A project aiming to get people across East Lancashire more physically active is achieving a social return on investment of £28 for every £1 spent.

The Up and Active programme offers activity sessions based around exercise – including targeted weight management activities, a programme of exercise for children and young people and a dedicated cardiac rehabilitation programme.

The scheme is delivered by a consortium of five East Lancashire leisure trusts – Pendle Leisure Trust, Burnley Leisure Trust, Hyndburn Leisure Trust, Rossendale Leisure Trust and Ribble Valley Borough Council – and was assessed by an external evaluator between March and May 2019.

The resulting social return on investment (SROI) report – carried out by The Evaluator, a company specialising in evaluating charitable projects – showed that in addition to providing an SROI of £28.19, the Up and Active scheme had resulted in 14,213 people reporting better mobility.

A further 3,324 people benefitted from a speedier recovery from an operation and 2,091 people saw an improvement in a specific mental health condition.

In total, 392,677 people have now been referred to a weight management early intervention through the Up and Active programme.

"The results of the report shows that many people are benefiting from the services and activities we collectively provide and are feeling happier, more confident and enjoying life more by using our facilities and services on a regular basis," said a spokesperson for the Up and Active consortium.

The majority of those using the Up and Active programme are deemed vulnerable in some way, struggling to engage with mainstream physical activity, often due to ill health.