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NEWS
Inactivity initiative aims to engage ‘the non 13 per cent’ through national roll-out
POSTED 24 Jul 2015 . BY Jak Phillips
Life Leisure now hopes other leisure providers will utilise the specialist products as a solution for helping inactive people become more active
Life Leisure is aiming for a national roll-out of its pioneering public health programme which uses web analytics, technology and specialist coaching to place inactive adults on the path towards a healthier lifestyle.

The actiSport scheme, which Stockport-based operator Life Leisure has developed through funding from Sporta, seeks to engage the 87 per cent of UK citizens who aren’t members of a gym or leisure centre by offering a structured programme of physical activity and sport with measurable outcomes. It is based on actiLife, a previous initiative (featured in Health Club Management) based on reintroducing inactive people into gym-based exercise.

Inactive patients can be referred by their GP for the scheme via their local clinical commissioning group (CCG). After an initial 1-1 consultation with an exercise professional, patients receive a ‘pebble’ activity tracker and placed on an eight-week ‘conditioning phase’. Individual activity goals are set and then monitored each week (via an online portal that displays data from the ‘pebble’) by an exercise professional who then contacts the participant to help motivate them and amend goals according to progress.



After the eight weeks, participants are then signposted into coach-led sports sessions designed for ‘non-sporty people’, ranging from badminton and table tennis to netball, swimming, cycling and running. Over the next 20 weeks these classes progress in skill level and intensity as the participants’ fitness levels and confidence increase.

The initial actiSport scheme has produced encouraging results, with the average participant improving their health stats by 20 per cent during the scheme, while 60 per cent of participants reduced their body fat. Having spent two years perfecting the actiLife and actiSport schemes, Life Leisure now hopes other leisure providers will utilise the specialist products as a solution for helping inactive people become more active.

“After almost two years of development we have created a scalable and replicable model which would enable leisure operators to better engage with inactive populations, providing them with longer term potential for new gym members and a fitness market,” said Life Leisure managing director Malcolm McPhail.

“Technology has traditionally been used to help people improve their performance – quicker times, longer distances, heart rate improvements. We are also looking to improve people’s performance but from a very different perspective – getting people who do nothing or very little to doing something and then maybe a little bit more, and of course keep them doing it.”
RELATED STORIES
  FEATURE: Interview: Malcolm McPhail


CEO of Life Leisure on the importance of tapping into the 87 per cent of the population who are physically inactive
  FEATURE: Letters: Write to reply


Clubs must strive to become welcoming, community-focused ‘health hubs', says Malcolm McPhail, CEO of Life Leisure
  Mark Bremner’s 3d Leisure launches fitness facility at Lambeth Academy


After overcoming several hurdles on its way to launch, it was somewhat fitting that LA ActiveLife leisure centre was opened recently by someone well- acquainted with conquering mountains: the youngest woman to ever climb Mount Everest, Bonita Norries.
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NEWS
Inactivity initiative aims to engage ‘the non 13 per cent’ through national roll-out
POSTED 24 Jul 2015 . BY Jak Phillips
Life Leisure now hopes other leisure providers will utilise the specialist products as a solution for helping inactive people become more active
Life Leisure is aiming for a national roll-out of its pioneering public health programme which uses web analytics, technology and specialist coaching to place inactive adults on the path towards a healthier lifestyle.

The actiSport scheme, which Stockport-based operator Life Leisure has developed through funding from Sporta, seeks to engage the 87 per cent of UK citizens who aren’t members of a gym or leisure centre by offering a structured programme of physical activity and sport with measurable outcomes. It is based on actiLife, a previous initiative (featured in Health Club Management) based on reintroducing inactive people into gym-based exercise.

Inactive patients can be referred by their GP for the scheme via their local clinical commissioning group (CCG). After an initial 1-1 consultation with an exercise professional, patients receive a ‘pebble’ activity tracker and placed on an eight-week ‘conditioning phase’. Individual activity goals are set and then monitored each week (via an online portal that displays data from the ‘pebble’) by an exercise professional who then contacts the participant to help motivate them and amend goals according to progress.



After the eight weeks, participants are then signposted into coach-led sports sessions designed for ‘non-sporty people’, ranging from badminton and table tennis to netball, swimming, cycling and running. Over the next 20 weeks these classes progress in skill level and intensity as the participants’ fitness levels and confidence increase.

The initial actiSport scheme has produced encouraging results, with the average participant improving their health stats by 20 per cent during the scheme, while 60 per cent of participants reduced their body fat. Having spent two years perfecting the actiLife and actiSport schemes, Life Leisure now hopes other leisure providers will utilise the specialist products as a solution for helping inactive people become more active.

“After almost two years of development we have created a scalable and replicable model which would enable leisure operators to better engage with inactive populations, providing them with longer term potential for new gym members and a fitness market,” said Life Leisure managing director Malcolm McPhail.

“Technology has traditionally been used to help people improve their performance – quicker times, longer distances, heart rate improvements. We are also looking to improve people’s performance but from a very different perspective – getting people who do nothing or very little to doing something and then maybe a little bit more, and of course keep them doing it.”
RELATED STORIES
FEATURE: Interview: Malcolm McPhail


CEO of Life Leisure on the importance of tapping into the 87 per cent of the population who are physically inactive
FEATURE: Letters: Write to reply


Clubs must strive to become welcoming, community-focused ‘health hubs', says Malcolm McPhail, CEO of Life Leisure
Mark Bremner’s 3d Leisure launches fitness facility at Lambeth Academy


After overcoming several hurdles on its way to launch, it was somewhat fitting that LA ActiveLife leisure centre was opened recently by someone well- acquainted with conquering mountains: the youngest woman to ever climb Mount Everest, Bonita Norries.
MORE NEWS
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
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COMPANY PROFILES
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
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