Moving More, Living Longer

Community Wellness Services is developing a targeted programme to help adults at increased risk of cardiovascular disease become more active, improve their heart health and build healthier habits for the future.

Moving More, Living Longer has been designed to reduce barriers to physical activity and provide accessible, community-based support for people who may benefit most.

Why This Project Matters

Physical inactivity, high blood pressure, obesity and associated long-term health conditions can significantly affect people's health and quality of life.

For many people, simply being told to exercise more isn't enough. Health conditions, confidence, access to suitable activities and a lack of ongoing support can all make becoming more active difficult.

Moving More, Living Longer takes a supportive community approach – combining appropriate physical activity with health education, individual support, monitoring and opportunities to connect with others.

The programme has also been developed in response to growing demand from local primary care and a need to provide more support for underserved groups.

The programme is designed for adults aged 31–75 who may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• diabetes
• obesity
• physical inactivity

There will be a particular focus on reaching people and communities who can experience greater barriers to accessing physical activity and preventative health support, including men and people from South Asian and Black communities.

How the Programme Works

Participants will follow a structured 12-week pathway, beginning with an individual consultation and progressing through supported exercise, education and health monitoring.

What We Want to Achieve

Moving More, Living Longer is designed to address some of the key factors associated with cardiovascular health, including physical inactivity, high blood pressure, obesity and social isolation.

Through the programme, we want to help people:

• Move more - build physical activity gradually and develop the confidence to remain active.
• Understand their health - increase awareness of cardiovascular health and the role that everyday behaviours can play.
• Build sustainable habits - set achievable goals and develop changes that can continue beyond the programme.
• Feel supported - provide a welcoming environment where participants can exercise alongside others with appropriate professional support.
• Continue being active - create a pathway from the 12-week programme into suitable ongoing community activity.

Measuring Our Impact

Evaluation is built into the programme so we can understand not simply how many people take part, but what changes as a result.

Measures will be taken at baseline, week 6 and week 12, including:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Physical activity
• Mental wellbeing
• Attendance
• Activity tracking

Physical activity will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).

This will help us understand the impact of the programme, identify what works and build further evidence around the role community-based physical activity can play in preventative health.

Interested in working with us?

If you're a healthcare professional, community organisation, funder or potential partner and would like to find out more about Moving More, Living Longer, we'd love to hear from you.