The Slough Public Health team has launched a new programme to improve fitness across the borough.

Slough in Motion is a partnership programme involving the council’s Active Slough team, its Better By sustainable transport initiative and the East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

This new service offers a referral scheme for people with a long term health conditions, including free use of Slough Cycle Hire for 12 months. It also offers advice on ways people can increase their physical activity.

The service is available in all GP practices across Slough, as well as through a range of other healthcare professionals including the National Diabetes Prevention Programme, Midwifery and Physiotherapy at Wexham Park Hospital, and the Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust stroke recovery clinic.

Once the formal exercise referral element is complete, Everyone Active staff at The Centre will complete a triage assessment of each person individually, and recommend the right kind of exercise programme for them. This involves measuring height and weight and blood pressure and discussing lifestyle and exercise preferences.

Jim Byrne, 79, from Slough, has just completed the initial 12 week programme from GP referral which was part of the pilot. He said: “I come to The Centre usually with my wife, and we use the gym, I like to make sure I get in my 10,000 steps a day, but I really enjoy swimming in the pool here.”

Mohammed Baig, 81, from Chalvey, visits The Centre five times a week! He said: “I initially came from a GP referral, I strongly believe in a healthy mind, healthy body, and definitely feel the physical and mental benefits from exercising here, and look forward to seeing the friendly staff.”

Cllr Natasa Pantelic, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “As a council we recognise that Slough has relatively high levels of physical inactivity, with 34.2% of the population reporting to be physically inactive, this compares to 19.0% in the South East.

“The borough also has 66.8% of its residents who are overweight or obese, compared to 60.3% in the South East."

For more information head to https://www.publichealthslough.co.uk/campaigns/slough-in-motion/