High Life Highland is delighted to announce an extension to the GP Movement and Activity Programme (MAP), a new and collaborative approach in supporting and empowering people across the Highlands to be active.
The fundamental aim of the programme is to test how collaborating with primary care in NHS Highland can help people to experience everything highlife has on offer to benefit physical, mental, social health, and wellbeing.
As part of the initiative, participants can be signposted to High Life Highland leisure services such as Dingwall Leisure Centre or Tain Royal Academy Community Complex (TRACC) – and now, the programme has extended its availability to Gairloch and Ullapool.
Lynn Bauermeister, High Life Highland’s Head of Health and Wellbeing, said: “High Life Highland leisure centres are places that are accessible to all, there is something for everyone to help improve or maintain good health and wellbeing and that is why it is so important to ensure as many people as possible in the area have access to them
“By working with the multi-disciplinary teams in Primary Care, we are aiming to reach people who are perhaps not already using our facilities to help meet their non-clinical needs.
“As there has been a positive response to the programme from our initial Dingwall and Tain locations we are very pleased to be able to extend its availability even further across the Highlands to Gairloch and Ullapool.”
Dr Rachel Freeman of Aultbea and Gairloch Medical Practice added: “We are delighted to be able to offer this programme locally, providing a new and accessible way for people to engage with regular physical exercise.
“Keeping physically active is key to improving and maintaining good physical and mental health – and is something we actively promote to our staff and patients.”
As well as gyms, swimming pools, and fitness classes, High Life Highland leisure services also offer a wide range of activities for people with various long term health conditions, which includes both in-person and interactive online classes.
Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s Chief Executive, concluded: “As a charity with the core aim of making lives better, High Life Highland is keen to promote the benefits of improving health and wellbeing to everyone.
“Working in partnership with our local GP Practices in order to achieve these goals has been a rewarding step forward, and the extension of GP MAP to Gairloch and Ullapool is a fantastic opportunity to offer the programme more widely in our communities.”
The opportunity to join the GP Movement and Activity Programme (MAP) is offered via the recommendation of GPs and other health professionals.
After a recommendation is made, participants of the programme will receive a free seven session pass, allowing them to test the benefits of High Life Highland facilities for themselves.
At each of the participating High Life Highland leisure centres, a full demonstration of included facilities will be given by the on-site team, as well as explanations as to how and why these can aid with health and wellbeing improvement.
You can find out more about the initiative on High Life Highland’s website: https://www.highlifehighland.com/leisure/gp-movement-and-activity-programme/
