Active 4 Health exercise referral

Active 4 Health Lifestyle Hub - exercise referral and support

The Active 4 Health Lifestyle Hub receives exercise referrals from health professionals and helps to connect local people to an activity pathway to suit their location, interest, and health needs. We are also happy to chat to individuals who may need advice on how to get started.

The service connects with a number of leisure and service providers across the Dorset Council area that offer a range of physical activity opportunities to support individuals.

How to be referred

If you have a health condition and would like to get more active, please request an Active 4 Health exercise referral from your GP, Physiotherapist or other health professional.

Contact us if you are unsure if you can be referred, or have any other questions.

Once we receive your referral from your health professional, you will be contacted by our Lifestyle Coordinator to complete an initial lifestyle screening over the phone. This will enable us to help you get started on your active journey.

Once you have been referred and are waiting for your call, you are welcome to contact us by emailing active4health@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Please let us know your name, who you have been referred by and a suggestion of the best time of day to call. Although we call new clients in order this will help us to try and call at a time that might suit you (Monday to Friday – morning or afternoon). Please be aware that we sometimes have a delay in receiving referrals from health professionals, so we suggest you wait a week before emailing us.

After your lifestyle screening, we will refer you into the agreed pathway which will be based on your location, interest, and health needs.

Active Opportunities

These may include:

Exercise referral programme

Depending on the site, an 8 or 12 week exercise programme at a leisure centre with an exercise referral consultant or specialist, tailored for moderate to high-risk patients. Costs vary between sites.

Specialist classes

Depending on the leisure centre or site there are a range of specialist classes to suit specific health conditions such as cardiac conditions, respiratory conditions and back problems. Classes could include:

• health circuits
• aqua therapy
• chair fit
• yoga and more

Costs vary between sites.

Outdoor and community opportunities

Our Health and Activity Team aims to encourage local people to get more active in their greenspace by planning, coordinating, and delivering a range of activities in the fresh air. Some of these opportunities may be suited for clients referred through the Active 4 Health Lifestyle Hub.

Depending upon the area here is a list of some of the activities from our Health and Activity Programme: 

• Dorset Health Walks
• Dorset Health Cycle Rides
• Accessible cycling
• Nordic walking
• Get into golf
• Fresh air fitness classes
• Outdoor circuits
• Outdoor yoga
• Tai Chi

See the full range at Health and Activity.

Health professionals

If you are a health professional interested in referring patients to the Active 4 Health Lifestyle Hub, contact us.