Leisure at Cheltenham is more than a sports and leisure centre, it plays a vital role in supporting the health, both physical and mental, and wellbeing of both individuals and the wider community.

Engaging with individuals and communities and giving them the appropriate tools to shape their health, fitness and wellbeing is at heart of the Leisure at culture which recognises the power, and effectiveness, of partnering with others to drive and achieve results.

Over the past year, the Leisure at Cheltenham team has developed an innovative approach furthering its pro-active strategy by creating a wide and diverse partnership programme with a range of organisations and providers. The purpose of this strategy is to work with others to improve the collective health and wellbeing of the community, and to provide for those with specific health and wellbeing needs and requirements.

Being more active, fitter and healthier is a key objective promoted by the NHS, health and social care organisations, and charities working with people living with disabilities and health limiting conditions. Enabling people to access high quality sports and leisure facilities plays a key role in delivering this national strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of the population.

Leisure at Cheltenham, managed by the independent charity The Cheltenham Trust, recognises the vital role it can play and the impact it can have in unlocking access to health and fitness for people and communities, who might otherwise not be able to benefit from its services, activities, and facilities. It is continuing to develop and expand its partnership working with agencies, local authorities, health and social care providers, GPs, and the NHS, providing a far reaching, diverse programme.

The range of initiatives, developed to date, have delivered significant, demonstrable social and community impact, not only for the individuals accessing the facilities, but also by improving the collective health and wellbeing reducing the demand on associated health and social services.

This partnership approach has included relaunching a concession card scheme, working with Cheltenham Borough Council, with 326 concession members now signed up. Concession members have participated in 162 active circuit sessions, 327 active aqua aerobics: 94 active bodies sessions and 436 active Pilates sessions.

Leisure at Cheltenham has collaborated with Cheltenham Borough Council on the implementation of a Feed Cheltenham card following research that highlighted that disadvantaged individuals and families using food banks were also impacted both in terms of social interaction and their own health and wellbeing, by not being able to afford to access sports and leisure facilities.

The Feed Cheltenham scheme enables those people and families using food banks to access facilities at Leisure at Cheltenham, with 152 people benefiting to date. The Feed Cheltenham card, launched in April 2023, is a partnership programme which enables cardholders to access 12 sessions including swimming, gym sessions, classes, and children’s soft play sessions. The programme has had such a positive impact, take-up has been high and so successful that the council has extended it. Users are now able to benefit from 12 additional sessions, which started from February 2024.

Again, working in partnership with the local authority, a HAF (holiday activities and food programme) has been established with £10,000 funding secured. Families whose children receive free school meals benefit from sports activities, and other events, during the half term holidays. The funding has provided free swimming, gym sessions and access to family activities. Changes to how HAF funding is allocated has meant Leisure at Cheltenham is now in the process of registering as a HAF provider itself to enable this valuable service to continue.

Working with GPs and the NHS, Leisure at Cheltenham provides a range of activities for people referred for health reasons including stroke rehabilitation, mobility issues following falls, and age-related conditions.

In the 12 months since August 2023, 525 people have benefited from the back to fitness sessions which help individuals to rehabilitate and increase their fitness and health in a planned way. Escape pain sessions have supported 843 participants, with 675 people attending the ACL sessions for those recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Over the past year, the Leisure at team has identified new opportunities to expand its collaborations and partnership working taking the value of its sports and leisure offer to more people and communities with specific needs and requirements.

This further programme engages with charities and organisations, developing programmes where those bodies can benefit from discounted rates during off-peak periods. These new partnerships include working with Macmillan Cancer Support to deliver next step steps cancer rehabilitation offering space and access to the gym facilities; with Cheltenham’s National Star College to provide physical activity for young students with disabilities, providing Gloucestershire adult education offering numeracy skills through fitness, and working with the MS Society establishing a holistic session for people living with multiple sclerosis.

The difference that Leisure at Cheltenham makes for the communities it serves is significant. Its community impact will continue to grow and develop in line with the increased partnership working and new collaborations that will help to drive improved health, fitness, and overall wellbeing for the wider Cheltenham community.

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