits of being more active are:
If you feel that you benefit from the scheme, are 16 and over and are suitable to join then you need to speak to your GP/Practice Nurse/Health professional about being referred. You GP or practice nurse will complete a referral form and provide you with a copy.
The Exercise Referral Scheme is suitable for anyone who is currently inactive and has any of the following health conditions:
The initial consultation is free and then you can either pay as you go for 12 weeks, or we have a fantastic exclusive offer to join as a member which gives you unlimited use of the Gym, Classes, Pool and Sauna and Steam Room facilities, (with 1 month minimum term). All activities such as exercise classes, swimming and gym sessions are heavily discounted and are not free.
“My story began in December 2013, I was very busy working at a local engineering factory. I drank and smoked and just ignored the fact that I was very overweight. I weighed over nineteen stone and just tried to hide behind baggy clothes. Going to a gym and doing any exercise was the last thing on my mind. But after realising something was wrong with my health it was then diagnosed that I had throat cancer and needed an urgent life changing operation. I had a laryngectomy which is the removal of the voice box and probably because of this I lost about seven stones in weight.
I returned to work after 12 months but doing lighter duties in the office and only part time hours. But it was always my intention to try and eventually increase my hours and try to return to my original job as a welder. But I felt very weak after the cancer and losing so much weight. I was very flabby and had no strength and I couldn’t speak and was very low in confidence.
I was having regular meetings with my speech therapist and Macmillan nurse and they were supporting me in my return to work. They knew how I was feeling and how I was struggling because I felt so weak. So they suggested to me about giving exercise a try and spoke to my consultant who agreed it was a great idea and then contacted my GP to get me on the Exercise Referral Scheme.
I was so nervous about starting, I had never been to a gym before and thought I wouldn’t like it. I was nervous because I couldn’t speak, in fact I was nervous about everything! I had a consultation arranged with Stuart and my Macmillan nurse Marie came with me to do the talking for me and give me some support but I must admit the consultation went great. Stuart immediately made me feel at ease and seemed genuinely interested in trying to help me and was up for the challenge. Marie explained how having a laryngectomy affects the breathing and the ability to lift any weight but I was just made to feel very welcome and that it wouldn’t be a problem me joining. I was then shown around but as the old centre was closing down I was invited back the following week to be shown around the new centre.
This is where I met Paddy. Again I was feeling very nervous, this time I was on my own and meeting someone new. Would he be able to understand me? Why was I worried? The meeting went great, Paddy understood me perfectly. He put me at ease with his friendly and professional manner. He showed me around the new centre which is brilliant. He showed me how to use the equipment and give me advice on what I needed to do to build up my stamina and strength. He gave me his mobile number so I could text if I had any questions. Not being able to talk didn’t feel an issue as Paddy understood exactly what I was saying. He and the rest of the staff made me feel very welcome, which again was something I was worried about. I needed to know that I wasn’t someone that they didn’t really want to be there!
I started going on my own a couple of afternoons a week. I was only working mornings so I had spare time in the afternoons. I didn’t do anything too strenuous, just a gentle 10 minutes or so on the bike then the treadmill then the rowing machine, but it felt good, I was feeling better in myself. A friend at work had joined so I decided to come with him two evenings a week and I started increasing the exercises that I was doing. I still can’t do as much as he does but it doesn’t matter. I made myself a member and feel really comfortable and enjoy coming. I have found all the staff have got to know me and they all speak to us when we come in and we always stay for a coffee and a chat after our sessions and have become friendly with a few of the other users.
I still cover my stoma up so the majority of the other members probably don’t know I have had a laryngectomy until I try and speak. I can talk a little now, but I feel I have so much more confidence now that it doesn’t matter anymore if people do know or not. I’m doing a lot more exercise now than when I started and feel really good about it.
I’ve been coming for around 6 months now and I love it! I’m 54 now but feel I’ve been given a fresh start. I’ve started toning up a little bit, and my strength has improved. I know I’ve got loads more to do but I feel good that I have made a start. My weight has levelled out at around 12 ½ stone which is still overweight but I’m happy with it and I feel so much better than I did before. My hours at work have increased and very shortly I am returning to my old position as a welder which seemed impossible two years ago.
