Notts County Foundation has launched Heart Health, a new pilot programme designed to support adults across Nottinghamshire who have previously experienced a cardiac event and are looking to safely improve their cardiovascular fitness.
The programme is delivered weekly at the Foundation’s community hub, the Portland Centre, and provides a welcoming, supervised environment where participants can rebuild confidence, improve their physical health, and connect with others who are on a similar path to recovery. Sessions are led by specialist cardiac phase IV professionals, ensuring that every participant receives appropriate guidance tailored to their ability, medical background and stage of recovery.
Across the weekly sessions, participants will take part in carefully structured aerobic training such as walking, cycling and low-impact circuits, as well as resistance exercises designed to strengthen muscles and support everyday movement. Flexibility and balance work are also included to help improve mobility, reduce stiffness and lower the risk of falls. In addition to the physical benefits, the group setting provides valuable social connections, offering an encouraging space to share experiences and build motivation alongside others recovering from cardiovascular events.
“We’ve seen first-hand how much exercise can support people recovering from illness through the many programmes we run at the Foundation. With concerns around cardiovascular health growing across Nottingham, we hope these classes will give patients and participants a safe, welcoming place to get the exercise and support they need. And while the physical benefits are clear, the social side is just as important — working in a small group with like-minded people can have a powerful positive impact too.” – Alex Toplis, Health Manager at Notts County Foundation
Heart Health is open to any adult who wishes to improve their cardiovascular health in a structured and supportive environment. Sessions take place every Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm at the Portland Centre, with the pilot running until early 2026. Participants can self-refer to the programme in the same way as the Foundation’s long-running CARE initiative.
At £5 per session, you can expect:
Supervised group exercise sessions to suit all abilities and levels of fitness and cardiac backgrounds
Aerobic training such as walking, cycling, or low-impact circuits
Resistance training to strengthen muscles and support everyday movement
Flexibility and balance exercises to improve mobility and reduce fall risk
Social connections with others recovering from cardiovascular events
Confidence building to help patients return to normal daily life and hobbies
Anyone interested in joining or finding out more can contact Deputy Health Manager: lisa.welch@nottscountyfoundation.org.uk.
The launch of Heart Health marks another step in Notts County Foundation’s commitment to improving health and wellbeing across the city, offering a vital new route for people rebuilding strength, independence and confidence following a cardiac event.
