Cultural Community Partnerships, which operates leisure facilities on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council, has seen all three of its sports centres accredited by Quest.

The sports trust has also achieved a rating of good in the Towards an Excellent Service (TAES) scheme which assesses how local authorities deliver sport in the community.

Elsewhere, three-year funding has been provided by Cultural Community Partnerships in partnership with Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust to employ an activity referral co-ordinator to develop a GP referral scheme at the Pemberton Centre, Rushden; Raunds Manor Sports College and the Nene Centre in Thrapston.

The GP Referral Scheme is supported by local doctors who refer patients with specific health problems to the co-ordinator who provides low impact exercise programmes and activities to increase general health and remove the requirement of medication in many cases.