REACT programme rolls out nationwide

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB joins national rollout of groundbreaking exercise programme REACT

Older people in and around Bristol will soon be able to benefit from REtirement in ACTion (REACT), a group-based exercise programme proven to support people to improve and maintain their mobility and ability to live independently.

REACT classes have been running in some leisure centres and other community spaces in Bristol since 2023 following a successful clinical trial which was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The evidence, published in The Lancet, showed REACT can significantly improve older adults’ physical function for at least two years and reduce health and social care costs. Along with the physical benefits, the sessions are designed with a strong social aspect to help tackle loneliness and promote overall wellbeing.

A team of researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Bath will now work in partnership with local Integrated Care Boards (who pay for and co-ordinate health and social care services), voluntary sector organisations (including Age UK Bristol) and groups of older people.

Over £1million of funding from the Vivensa Foundation will fund the REACT programme to be scaled up in two regions of England – Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and North Central London.

Joe Poole, Director of Bristol Locality Partnerships at Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said: “REACT community-based exercises are being planned in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire as part of our Locality Partnership Falls Prevention programme. This will see people most at risk of a fall, which could cause further health problems in the future, getting involved in physical activities that are enjoyable but also support their mobility.

“By working collaboratively with our integrated health system partners such as Sirona care & health, and partners within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector such as Age UK Bristol, we can use the REACT programme to keep people moving and support them to live healthy and independent lives for longer.

“We are pleased to continue our work to ensure better outcomes for older people within our local communities.”

Kay Libby, Chief Executive Officer at Age UK Bristol, said: “Age UK Bristol is delighted to be the Vivensa Foundation grant REACT lead partner, working across our region. REACT is an evidence-based community exercise class that promotes health and wellbeing to enable older people to maintain independence and physical fitness. This builds on work we have supported for several years, and we are pleased to continue to grow the evidence in this area.”

Professor Afroditi Stathi, lead researcher from the University of Birmingham, said: “As people get older their physical functioning and mobility decrease, in fact, studies show that one in three older people will develop severe mobility limitations. This affects their health, ability to live independently, their quality of life and even how long they live. The REACT study provided strong evidence that this decline can be slowed and even reversed. We have a duty to accelerate the implementation of research, with such strong findings, into routine practice.

“The REACT programme has already been very successful in reaching economically disadvantaged and ethnically diverse communities in a small-scale community roll-out in Bristol. This new study will help us bridge the gap between research and real-world delivery, ensuring more older people across the UK can benefit from evidence-based support. Our goal is to create a national blueprint for commissioning and scaling REACT.”

Susan Kay, Chief Executive Officer of Vivensa Foundation said: “We know that researchers and community innovators already have great evidence for what works. Our recent landscape analysis of the state of ageing-related research funding has shown that one of the key funding gaps is in helping to get these evidence-based interventions adopted at scale. We’re really looking forward to learning more about – and sharing - how this can be done well.”