A partnership between Tees Active and North Tees NHS Foundation Trust has made many people's dreams come true with a dedicated session (Motiv8) for those with neurological conditions.

In just over a year this session, the first of its kind at Tees Active, has gone from strength to strength and is now looking for new ways to cope with the demand on the service.

The idea for Motiv8 came about when a patient at the Medical Rehabilitation Day Unit at the University Hospital of North Tees contacted Billingham Forum to see if they were interested in holding exercise sessions for wheelchair users. The patient had previously struggled to keep fit because of the barriers preventing her from attending the gym and difficulty accessing other leisure services.

Research completed at North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust highlighted a lack of services in the community to support people to exercise.

A bid for a limited amount of funding was applied for from the Tees Neuro Forum, part of the North East Neurosciences Network, and was successful. The circuit-like session was introduced, beginning with a chair-based warm up and then followed by different exercises that range in difficulty to suit the participant. Specialist equipment is used so wheelchair users and people with limited mobility can take part. This includes the MotoMed bike, a passive, assisted or fully active exercise system used worldwide. Tees Active are the first leisure company locally to offer specialist sessions on the MotoMed bike and this is pioneering for the health and wellbeing of people with neurological conditions.

Initially funding was secured for a 6 month pilot course with 12 clients on the scheme. The sessions were so popular with the clients enjoying the social aspect of being based in the community rather than a hospital. Participants could share experiences and make friends whilst attending the sessions. Their carers also attend the classes with them and they themselves benefit from the support of the other carers. A very successful session was born and with the demand for new sessions so high casual use of the MotoMed was also introduced. A second class was started in March 2012 to cope with demand.

Claire Ward from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is the project lead: "It's brilliant to see the sessions working so well. To see this idea become reality is a dream come true."

By September 2012 over 102 people had been referred on to the scheme and it was clear another Motomed bike was needed. The clients set about fundraising for a second bike which was achieved by March 2013. This enabled two people to casually use the bike together and also increase the client base of the session. Further funding was secured from the PCT and 2 further classes have now been set up with between 14-16 clients in each class.

A client from the Motiv8 session said: "Having recently been through the Active Health Programme at the hospital I was looking forward to continuing exercise at the chair based class at Billingham Forum. I find that exercise is a crucial part to managing my MS. I rely on keeping a reasonable quality of life which exercise is a crucial part."

The success of the sessions have had many positive outcomes including: reduction in use of NHS services such as walk in clinics and reduced hospital admissions, improvement in health and wellbeing for the clients, reduction in the risk of falls and improved access to further leisure services. However, with success comes barriers to service development. Limited funding and limited equipment means that the sessions can't be opened up to a wider audience, including GP referral, as existing clients don't want to leave the service and there are currently no facilities to progress from the classes. There is now a waiting list for places on the classes and it is hoped that this service can be extended to our other Leisure Centres; Stockton Splash and Thornaby Pavilion in order to control the waiting list and reach more clients.