I want to thank Paddy and Stuart and all the staff at Royton Leisure Centre for all their help and support. My speech therapist and Macmillan nurse for always pointing me in the right direction and my mate Steve for coming with me every week and helping me feel normal! And if anyone else is thinking about joining the Exercise Referral Scheme, I’d say DO IT!! YOU’LL LOVE IT!!
“I felt a bit apprehensive about joining another gym as I had been a member of DW in Oldham and soon lost interest and had no motivation after a short period of time. I think this may have had something to do with the location but it was also very anonymous and impersonal.
I met with Jo Askham on two occasions and both times were friendly and efficient. I couldn’t commit on the first occasion before Christmas and Jo didn’t put me under any pressure but suggested I contact her again in the New Year and this meeting was followed up with a letter in January. This for me provided the right balance of friendliness and professionalism which encouraged me to join.
I was a bit apprehensive about the effects of Yoga and Pilates on the Arthritis in my knee and shoulder but find the discomfort is eased by the stretching motions and the swimming has certainly benefited the aching joints. It really is true ‘use it or lose it’ … I still have a very long way to go towards improving my fitness levels but taking these small steps at the gym has encouraged me to gradually do more.
It is easier to find a routine in the organised environment of the Leisure Centre than do the exercises regularly at home where there is always an excuse to do something else!. The swimming has been most important for me and is the key reason for my membership. I have signed up for the swimming instruction on the Thursday evening improvers class and I cannot commend this highly enough. The instructor, Tony, is excellent and so very patient. I am enjoying this immensely. Also I have attended the Salsa Instruction class for the past two weeks which is a new class and again the teacher is excellent. This class enables people like myself to learn the steps necessary in Zumba. I hope to attend a Zumba class at some point but would not have even considered it without this basic instruction. A great idea.
The positive change for me has been quite extraordinary as I had been struggling to go out of the house on some days. This is due to depression and grief caused by a tragedy which has affected my life completely. For the past thirty years I have travelled around the world working as a Tour Manager. Nothing phased me. This came to an abrupt end with the unexpected death of my partner in Canada. Cancer! The only thing I have now is time and it was simply marching on. I now go to the gym at least four times a week and as Saddleworth Pool & Leisure Centre is in such a pleasant location I will often go for a walk around Dovestones rather than go straight home. I am trying to find a routine each day based around my visits to the gym.
The physio recommended the scheme and this has been such a bonus for me personally. As I am not able to work at present and because I had such an unusual job which took me to some of the most exciting places in the world my lifestyle has collapsed completely so the financial benefits of your scheme are marvellous. I can only offer you praise for putting together a scheme that assists people like myself and will encourage me to feel a sense of wellbeing that hopefully will enable me to travel again in the future.
Due to my unusual and sad circumstances where my whole life has disappeared I found that the only ‘help’ I was being offered were anti-depressants. I refused them as taking medication would neither change my circumstances nor improve my quality of life. Although I was given access to ‘counselling’ I found this to be of a very poor standard so I felt that there was no way to turn. My own GP has been fantastic in her support so when this scheme was suggested although I was a bit hesitant I felt that I had nothing to lose. This is where Jo was a key figure. In making a scheme like this so very easy to join, no complicated paperwork or having to go ‘online’ for anything it was both accessible and immediate. Two things that are key especially when dealing with depression.”
The Exercise Referral Team is here to help you achieve your goals within physical activity and are able to offer advice and assistance.
For further information please call 0161 207 7000 or email referral@ocll.co.uk
For specialist classes including COPD/CHD referrals call 0161 207 7000 or email reach@ocll.co.uk
Please contact us using the form below and send us a message.
Alternatively you can telephone our Contact Team on 0161 207 7000. We look forward to hearing from you.
Oldham Community Leisure is a proud
member organisation of GM Active
