Website of the Department of Health

Findings from Local Exercise Action Pilots

The DH, the Countryside Agency and Sport England funded £2.5 million for a number of Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP) across England between 2003 and 2005. The pilots tested different community approaches to increasing physical activity in deprived areas. Five pilots are adopting a community wide approach and the remainder are targeting specific populations including younger and older people. One of the pilots focuses on free swimming for young people.

• Download Learning from LEAP - A report on the Local Exercise Action Pilots (PDF, 3833K)
• The General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ)

National evaluation of LEAP pilot projects

Final national evaluation report

Published: 02/04/2007 16:40

This report by Leeds Metropolitan University sets out the evidence on which recommendations for commissioners, providers and evaluators of physical activity interventions were made, published in December 2006.

• The national evaluation of LEAP: final report on the national evaluation of the Local Exercise Action Pilots

2005 survey

To help assess the impact of the Local Exercise Action Pilot Initiative, community-wide surveys were carried out by Ipsos MORI in five LEAP locations, plus an England-wide control sample in 2003 and 2005. The surveys assessed change over time in levels of physical activity, physical activity campaign awareness and attitudinal indicators such as understanding of physical exercise benefits. A copy of the survey instrument is available as a management paper on request from the DH.

• Download report (DOC, 2137K)

Pilots: aims and target audience

Each LEAP pilot has specific aims and objectives as shown on this page.

• Pilots: aims and target audience

The health benefits of physical activity

There is substantial evidence to support the role of physical activity in promoting good health. Regular physical activity decreases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and the associated risk factors such as hypertension and obesity. Physical activity also has a role in preventing falls among older people.