Local Enhancement of National Exercise Referral Scheme 2026

Overview

This contract represents a new commissioning arrangement for the continuation of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) enhancement work, building on the existing service currently delivered through the Move More Programme, which is due to end in March 2026. Delivered in partnership with Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the programme has enhanced the national NERS model locally to improve uptake, retention and long term engagement in physical activity, particularly for people living in areas of greatest need. The overarching aim across both Local Authorities remains the same: to better support individuals referred into NERS by making the service more responsive, informed and better connected to wider community based physical activity provision. This new contract ensures continuity of the successful enhancement approach while enabling further development and embedding of improvements identified through delivery to date. The Move More Programme has provided tailored local enhancements to NERS within both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, responding to specific local contexts while contributing to the shared objective of increasing physical activity among less active populations. This requirement is not subject to competitive tender due to the exempted contracts section paragraph 3 where (a) (b) and (c) apply (Procurement act 2023). Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils have been selected as the sole providers due to their unique position as existing NERS delivery partners, their proven capability to deliver localised enhancements, and the nature of the grant funding arrangement under public sector legislation. Delivering both programmes in tandem enables a coordinated approach across the region, while still allowing each Council to tailor delivery to the specific needs of their respective communities. This structure supports the sharing of best practice and facilitates a more consistent yet responsive service model. Both Councils are already established delivery partners of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) and have demonstrated the capacity and local insight necessary to enhance the scheme through the Move More Programme. This enhancement focuses on increasing physical activity uptake, retention, and long-term engagement among populations with the highest levels of inactivity and health inequalities.