Meet the Orams. Their physical activity journey with Trafford Leisure started more than 20 years ago when mum, Sarah, 47, became a member. Eight years ago they extended this to a family membership to include their son Stan. Stan started swimming lessons at Partington Leisure Centre when he was just 3, eventually moving over to Urmston where he completed the Swim England Learn to Swim programme. Now the whole family keep fit and healthy together, with Sarah and dad, Stuart, 40, using the pool, gym and classes and Stan enjoying dodge ball, holiday camps and getting ready to use the gym too now he’s 11. The whole family plays badminton and table tennis together too. “We love coming to Urmston as a family,” says Stuart. “The family membership fee is really reasonable, we’ve made friends and the staff are great. It’s a brilliant social environment and other people really give you the motivation to work hard. I love the classes, particularly circuits.”
Meet the Orams
Active Living Referral - The first step is the hardest Just ask your GP...
With seven GP surgeries signed up to refer patients to our physical activity programme across West Trafford, if you fit the
Dr. Chris Tower, GP at Davyhulme Medical Centre explains how it works. “If you have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity or a previous stroke, for example, your doctor may initiate the conversation about the benefits of physical activity and refer you to the Active Living Team at Trafford Leisure, who will get in touch to talk you through your options.
Rachael’s five simple steps to getting started: 1. Once referred by your doctor or healthcare provider, a friendly member of the Trafford Leisure Active Living team will call for an informal chat.
The saying goes something like... ‘It’s getting through the door that’s the hard bit’ and according to Rachael Forde, Active Living Manager at Trafford Leisure, it’s pretty much true. Having supported the local community in getting started on their exercise referral journeys since it was launched, she knows what she’s talking about.
2. You’ll then agree a time and date to come and meet the team, when you’ll be shown around and a few measurements, such as height, weight and blood pressure, will be taken. This is a really
“It’s the perception of the gym that people
good way to see if the programme is working well for you when you are re-assessed at the end of the eight
are uncertain of. I often hear people say ‘I’m
week course.
not a gym person’, but there are so many different activities on offer, from swimming,
3. You’ll be introduced to your instructor, who will be fully qualified in looking after people with your health issues, so they’ll know exactly what activities you can and can’t do.
chair-based classes and dancing to Nordic is something for everyone. We even offer
make sure you are happy.
simple circuit sessions and simple indoor cycling sessions, using basic exercises to
package - a further 10 months access to all Trafford Leisure’s centres at a reduced rate.
make sure everyone is comfortable. The physical activity referral helps support people with physical and mental health conditions,
The future looks bright, the bricks and mortar will change but the choice of activities and levels of participation will grow. Please come and try us yourself...
" Try us for yourself
an activity you enjoy,” said Rachael.
looking a bit slumped and moving very
Complimentary Zest Health & Fitness 3 day pass This pass is valid at any Trafford Leisure Centre for 3 consecutive days untill 31/10/17
4
so whatever your needs we will help you find
“In week one many participants come in
Terms & Conditions Apply.
to ‘Active Lives’ our first ever edition of what’s been happening in and around your local leisure centres and how you can get involved. We are Trafford Leisure CIC, a community interest company, established on the 1st October 2015, which means we want to use our profits and assets for the public good.
We hope you enjoy reading some of the stories from our current customers making changes, how our exercise referral programme is going and it won’t be long until we can share fully the exciting plans for Urmston Leisure Centre. Please do let us know your e-mail address and we will add you to our database to ensure you are always up to date with what’s happening in sport and physical activity for your local area. info@traffordleisure.co.uk
New lease of life for Carrington resident Carrington resident, Bernadette Baker, has completely turned her life around since joining Urmston Leisure Centre’s exercise referral programme back in November last year. Bernadette suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that causes shortness of breath, for her, everyday activities such as walking up stairs is difficult and because of this Bernadette dropped into deep depression. She was referred to Urmston Leisure Centre by the hospital, they suggested exercise would help her feel less down and assist in her losing weight.
walking and badminton, that there really
4. They will set you up with an activity programme and meet with you several times during the course, to
5. At the end of the eight weeks you’ll be re-assessed and offered a graduate membership
Welcome
We employ more than 400 staff and offer a huge range of activities both in our leisure centres and on our golf course as well as out in the community. We are committed to ensuring we have something for everyone; the child just starting out in life at 3 months old through to our most senior customers of 90 years of age who really are leading by example in staying well and physically active. Whatever your age, fitness level or your goal, Trafford Leisure has something for you!
criteria, being referred by your local doctor should be fairly simple. If you’re already seeing a nurse or a physiotherapist for an existing condition, they can refer you as well.
