Did you know that regular physical activity can help you manage a range of medical conditions and that Stockport now provides their award-winning PARiS (Physical Activity Referral in Stockport) scheme borough wide.

Launched back in 1992 PARiS was initially offered to residents living in a certain number of wards in Stockport, but because of its popularity and effectiveness in managing health problems it has now been rolled out to all those in Stockport with relevant medical conditions. PARiS aims to improve the health and wellbeing of participants and continues to make a real difference to people's quality of life.

Physical Activity Referral in Stockport (PARiS) - previously known as 'Exercise on Prescription', was the first referral programme of its type in England and has been praised nationally for good practice and its results over the years. Next month, representatives from the scheme will present at this years annual British Heart Foundation Conference around the impact the programme is having in supporting sedentary people will chronic ill health, to become more physically active.

A recent evaluation of the scheme demonstrated that as a direct result of the support and encouragement delivered by the PARiS team, over 70% of participants have become more physically active after their referral. Now that the scheme is available across Stockport more people than ever before can access the service allowing them achieve positive health and lifestyle benefits as well as an improvement in their health.

Run and administered by Stockport Sports Trust in partnership with NHS Stockport, the service can be accessed by referral from a GP or other health professional. PARiS provides one to one expert advice from fully qualified health and fitness professionals who have vast amounts of experience of working with individuals who suffer from numerous medical conditions, and who may suffer with confidence when it comes to exercise.

Once participants have undergone their initial consultation they receive a structured plan and can start to attend supervised and subsidized physical activity opportunities across a very broad spectrum including gym, swim, home based exercise, walking and group sessions.