Bristol Active Life Project (BALP)
Bristol Active Life Project (BALP)
How physical activity can help people with mental health illness, what activities they can do, how to refer someone to BALP.
The Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) offers physical activity sessions for people who have experienced or are living with a long term mental illness and are receiving AWP secondary mental health services in Bristol.
Physical activity can help people
- improve mental health and wellbeing
- lift mood and help them feel better
- improve physical health
- reduce anxiety
- increase energy levels
- manage weight
- improve quality of sleep
- reduce the risk of developing long term conditions like diabetes or heart disease
- have fun and meet new people
What activities are available
The activities available are:
- badminton
- football
- walking
- tennis
- BoxFit (boxing fitness)
On the programme, people can also get advice and help with healthy eating and managing weight.
People get the most benefit from the sessions by going regularly.
Where the sessions are available
There are sessions at
- Horfield Leisure Centre
- Kingsdown Sports Centre
- Easton Leisure Centre
- St Paul’s Community Sports Academy
- Hengrove Park Leisure Centre
- Bristol Harbourside
- Knowle Tennis Club
- Bristol Boxing Gym
Most sessions are for an hour. The first session is free. After that, each session at a leisure centre costs between £3 and £4. There’s no cost for the walking sessions.
How to access the sessions
These sessions are by referral only.
You can refer a person if they are getting mental health care from an AWP care coordinator or AWP support worker. You can contact the BALP team at awp.balp@nhs.net or call 0117 919 5774 if you’ve got any questions.
If you’re not receiving mental health care from AWP
If you’re not receiving mental health secondary care from AWP, your GP or health care professional can refer you to the Physical Activity Referral Scheme. This scheme is available at Horfield, Henbury, Easton, Kingsdown, Hengrove Park and Bristol Brunel (BBA) leisure centres.
Getting to a session
You can find travel information on getting around Bristol on the Travel West website.
A door-to-door bus service, called Dial-a-ride, is also available for anyone who finds it difficult to use public transport due to mobility or communication impairments. The service costs about the same as public transport and you can use your concessionary bus pass or travel card if you have one.
Support at the sessions
A family member, friend, carer or mental health support worker can go with you if you need support.
All the sessions are run by physical activity specialists and supported by AWP mental health staff.
If you can't attend a session, contact the BALP team at awp.balp@nhs.net or call 0117 919 5774.
Elsewhere on the web
- Aspects and Milestones Trust Go to http://www.milestonestrust.org.uk/ (opens new window)
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Go to http://www.awp.nhs.uk/ (opens new window)
- Bristol Mind Go to http://www.bristolmind.org.uk/ (opens new window)
- Football Foundation Go to http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/ (opens new window)
- Great Western Runners Go to http://www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk/ (opens new window)
- Knowle Lawn Tennis Club Go to http://www.knowlelawntennis.net/index.php (opens new window)
- Missing Link Go to http://www.missinglinkhousing.co.uk/missinglink/ (opens new window)
- Rethink Go to http://www.rethink.org/ (opens new window)
- Second Step Go to http://www.second-step.co.uk/ (opens new window)
- Everyone Active sports and leisure Go to http://www.everyoneactive.com/ (opens new window)
- Time to Change: Let's talk about it Go to http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health (opens new window)
- Cotham Park Tennis Club Go to http://cothamtennis.net/ (opens new window)
- Men's health on Wellaware Go to http://www.wellaware.org.uk/pages/info-and-resources/mens-health (opens new window)