Healthwise

What is Healthwise?

Tailored for all abilities, Healthwise provides a supportive environment to:

  • Improve knowledge and skills for managing your health through movement
  • Build confidence and self efficacy in daily activities
  • Enhance overall wellbeing and quality of life

Our dedicated Healthwise team is your key to success. They'll provide expert guidance and support every step of the way, offering:

  • Personalised physical activity plans tailored to your needs
  • Healthy living guidance
  • Regular progress monitoring and programme adjustments
  • A supportive and encouraging environment to reach your goals

Hear from our Healthwise members on how this fantastic programme has helped them improve their way of living and manage existing medical conditions.

Who is Healthwise for?

The scheme is for Reading Borough residents or patients registered with a Reading Borough GP/doctors surgery who are physically inactive. It is designed to assist people with long-term health conditions or other specialist requirements that may be a barrier to accessing mainstream activity in leisure centres.

Common reasons for referral:

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Circulatory/respiratory diseases
  • Depression and Anxiety
  • Arthritis

The scheme is suitable for individuals who are:

  • Aged 16 and over
  • Residents of Reading Borough
  • In need of support to make lifestyle changes

What programmes are available?

Physical Activity on Referral Scheme

The Healthwise Physical Activity on Referral Scheme (PARS) introduces individuals to the benefits of physical activity, in order to help reduce risk factors for chronic disease, and manage existing medical conditions.

The programme aims to encourage people of all abilities to become and remain for physically active, helping to increase activity levels and improve health and wellbeing, with support from a qualified Level 3 Exercise Referral facilitator.

Healthwise offer a range of activities to suit all abilities. Your facilitator will help you select suitable classes.

Your physical activity may include some of the following:

  • Gym based independent and/or supervised sessions
  • Group exercise options
  • Water based exercise
  • Social sport options

Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation

Our 12 week Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation programme is designed to help those diagnosed with a heart related medical condition, who have completed the Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation programme.

This includes attendance to a weekly low intensity circuit class aimed to encourage safe exercise whilst increasing fitness levels. After a period of regular attendance to these sessions, you may then have access the leisure centres mainstream activities. Your instructor will discuss this with you and explain what activities are available to choose from.

Weight Loss With Better

Get fit, lose weight and feel good with the improved Weight Loss with Better programme.

We understand that weight loss can be difficult. That's why, through our weekly group weight loss classes, you'll find the support you need to achieve your goals, whether that be lose weight, or become more active.

Our weight loss plan combines weight management workshops, nutritional advice and physical activity alongside behaviour change techniques taught by experts in the field. This means you can not only lose weight, but gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

This can be accessed by self referral and referral from a medical professional.

 Click here to find out more

Better Balance

The 'Better Balance' programme is a person centred, group based programme. It offers adaptive movement patterns to support individuals with strength and balance exercises that will improve confidence in activities of daily living.

All Better Balance classes are led by a Falls Prevention Specialist, and are accessed through a referral by a medical professional to our Physical Activity on Referral Scheme (PARS).

Cancer Rehabilitation

Our Cancer rehabilitation programme is a 12 week programme designed to support those with a cancer diagnosis to participate safely in exercise. The programme is run by a Level 4 Cancer Rehabilitation instructor, and is dedicated to helping cancer survivors become more physically active, and support them to take steps to make any healthy lifestyle changes that they may want to make.

How can I join/be referred to Healthwise?

Physical Activity Referral Service is available at £27.50 per month, granting access to the gym, swimming pool, various classes and Healthwise activities. Additionally, a pay-as-you-go option is offered for £5.50 per session, providing flexible access for those who prefer a per-use basis. This membership is designed for individuals who were previously inactive and have medical condition(s).

Includes access to:

If you're considering joining Healthwise, please consult with your GP or Practice Nurse. They will approve your participation.

If you need to contact the Healthwise team, please call on 01183 347 718 or email healthwise.reading@gll.org