Making healthy lifestyle choices
Local services
Live Well Dorset is a free health and wellbeing service funded by Dorset and BCP councils. Its purpose is to support people to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices and behaviours. They offer and range of different support for including helping people to:
- move more
- stop smoking
- drink less
- manage weight
To find out more click the link below for their website. You can self-refer via the website or by phone on 0800 840 1628.
LiveWell Dorset | Health & Wellness Coaching | Free Advice & Support · LiveWell Dorset
Help & Care are a Dorset based service focused on providing support to people living with a long-term health condition, carers and those who are isolated or housebound. What makes Help & Care different is their person-centred approach. They provide a range of service to help people manage their health and wellbeing including social prescribing (connecting people with community and social activities to support their health and wellbeing) and health coaching. Referrals can be made via the website below or 0300 111 3303.
Exercise referral schemes
Many council run leisure facilities offer exercise referral schemes for people with various health conditions (including stroke). These schemes offer discounted rates (usually for 12 weeks) for people to use their leisure facilities to increase physical activity. Referrals need to come via a health professional (you can talk to a member of our stroke team about this if you would be interested in being referred).
Links to local exercise referral schemes
BH Live (centres: Littledown, Pelhams, Sir David English, Stokewood, Queen’s Park, Corfe Mullen) Guidance for Healthcare Professionals | BH Live Active
Everyone Active (Rossmore leisure centre, Ashdown leisure centre, Poole Dolphin leisure centre, Blandford, Weymouth) Download referral form
The Junction Sports and Leisure centre, Broadstone The Junction - Exercise referral leaflet
Active for Health Lifestyle Hub (The Hub at Verwood, Two Rivers Meet leisure centre in Christchurch, QE leisure centre in Wimborne, Ferndown Leisure centre, Purbeck leisure centre) please click here to download the referral form.
Ringwood Freedom Leisure centre – tbc
Finding local activities
Active Dorset's website has an Activity Finder to help you browse and view activities and events near you, many of which are free. You can access their activity finder here: Activity Finder | Active Dorset
Online exercise plans
Created by the Stroke Association in partnership with the charity A Stroke of Luck. The programme focused on three different mobility groups, Red, Amber and Green. Online stroke fitness classes
Useful apps
NHS Food Scanner app
Start finding healthier swaps today!
NHS Weight Loss Plan app
A 12-week plan to help you lose weight.
NHS Couch to 5K app
A running app for absolute beginners.
NHS Active 10 app
Track and build up your daily walks – start with 10 minutes every day!
NHS Drink Free Days app
For the days you do not want to drink alcohol.
NHS Quit Smoking app
Daily support to help you quit smoking and start breathing easier.
Useful information and tools
This NHS information outlines key information about understanding calories and losing weight.
NHS choices - Managing your weight - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
This online calculator helps you to understand alcohol units and calories per drink
