Information for health professionals
The Department of Health White Paper: Choosing Health (November 2004) endorses the Green Gym as an effective way of providing exercise and developing social networks.
Health professionals from across the UK are now recommending patients to a BTCV Green Gym, because of its proven ability to provide physical activity, relieve stress and increase feelings of well-being.
Recommendation can help health professionals to hit demanding targets in the shorter term, whilst reducing workloads and spending in the longer term.
Since its inception, the BTCV Green Gym programme has been subject to three independent evaluations by the School of Health and Social Care at Oxford Brookes University.
Benefits for Patients
These independent evaluations indicate the following:
- Taking part in moderate physical activity at this level can reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes by up to 50%
- The range of activities on offer in the Green Gym, allows participants to be active at a level that suits the individual's capabilities
- Participation in the Green Gym can improve muscular strength. Increased strength can lead to improved balance, fewer falls and increased independence - benefits that are particularly important for older people
- The Green Gym conveys a range of social and mental health benefits
- Working with others encourages participation in the local community
- Learning a new skill and successfully completing a task builds confidence and self-esteem
- Working out in the fresh air, in contact with nature, can relieve stress, anxiety, and help with depression
- Participants also increased their 'general' level of physical activity outside the Green Gym
Everyone who takes part in a BTCV Green Gym can gain in fitness, health and well-being, including those who experience isolation and mental or physical health problems.
In the early findings of the National Evaluation of BTCV Green Gym, produced by Oxford Brookes University, 100% of participants agreed that their health and self-confidence benefited. Plus, they all felt more positive about themselves through their involvement in Green Gym activities.
The sessions help to increase people's life skills and offer ample opportunity to make new friends and discover new interests.
BTCV Green Gyms are accredited
BTCV staff and volunteers are trained through the BTCV Green Gym training programme. This is accredited through the BTCV Institute.
It includes warm up and cool down stretches, leadership skills, health and safety, working with people with physical and mental health needs and planning and delivering a Green Gym session.
BTCV is continually developing training for Green Gym leaders. This is available to other organisations, as part of our Green Gym Licence Agreement.
If you want to find out more about recommending patients to a Green Gym, contact your nearest BTCV office, or your Green Gym Operations Manager in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you would like to find out more about starting a Green Gym project or partnering with BTCV please visit our Start a Green Gym pages.
