Purposeful Active Living
Charity 1208566
https://www.purposefulactiveliving.org.uk/
Overview
Summary
Purposeful Active Living appears to be a recently established charity that formalises and expands an existing community-based physical-activity model for older adults and people living with disability or long-term conditions. Its role is broader than exercise provision: it combines falls prevention, functional movement and social connection to support independence, while positioning this work as a contribution to reducing pressure on health and adult social care systems across the West Midlands.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Ladywood
Confidence: high
Direct PAL venue-page evidence advertises a weekly Thursday Strength and Balance session at Ladywood Leisure Centre. Birmingham City Council independently identifies this as Ladywood Leisure Centre in Ladywood.
- Purposeful Active Living — Ladywood Leisure Centre
Direct evidence: PAL lists a mixed-ability Strength and Balance class every Thursday, 2:00pm–3:00pm, at Ladywood Leisure Centre. - Birmingham City Council — Ladywood Leisure Centre directory entry
Direct evidence: the council identifies Ladywood Leisure Centre in Ladywood.
Sutton Mere Green
Confidence: medium
PAL's current Sit & Get Fit activity page names Mere Green Community Centre as a delivery location, and PAL also reports a partnership with Birmingham City Council and Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme for dementia sessions. Birmingham City Council's official election material identifies Mere Green Community Centre as being in Sutton Mere Green ward. The PAL page does not give a class timetable or confirm that the listed session is ongoing at the time of assessment.
- Purposeful Active Living — Sit & Get Fit
Direct evidence: PAL lists Mere Green Community Centre among the locations for its Sit & Get Fit activity. - Purposeful Active Living — homepage
Direct evidence: PAL says it partnered with Birmingham City Council and Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme to facilitate dementia sessions. - Birmingham City Council — Mere Green Community Centre directory entry and Sutton Mere Green ward polling-station notice
Direct evidence supporting location: the council identifies Mere Green Community Centre; its ward polling-station notice identifies Mere Green Community Centre as being in Sutton Mere Green ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports delivery at Ladywood Leisure Centre and identifies Mere Green Community Centre as a PAL activity location, but PAL does not publish a complete, dated Birmingham timetable. Other Birmingham locations may therefore be active but cannot be evidenced confidently enough for inclusion.
- PAL's statement that it delivers classes 'across Birmingham' supports a broader citywide operational ambition or reach, but the available venue-level evidence does not establish regular current delivery across all Birmingham districts or wards.
- The Bromsgrove registered address should not be treated as a Birmingham operational site; the available evidence does not identify a PAL-owned or permanent administrative base in Birmingham.
- The evidence indicates PAL uses community and leisure venues rather than owning them. It does not establish the duration, frequency or contractual basis of venue use beyond the advertised Ladywood class.
- The Birmingham City Council and Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme partnership materially extends PAL's reach in Sutton Coldfield, but the homepage does not specify the individual venues, dates, scale or continuing status of the dementia sessions.
Additional evidence needed
- A current PAL timetable showing every Birmingham venue, class type, day and start/end date.
- Confirmation from PAL or Birmingham City Council/Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme of the current locations and status of the dementia-session partnership.
- A current venue list or service-delivery report distinguishing ongoing Birmingham sessions from historic, pilot or planned locations.
- Confirmation of whether PAL has any staffed, leased or owned Birmingham premises in addition to hired delivery venues.
Areas of work
- Disability
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A continuity vehicle for an existing local model
The charity appears to have been created not to begin a new service, but to sustain, strengthen and scale work previously delivered through PAL Fitness & Education CIC.
Why it matters
This suggests PAL may already hold delivery experience, local relationships and a tested offer, despite its recent charitable registration. Its development should therefore be understood as an organisational transition and expansion rather than a wholly new intervention.
Show evidence
“Purposeful Active Living was established in June 2024 to grow work across the West Midlands previously delivered by PAL Fitness & Education CIC.”
Source:Organisation“The charity states that its independent board has enabled its West Midlands programme to be sustained, enhanced and expanded.”
Source:Organisation
Independence is the organising outcome
PAL appears to use physical activity as a practical route to prolonged independence, rather than treating participation or fitness as ends in themselves.
Why it matters
This places PAL between community exercise, prevention and social-care support. It may be particularly relevant to organisations concerned with ageing well, falls prevention, dementia, disability inclusion and avoiding avoidable care needs.
Show evidence
“The charity's objects include promoting physical and mental health among people with long-term health conditions and disabilities through activity sessions improving movement and mobility.”
Source:Charity Commission“PAL delivers classes designed to help participants stay independent for longer.”
Source:Organisation“Its classes include strength and balance, postural stability instruction, adapted yoga, dementia classes and falls-prevention activity.”
Source:Organisation
Partnerships may be a core route to reach
PAL appears to extend its specialist offer through public-health and community-network partnerships, including targeted programmes for particular conditions and localities.
Why it matters
This may make PAL a useful connector between statutory prevention priorities and accessible local provision. It also suggests that its impact may depend partly on referral pathways, commissioned relationships and trusted community venues.
Show evidence
“A free 12-week Healthy Lives Programme for adults aged 50+ is funded by Walsall Public Health.”
Source:Organisation“PAL partnered with Birmingham City Council and Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme to facilitate dementia sessions.”
Source:Organisation“PAL works in partnership with Parkinson's UK on sessions for adults with Parkinson's or long-term health conditions.”
Source:Organisation
- The number, profile and geographic distribution of participants are not available.
- There is no outcome evidence on mobility, falls, wellbeing, independence or reduced demand on services.
- It is unclear which partnerships are ongoing, commissioned or limited to individual programmes.
Remaining uncertainties
- Participant, attendance and referral data by programme, location and beneficiary group.
- Independent or routine outcome data, including retention, mobility, wellbeing and falls-related measures.
- Information on funding mix, delivery venues, staffing and the role of PAL Fitness & Education CIC after the charity's formation.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Purposeful Active Living deliver physical and social activities, to benefit the public, but in particular older adults, adults with a disability & adults with Long Term Health Conditions. Pal's physical activity offer includes Strength and Balance classes, Postural Stability instruction (PSI) delivery and other physical activities to benefit participants physical and mental health.
Charity objects
TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC, PRIMARILY (BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY) AMONGST THOSE WITH LONG TERM HEALTH CONDITIONS AND/OR DISABILITIES, THROUGH THE PROVISION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SESSIONS DIRECTED AT IMPROVING MOVEMENT AND MOBILITY.