REDDITCH residents won’t need a referral from a health professional to get on a New Year health improvement course, which is launching in Winyates next year.

The ‘Live Well, Be Well Winyates’ course aims to help attendees improve a number of health conditions through structured activities, lifestyle and dietary advice.

Attendees will have a six-week activity programme prescribed for them by qualified instructors, have access to Redditch Borough Council community exercise sessions, on top of weekly 90-minute core sessions in Winyates.

Access to courses of this type are usually only available on referral from GPs or other health professionals, but in this instance residents can also self-refer.

Hayley Gwilliam, health intervention officer from the Sports Development team at Redditch Borough Council, said: “These courses provide professional support and advice on improving your health, including healthy eating and increasing daily activity.

“On top of that attendees can access all of our community sessions for free for the duration of the course.”

To be eligible for the scheme attendees must be over 16, inactive, and with a condition that would benefit from the programme which could include being overweight, stressed or depressed, having type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, impaired strength or mobility, high blood pressure, stroke, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or COPD.

To make an enquiry on the course, which costs £2 a week, contact Hayley on 01527 881404 or sd@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.