What’s this project all about?
This project is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
A pilot project in Calderdale is helping people who are off work with musculoskeletal conditions build confidence, improve their health and return to work through physical activity and personalised support.
The Healthy Working Life, Active My Way Fit4Work pilot supports people who are currently employed but signed off sick with a FIT note due to conditions such as back pain, joint problems or injuries.
The service provides tailored one-to-one support with Better Living Trainers to help people manage their condition through physical activity, improve their overall wellbeing and make long-term lifestyle changes.
People can also access support around weight management, alcohol reduction and emotional wellbeing, alongside signposting to other local services when needed.
What difference has it made?
Lauren, a Better Living Trainer, said:
“Our approach is completely centred around the individual. We work with people at their own pace and focus on what matters to them. For some people that might start with simply building confidence to leave the house or try gentle activity for the first time.”
Sessions take place at a range of community locations across Calderdale, including local leisure centres, with home visits available for people who need them. Activities can include walking, home exercise, gym sessions, swimming or group exercise classes.
Lauren added:
“A big part of the service is helping people feel confident enough to keep being active independently after our support ends. Work is a health outcome too, so improving someone’s strength, confidence and wellbeing can play a huge role in helping them return to work and everyday life.”
What do people think about it?
For people like Nisha (not real name to protect identity), the service has had an enormous positive impact on health, confidence and wellbeing.
Nisha was referred by a social prescriber after being signed off work with a badly sprained ankle and low back pain. She’d never used a gym before and felt extremely nervous about attending her first session at Sowerby Bridge Pool and Fitness Centre.
Lauren said:
“Nisha was really anxious when she first came to us and agreed to try just one session to see how she felt. Over time her confidence grew massively. She went from being completely inactive to exercising four days a week by the end of the programme.”
Over four months, Nisha attended regular gym sessions with Lauren and began to notice improvements not only in her physical health but also in her mental wellbeing.
She said the sessions gave her something positive to look forward to each week and that she always left “feeling good”. By the end of the programme, she reported feeling less anxious and more confident.
As an Asian woman who had never exercised before, attending the gym was a significant step.
Lauren said:
“It was incredibly rewarding to see how much Nisha changed over the weeks. She never missed a session and became much more confident in herself and in being active. She told me it was nice to have somewhere to go that wasn’t just home or work.”
Although Nisha still experiences some pain, she says her symptoms have improved since becoming more active. She has now returned to work and is considering joining the gym to continue her progress independently.
What’s next for the project?
The pilot has strengthened partnerships between local services and referral organisations across Calderdale, helping ensure support reaches people who may not otherwise access it. The team hopes the support provided by Healthy Working Life funding will continue and become part of the long-term delivery model, helping more people improve their health, reduce inequalities and stay connected to work and community life.
You can also read the Active MY Way – helping people to return to work through movement (Nisha’s story) as a PDF file.