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Innerva’s power-assisted circuit is a critical link in Active Blackpool’s reengineered exercise referral pathway.

Active Blackpool has revolutionised its exercise referral provision, becoming a beacon of best practice across the UK. In just 18 months, the organisation has eliminated its waiting list via investment in both capacity and capability, all without external funding.

Active Blackpool’s Active Wellbeing Suites at its Moor Park and Palatine Leisure Centres are key to this success. Equipped with Innerva’s power-assisted exercise circuit, the studios are a launchpad for the recently introduced 16-week referral journey, providing a safe, secure and welcoming space for older adults, people with chronic health conditions and those who may be exercising for the first time.  

The average age of participants on Active Blackpool’s referral scheme is 56, which in Blackpool, is already beyond the average person’s healthy life years. Strikingly, 70% of Active Wellbeing users live with an average of 2.3 long-term health conditions, while 30% have one health condition.
 
Designed for older adults and those with health needs, the Innerva circuit differs from traditional gym equipment by guiding and supporting movement, rather than relying solely on the user’s strength. It means that even the frailest, most deconditioned individuals and those with limited mobility due to conditions like arthritis, Parkinson’s and MS can take part. Working at their own pace with the equipment’s support reducing over time, users can progress safely while building confidence.   

The circuit format also helps to support overall wellbeing. Users exercise with others, often with similar needs, which reduces anxiety and creates a sense of community and belonging.

“The Innerva circuit is vital to the start of our exercise referral journey because it’s one of the safest forms of exercise someone can do. The Wellness Suites are also the best places for social connection, which is particularly important for our exercise referral participants,” says Neil Pimlott, Active Lives Development Officer at Active Blackpool.

The goal is to gradually “remove the stabilisers”, encouraging people to progress to additional activities such as Good Boost and Egym. With Innerva’s new secure cloud-based system, Innerva Connect, staff can use data on user’s performance to help assess when they’re ready to graduate to further activity. This approach ensures people don’t just complete the 16-week scheme, but engage in long-term activity.
  
It’s part of a wider move to bring everything under one banner aligned with healthy living.  Active Blackpool restructured its operations 18 months ago, merging exercise referral and activity wellbeing teams to break down silos, increasing staffing levels, upskilling team members and developing seven new exercise pathways.

“There’s nothing clever about driving people through a 16-week scheme, but by creating person-centred pathways, we can ensure every participant receives the support they need to improve their health and wellbeing. If we get the signposting right, people stay with us and we keep them in the system,” says Chris Rushton, Head of Active Blackpool.

The transformation is already paying dividends. Overall membership, which now incorporates the Active Wellbeing Suites, has almost doubled to circa 7,000 in just 18 months. Further, exercise referrals have grown to some 190 per month and these referrals will underpin further membership growth going forward. All of this has been achieved without external investment; the scheme is entirely self-funded.

Exercise referral is now part of a sustainable operation that balances commercial return with social value. The complete overhaul of membership pricing architecture with particular regard to corporates has driven revenue, allowing Active Blackpool to deliver its community-focussed programmes.  

“We’ve set ourselves up to ensure we have no waiting list and enough capacity to meet the latent demand in Blackpool. As much as we see a clear financial return, we are here to drive social value. The growth in membership and all the people we’re getting through the door is delivering a social return to the council and the ‘whole system’, of which, like the NHS, it is a part. Innerva plays a prominent role in this journey,” says Rushton.

Active Blackpool is building strong relationships with primary care and public health partners and has a growing reputation for empathy and capability.

“Commerciality and social value are not incompatible – they’re part of a ‘virtuous circle’ which is not reliant on commissioning, though communication and collaboration with health partners is crucial. Our work is still in its infancy, but this time next year, we’ll be adding even more value across the system,” explains Rushton.

Such is the confidence in the Active Wellbeing model that Active Blackpool is investing in new Innerva equipment at Palatine Leisure Centre. 

As Rushton says: “We wouldn’t be making this investment if there was any doubt it was working. The wheels we set in motion 18 months ago have secured the viability of the referral scheme and it’s been life-changing for participants. If we keep building on that and reach more people, we have a real chance of diminishing health inequality and enhancing healthy life expectancy in the borough.