Launched in November 2023, the Active Lives Pathway is a preventative initiative led by Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership. It offers a unified referral pathway for inactive adults or those not meeting strength guidelines, with health professionals referring or signposting people to a community programme based on their motivation and confidence levels.
The Active Lives Pathway is the first and only system-wide pathway in Scotland that has embedded muscle-strengthening guidelines into the referral process. This increased the adult population eligible for a referral from 36% to 75%. Including muscle strengthening was seen as a critical prevention and early intervention opportunity, aligning with local and national health and social care outcomes.
Lynne Mann, Lead Allied Health Professional for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said:
"This is tremendous news and an important recognition of the hard work of the whole Active Lives Pathway team over the two years since the pathway launched. Active Lives puts physical activity at the heart of good health, not just as part of rehabilitation and recovery after treatment, but as a way of preventing ill health.
This is a region wide pathway and involves a wide range of activities including 1-1 fitness sessions, strength and balance classes, walking groups and gentle movement. It relies on everyone working together – the health and social care staff who start the referrals, the exercise professionals and volunteers who run the activities, demonstrate collaboration and the joined up working between Dumfries and Galloway Council and the NHS board.
We can see it having real, tangible results. Every pound spent on Active Lives saves the NHS £6.47 in treatment costs – the Active Lives Pathway is proving every day that prevention is not only better than cure, it's much more efficient. We are supporting Dumfries and Galloway to be more active more often.
I'm delighted and very proud that the team's hard work has been recognised with this award."
The Active Lives Pathway saw over 1500 referrals in its first 18 months – a 74% monthly increase from pre-launch. In autumn 2024, support from SWestrans and the council’s Active Travel Team enabled recruitment of four Physical Activity Coaches and a co-ordinator. Since April 2025, approximately 75 new weekly classes and walks have commenced in towns and villages regionally.
The initiative targets those most in need. Older adults, people with health conditions and those from deprived communities all receive equitable access. Notably, 97% of referrals had one or more health conditions, and 47% were aged 65+. 13% of referrals were from our most deprived communities.
Health and social care professionals across Dumfries and Galloway can refer people to an initial free local programme of physical activity based on their confidence, motivation and level of support required to be more active and independent. Programmes have been organised into a tiered framework. The tiers help people choose the right physical activity programme for them.
Cllr Tracey Little, Chair of the council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said:
“I attended the awards ceremony and heard for myself the magnificent work that has gone into receiving this prestigious award. This is a real example of how partnership working can be a real asset for the people of our region. There is so much to celebrate within our communities and this award plays a small part in doing that.”
Cllr George Jamieson, Vice-Chair of the council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee commented:
“I would like to congratulate all of the staff who work tirelessly in this field of work. This award is some recognition for that hard work and shows what can be achieved via partnership working. I am very proud of the team and feel this work gives a great indication of the importance of improving physical health from those who are referred via partnership.”
For more information please visit https://dgdoingmore.co.uk/active-lives-pathway/. To find a class or walk near you please visit https://dgdoingmore.co.uk/active-communities/