The NHS Health Improvement Fund supported Nuvo Wellbeing’s Dance for Health programme, helping people across County Durham and Darlington get active by taking part in free and low-cost community dance sessions.
Over 12 months, 40 people took part. Most were referred by GPs or social prescribing teams, helping support reach people who could benefit from it most.
People in our region find it difficult to get active, how can we help?
In England, the North East has had the lowest healthy life expectancy at birth in every period since records began. Office for National Statistics figures published in February 2026 show healthy life expectancy in the region is 57.0 years for men and 56.9 years for women, nearly four years below the England average.
Physical inactivity is one part of this. Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey shows that 27.5% of adults across County Durham and Tyne and Wear are physically inactive, compared with 24.7% across England. County Durham is one of the local authority areas where inactivity is higher than the national average.
For some people, getting active is not as simple as joining a class. Cost, confidence, isolation, health conditions and services that do not feel designed for them can all get in the way.
The NHS recognises the importance of prevention and self-care: supporting people before their health worsens, and helping them stay well in their own communities.
The NHS Health Improvement Fund, managed by Point North, supports voluntary and community groups across County Durham and Darlington to do that work locally. Awards of up to £7,500 help frontline organisations cover the costs of projects that improve health and wellbeing.
Nuvo Wellbeing’s story: dancing for health
Nuvo Wellbeing created safe, welcoming dance sessions where people could get active, move at their own pace, build confidence and spend time with others.
Participants were referred by GPs and social prescribing teams. Free and low-cost sessions helped remove the financial barrier, while the community setting made the programme feel more accessible than traditional exercise classes.
Across the year, 40 people took part. 90% of participants reported improved mobility, strength and fitness. 88% said their mental health had improved, and 83% experienced reduced stress, anxiety or low mood.
The programme also helped people feel less alone. Three-quarters of participants built stronger social networks and said they felt less isolated.
Participants described the difference in their own words.
“I feel so much lighter and happier after the sessions.”
“I now have friends I see every week. It’s completely changed my life.”
The project also brought wider benefits. Three new volunteers joined the programme, and local community spaces were used for regular sessions where people could exercise, talk and build friendships.
What the funding made possible
Helping people stay active, connected and confident can reduce pressure on health services later. It also makes daily life better now.
Dance for Health worked because it was local, welcoming and affordable. It reached people through trusted referral routes, then gave them a reason to keep coming back.
Through the NHS Health Improvement Fund, Point North can support practical local projects that help people look after their health in ways that fit their lives.
For Nuvo Wellbeing, the funding helped strengthen a programme already rooted in the community. For the people who took part, it meant a regular place to move, talk, laugh and feel better.