Manchester Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS)
If your mental or physical health is stopping you from being active, Manchester PARS is here to help.
Manchester Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS)
If your mental or physical health is stopping you from being active, Manchester PARS is here to help.
Here you can manage your health journey through a physical activity referral from a health professional.
There are many reasons you might be referred. It could relate to your physical or mental health or both.
You would be referred by a professional who is familiar with you and your health barrier, and who feels that increased activity levels could improve your health.
We work with qualified community providers and instructors to deliver sessions in local leisure or community centres. We offer a range of different activities, so we will always try and find something to suit you! Some sessions are free of charge, and others carry a small cost.
For more information, please contact the team on: 0161 974 7839 or physicalactivityteam@mcractive.com
Welcome to Manchester PARS.
PARS offers specialist support and physical activity opportunities for people living with long term health conditions that require a tailored delivery approach.
Our exercise sessions follow an evidence-based approach and are specific to meet the needs of conditions such as coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Diabetes and stroke amongst other long term health conditions.
Complete a referral
If you are a GP, a Neighbourhood Health Worker or community organisation looking to refer a client to the Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS), you need to read through the referral guidance before completing a referral form.
Received your referral?
On receipt of your referral, you will be invited to attend a one-to-one consultation with one of Manchester Active’s Physical Activity Referral officers (PARO).
The initial consultation will deliver an in-depth health screening tool to help ensure you are prescribed the most suitable activity session to meet your health needs. Your PARO will work with you to identify and agree goals that are important to you, whist helping you increase your activity levels across a 12-week intervention.
All activity sessions will be booked by your PARO at your initial consultation. You will be reviewed after a 12-week programme of sessions with regards your progress through to the next stage of your health and fitness journey.
We’ve also pulled together some helpful information and frequently asked questions to help guide you on receipt of your referral and the next steps.
Ready to start your wellbeing journey?
If you’ve been assessed as ready for independent exercise, we’re here to help you take the next step.
We understand that finding the right activities to support your health, manage a specific condition, or simply boost your overall wellbeing can feel overwhelming.
There are a range of opportunities available across Manchester, so use our activity finder to discover what’s near you.
Junior PARS
Looking for support to help your child become more active and build healthier habits?
More Life’s Junior Physical Activity Referral Service (Junior PARS) supports children and young people across Manchester to enjoy moving more and find activities that work for them and their family.
Manchester is working in partnership with More Life to raise awareness of Junior PARS, encourage appropriate referrals and help families connect with physical activity opportunities across the city.
The programme also provides healthy lifestyle support to help families make positive, lasting changes together.
Support for the Whole Family
Being active is often easier when everyone gets involved. Alongside helping children and young people find ways to move more, More Life provides support for parents and caregivers around healthy eating, snacks, sleep and family wellbeing.
Manchester supports this by helping connect families to the wide range of sport and physical activity opportunities available across Manchester.
Find out more and make a referral
Health professionals can refer eligible children and young people, and parents or guardians can also make a referral directly to More Life.
Visit the More Life Junior PARS website to check eligibility, find out more and make a referral.
Home Activity
For anyone looking to improve their health but with no serious ongoing health conditions and low risk of any developing in the near future, you can discover home exercise videos, guides or become a ‘Go’ account holder.
‘Go’ is a new way to manage your health and activity across our city. By registering, you can access, view and control the when, where and how you take part in physical activity, all from one central location.
Sustainability
We’re proud to support Manchester’s sustainability pledge to reduce carbon emissions and build a greener, healthier city for all.
As part of our commitment, we’re making a simple but impactful change: moving from printed letters to digital communication via text and email.
Last year, we received 8,586 referrals into our service—a number that continues to grow as we want to help Mancunians move more and have a more active lifestyle. While this is fantastic news for public health, the environmental impact of sending thousands of letters is not.
By switching to digital communication, we will:
- Reduce our carbon footprint and paper waste
- Save money that can be reinvested into community services
- Reach clients faster, helping them begin their exercise journey sooner
This change is a win for the planet, a win for our clients, and a win for Manchester.
Together, we’re making movement matter—for our health and our environment.
Stroke Rehabilitation
Manchester City Council’s Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS) works in collaboration with the NHS Stroke Team to deliver a citywide exercise rehabilitation programme for people who have had a stroke.
Hear from participants, health professionals and PARS.
Falls Prevention
What does falls prevention look like in practice?
Delivered citywide in partnership with the NHS and LCO, hear from Manchester residents who have taken part in Manchester’s falls prevention programme, alongside insights from a Physical Activity Referral Officer and members of the NHS Community Rehabilitation Team.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Heart health recovery doesn’t end when treatment does.
Through the Manchester Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS), we’re proud to work alongside NHS partners to deliver specialist Cardiac Rehabilitation physical activity sessions that help people living with coronary heart disease and other cardiac conditions rebuild confidence, improve health outcomes and take positive steps towards a more active lifestyle.
The programme is about much more than exercise. It’s about helping people regain confidence, connect with others facing similar challenges and continue their recovery journey in a supportive environment.
If you are living with a cardiac condition and think you could benefit from specialist support, speak to your GP or healthcare professional about a referral to Manchester PARS. We’d also encourage healthcare professionals working across cardiac services to learn more about how PARS can support patients beyond clinical rehabilitation.
How was our service?
Thank you for choosing Manchester PARS.
