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A group of adults walk through a wooded area with leafy trees
A group of adults walk through a wooded area with leafy trees

Active Practices

We want to support more GP surgeries across Greater Manchester to join our movement for moving more and sitting less.

One in four people say they would be more active if it was recommended by a healthcare professional

Greater Manchester Moving want to support more GP practices throughout the city region to join our movement and become an Active Practice.

This initiative is about small changes that make a big difference to overall health and wellbeing, for patients, staff, and the wider community.

How to get involved

The Active Practice Charter

The Active Practice Charter is an initiative from The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and Sport England to inspire and celebrate GP practices that commit to increasing activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in staff and patients.

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What does joining the Active Practice Charter involve?

To gain Active Practice status, surgeries will need to show they’ve taken a number of steps, including:

  • Increasing physical activity in patients and staff
  • Reducing sedentary behaviour in patients and staff
  • Partnering with a local physical activity provider to support the practice to get more people active.

There are now 43 General Practices throughout Greater Manchester who are accredited Active Practices, and many more working towards this. Find them all on our live map.

Flyer: What’s involved?

The Active Practice Charter is an initiative that recognises and celebrates practices making positive changes to boost staff and patient wellbeing through physical activity and movement.

Download the Active Practices flyer
A flyer showing information about Active Practices

Next steps

Here are some suggestions depending on what support you need

Active Practices Charter application template
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Download our application template

Complete the Active Practice application template with your examples

Sign up on the RCGP website
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Submit your application to sign up to the Charter

Submit your application form to the RCGP

imogen@gmmoving.co.uk
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Get support from Imogen Halls

Email our Project Lead for Health and Wellbeing for a chat about the Charter, for help with submitting your application, or ideas for workplaces

Active Workplace toolkit v2
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Get your workplace on board

Organise PACC training or find more ideas in the Active Workplace Toolkit

What could this look like in your practice?

We’ve gathered ideas and case stories from across Greater Manchester to show the ways you can build physical activity into your practice.

A group of adults walk through a wooded area with leafy trees
Active Practice ideas for:

Staff

  • Walking meetings
  • Standing desks
  • Staff step challenges
  • Bike racks and/or locks
  • Cycle to work schemes
  • Walk to collect patients from waiting room
  • Walking Wednesdays (optional lunchtime walks)
  • Health/movement as a regular meeting agenda item
  • Strength training seminar with Dr Ashley Gluchowski
  • Health and wellness weeks to try new activities
Case Study: Langworthy Medical Practice use strength training to improve staff wellbeing
Active Practice ideas for:

Patients

  • Staff training to better support active patients e.g. PACC
  • Monthly ‘Walk Talk Walks’ open to patients and staff
  • ‘Walk with a Doc’ walks open to patients and staff
  • Standing area in waiting room
  • Basic exercise equipment in waiting room
  • Signpost to local activities/events/groups
  • Visible messages on noticeboards and TV screens
  • Encourage use of stairs rather than the lifts
  • Use personal experience to influence and inspire patients
  • Organise/promote sponsored walks
Case Story: Urban Village Medical Practice
Active Practice ideas for:

Working with local activity provider

  • Reduced rates at local gym or leisure centre
  • Sign up to be a parkrun Practice or link up with your local parkrun
  • Link up with local walking groups
  • Connect with your local Run Talk Run or Walk Talk Walk
  • Promote/connect with local sport clubs, groups or events
  • Link up with local physical activity provider – find yours here
Case Study: Tower Family Healthcare
Case Study: Active Practices in Trafford reach more of their community through parkrun
Read the full press release
Resources

Further guidance and support

Hints and Tips from RCGP

Hints and Tips from RCGP

Become a parkrun Practice

Become a parkrun Practice

Physical Activity Clinical Champions

Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC) training

Strength Training Essentials

Strength Training Essentials

Active Hospital Toolkit

Create an Active Hospital

Active Workplaces Toolkit for Health and Care Professionals