INTERACTIVE actiSPORT – 150 MORE PLACES ANNOUNCED

Following a hugely successful pilot programme Life Leisure, who run sports and leisure centres across Stockport and are committed to encouraging local people to get more active, have received further funding from Sport England to deliver their unique actiSPORT programme to a further 150 people in Stockport. 

The ground-breaking project has been designed especially for people who do less than 30 minutes activity per week, and uses a combination of wearable technology and supportive coaching to encourage and monitor progress throughout the  programme.

Results from the initial project involving 86 participants were extremely positive with many people reporting life-changing effects. Not only did participants experience weight loss but their attitude towards sport and activity in general changed.

Feedback such as, “the programme has changed my perception of exercise; this is fun as well as helping me to get fitter”. “Previously I was concerned that gyms were full of ‘gym people’ not like me.” were common.

Others said that “they were now looking for opportunities to be active; this programme gives you the motivation to do something.”

Left: The Pebble – wearable technology

The actiSPORT programme uses wearable technology, a free to use accelerometer which looks like a shiny black ‘pebble’ that can be attached to a shoe or belt to monitor the wearer’s daily activity, steps, distance calories burnt and even the intensity of activity.

Crucially, it uploads the data to a web-based portal where participants and their coaches can check progress against agreed targets and goals on an online dashboard. There is also an element of anonymous competition as participants can see how other people on the scheme are doing.

Left: Laura Mylotte & Andy Gill from LifeLEISURE

In addition motivational team challenges have been an important ingredient in the success of the project as the sense of teamwork provided that extra bit of support and motivation.  

With the ‘Pebble’ set up, participants are given achievable goals agreed with their coach face to face and online in a gentle introductory phase which gets movement, walking and running into their daily routine.

Seb Rowe, from Life Leisure who has been involved since the beginning of the actiSPORT initiative said:

‘This funding is fantastic news. It demonstrates great confidence in the success of the project and we are delighted to be able to provide more people in our area the opportunity to access this unique project. We are succeeding in changing the lives of people who have previously not been able to engage in traditional sports channels but have now seen the benefits and are fitting some sport or physical activity into their everyday lives.”

Here are some tips from participants to get moving:

Walk up the stairs rather than take the lift

March on the spot rather than sit down to watch TV

Walk around the office to talk to colleagues rather than using the phone

For short trips, walk rather than taking the car

On your phone – Stand up and walk on the spot or around the room

With only 150 more places on offer, Life Leisure is urging ‘inactive’, ‘non-sporty’ people to come forward right away as places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To register your interest please call 0161 482 0900 or email: gpreferral@lifeleisure.net.