What is The Phoenix Club?

The Phoenix Club is primarily for individuals with risk factors for, or suffering from, Coronary Heart Disease. It was established by the University of Essex, the NHS, and the local Primary Care Trust. The Phoenix Club opened on May 28th 2004 and was the brainchild of Dr Jeremy Shearman and Mrs Penny Parker. The programme aims to offer physical activity sessions that are enjoyable and accessible in a safe and relaxed environment.
 

Mission Statement

The Mission Statement of the Phoenix Club is to "Provide a stepping stone for sedentary individuals to get back into physical activity in a safe and enjoyable environment". We want to encourage people to form a lifelong physical activity habit and then continue physical activity in a home based programme. The programme is designed around the user and intends to expose the user to all things good about physical activity, lifestyle change and launching a new approach to physical activity and wellness. It will involve a variety of activities that aren't centrally focused around the traditional fitness centre experience and incorporate indoor and outdoor pursuits.

The programme is based on a scheme offered in New Zealand where trained staff offer physical activity in a friendly environment and get people back into enjoying physical activity again. It is a unique scheme in the UK because we plan to offer physical activity to all individuals including movement classes for individuals with very low levels of fitness.  The philosophy is simple; get moving and get back into physical activity because keeping active is habit forming and once you start you'll feel motivated to keep exercising in your own time.

How Long is the Programme?

The programme is generally 12-weeks in duration. Members can remain in the programme after 12-weeks if there is capacity and their clinical report suggests they would benefit from an extended period of physical activity at the Phoenix Club.

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