Introduction
Start-Up
is the City Council’s exercise referral scheme for people in and around Cambridge.
The scheme provides exercise for inactive people with medical conditions, whose health would benefit from leading a more active lifestyle.
The scheme can benefit a wide variety of conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, mobility problems, depression and cardiac conditions.
Activities and venues
A wide variety of courses are available including Aqua Mobility, Gym Sessions, Pilates and Exercise to Music.
Venues include Chesterton Sports Centre, Abbey Pool, Cambridge Regional College and Meadows Community Centre.
The complete programme for April 2008 - March 2009 can be found in the Information and classes brochure in the downloads section on this page.
Changes to Service
As of April 2009, the exercise referral service will be changing. Clients who wish to access the scheme post April 2009 will be eligible to join one of two exercise referral schemes within Cambridge City: 1/ Start-up or 2/ ExSite.
The new service will enable more resource and support to be available for those who most need it, but will also give greater facility choice and flexibility to exercise referral members. The client's reason for referral will determine as to whether the client is eligible for either the Start-Up or ExSite services.
Clients who are considered to have a "higher risk" category of medical condition will be able to access the Start-Up service in very much the same way as it exists now, at either Chesterton or the Abbey sports complex.
Clients who are considered to have a "lower risk" category of medical condition will be able to access the ExSite referral service which will be available at the Abbey, Chesterton, Kelsey Kerridge and Hills Road sports centres and will be run by centre employed staff, in partnership with Cambridge City Council.
If you are a health professional wishing to refer, the way you do this will not change. Client's wishing to enrol on the exercise referral scheme post April 2009, will be asked a series of questions over the phone when arranging their initial consultation, in order to determine as to what service they will be most eligible for.
Updated referral forms will be circulated to all health professionals who have registered to refer in the new year and will also be available to download from the website in due course. Please continue to take the time to visit this site for further updates.