“Whilst not entirely free, the programme costs just £20 for eight weeks and with the full support of the specially trained team at your local leisure centre, we could soon have you on your way to completing the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week - it’s proven to have a significant impact on reducing all kinds of health risks and conditions, including blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, falls, depression and type 2 diabetes, as well as breast and bowel cancer, to name a few. But it doesn’t need to come from us, if you think you are eligible to take part, simply make an appointment with your GP and request an exercise referral.”
CONNECTING TRAFFORD WEST
slowly, but as the weeks progress you can see people walking taller, coming in happy and confident and talking to the centre staff
“I’ve been active all my life,” says Bernadette, but once diagnosed with COPD I was scared of getting breathless. I used to have quite a stressful job, but anxiety brings on the attacks so I had to give that up and just sat at home eating and drinking. My mental health plummeted. I knew I needed to find something so I was happy to give it a go and I haven’t looked back.” At just 58, Bernadette’s doctor warned her she would be a lot younger than the other participants at the pulmonary rehabilitation classes, but that didn’t stop her making friends for life and laughing her way through the sessions.
- it makes my job so worthwhile. It’s not
Did You Know... Around 1,150 local people take part in Trafford Leisure’s exercise on referral schemes every year - with exercise generally being prescribed by their GP.
Providing local jobs for local people - Trafford Leisure has more than 400 employees.
You don’t have to visit a leisure centre to be active! Twenty nine Healthy Hips and Heart chair-based exercise classes take place in the local community each week. Designed to improve strength and balance, the classes, led by trained volunteers, are a great place to meet people and make new friends whilst reducing the risk of ill health and falls, as well as improving balance and overall wellbeing. There’s a class every day in the West locality, just ask for advice on the best class for you at your local leisure centre or visit www.traffordleisure.co.uk.
More than 2,400,000 litres of water fill Trafford Leisure’s ten swimming pools. With the average bath holding 80 litres, that’s equivalent to a bath every day of your life from birth to 82!
“When I saw the age of the other people I automatically thought ‘it’s not for me’, but they are the funniest group of people I’ve ever met and I really looked forward to going,” she says. “Everyone had a similar condition to me and it was a controlled environment with pulmonary specialists, so my fears of exercising were taken away. The instructor used a pulse oximeter to measure my heart rate and the oxygen in my blood in-between each set of exercises, so they could tell how hard I was working. “Now I automatically know what level of exertion my body can cope with,” continues Bernadette, who has progressed from pulmonary rehabilitation classes to Simple Circuits and sessions in the gym. “They teach you it all and that’s the beauty of it.” Bernadette has now lost a stone and a half in weight, which also gave her confidence to go to the leisure centre’s gym. She’s achieved her bronze and silver Body Magic awards for exercise at Slimming World and is now working towards her platinum.
External funding helps to pay for specialist activities such as The Active Families programme, which enables families with children aged 5 - 13 to access free activities in a leisure centre or wider community. It’s funded by Trafford Early Help, which aims to ensure support services are there when families need them
More than 11,000 children learn to swim through programmes at Trafford Leisure pools every year!
Trafford’s leisure centres are open a total of 651 hours, with more than 170 exercise classes on offer each week and that’s not including golf!
Trafford Leisure has around 100 different membership types - ensuring there’s something suitable for everyone. Just ask at reception for help in finding the ideal membership for you!
always the big weight losses or muscle gains that are the most rewarding. It’s the small steps people take to improve their health and wellbeing.”
INSIDE:
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FRIENDS FOR LIFE - SO MUCH MORE THAN A LEISURE CENTRE
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MAKING DREAMS HAPPEN
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MEET THE ORAMS
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Are you interested in helping out on the community walks or Healthy Hips and Heart sessions? If you’ve got time on your hands and would like to find out more, email: activeliving@traffordleisure.co.uk.
WHAT WE OFFER