Community Falls Strength and Balance Exercise Service

What is the Community Falls Strength and Balance Exercise Service?

The Community Falls Strength and Balance Exercise Service offers a structured programme of progressive strength and balance exercises to support people aged 65 and older who are at risk of falling (or aged 50 and older if you have had any falls in the last 12 months due to a condition that affects your balance e.g., Stroke/ Parkinson’s disease, etc).

This service is now available across the following areas of Essex:

  • Mid Essex – Braintree, Chelmsford, Maldon
  • West Essex – Harlow, Epping Forest, Uttlesford
  • South East Essex – Castle Point, Rochford
  • South West Essex – Basildon, Brentwood, Wickford, Billericay

We provide exercise sessions at community venues or, where required, in your home, depending on individual needs and availability.

How the service can help you

Our service is designed to:

  • Improve muscle strength and balance to reduce your risk of falling
  • Increase your confidence and mobility
  • Support you to live a more independent and active life
  • Provide advice on home safety, vision, medication, and health-related risks

All programmes are tailored to individual needs and delivered by trained professionals, following NICE guidelines (2025) and best practice.

Who is eligible?

You can access this service if you:

  • Are aged 65 or older, and feel unsteady, have fallen, or are worried about falling
    OR
  • Are aged 50–64, with a condition that affects your balance (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or other neurological impairments)
  • Live in any of the service areas listed above

We accept self-referrals, as well as referrals from GPs, health and social care professionals, and community organisations.

What to expect

  • Telephone screening by a trained professional to confirm basic eligibility.
  • Initial assessment at your home by a trained exercise instructor to assess your balance, strength, fear of falling, and suitability for the programme
  • A 12-week personalised exercise programme, delivered either in a group setting or 1:1 depending on your needs
  • Weekly exercise sessions (up to 12 weeks) with the exercise instructor, plus at-home exercises (“homework”) to do in between
  • Final assessment to measure progress and provide guidance on keeping active beyond the programme
  • Follow-up call after 12 weeks to review falls history and activity levels

Assessments will use standard tools recommended by national guidelines, including:

  • Timed Up and Go Test (mobility)
  • 30-Second Chair Rise (leg strength)
  • Short Falls Efficacy Scale – International (confidence/fear of falling)

How can you be referred?

You can self-refer by completing the Contact Us form below (please include all requested details), or by contacting us:

Tel: 0300 300 1843  – speak to our service admin

Email us:  FallsStrength&BalanceExerciseService@nelft.nhs.uk

The service operates Monday to Friday, 08:30–16:30, excluding bank holidays.

 

Self referral form

General questions

Note: Questions marked by * are mandatory


Information for Referrers and Clinicians

If you have any questions regarding clinical eligibility, referral pathways, or programme suitability, please contact the Falls Strength and Balance Service Lead:
Tel: 0300 300 1843
Email us: FallsStrength&BalanceExerciseService@nelft.nhs.uk 

Referrals

Clinicians can refer patients in two ways:

Inclusion criteria

Patients should meet one of the following:

  • Aged 65 years or older, with:
    • A history of falls
    • Unsteadiness when walking or standing
    • Fear of falling
  • Aged 50–64 years, with a neurological condition that increases falls risk (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.)

And must meet all of the following:

  • Medically stable & able to participate in an exercise programme
  • Demonstrates ability to benefit from a strength and balance programme
  • Able to mobilise independently or with minimal supervision, with or without a walking stick.
  • Resident in and registered with a GP in one of the eligible areas (Basildon, Brentwood, Billericay, Wickford, Castle Point, Rochford, Chelmsford, Maldon, Braintree, Harlow, Epping Forest, or Uttlesford)

Exclusion criteria

Patients are not suitable if they have any of the following uncontrolled conditions or limitations:

  • Cardiovascular risks:
    • Angina
    • Resting systolic BP >180 mmHg or diastolic BP >100 mmHg
    • Tachycardia >100 bpm
    • Hypotension during exercise
    • Decompensated heart failure
  • Respiratory limitations:
    • Severe breathlessness impacting safe participation
  • Neurological or sensory factors:
    • Uncontrolled visual or vestibular disturbance
    • Inability to maintain upright sitting posture due to neurological impairment
    • Severe cognitive impairment affecting understanding or safety
  • Other exclusions:
    • Uncontrolled pain that prevents participation
    • Acute systemic illness (e.g. active cancer treatment, pneumonia, sepsis)