DC LEISURE & NHS ROTHERHAM LAUNCH GROUND BREAKING OBESITY STRATEGY

DC Leisure is working in partnership with NHS Rotherham to launch a ground breaking programme designed to reduce obesity levels in the town. The Carnegie Club is an ambitious three year project which will start in May. It aims to help a significant number of children from the local area to change their lifestyles by becoming more active and eating a healthier diet.

The Rotherham programme has been developed by Professor Paul Gately at Carnegie Weight Management based at Leeds Metropolitan University. It is aimed at children aged between eight and 17, who have a body mass index (BMI) indicating overweight or obese on BMI centile charts. DC Leisure has appointed Marie Hepburn as Programme Manager, who will be working with GP surgeries, paediatricians and nurses to increase awareness amongst the medical community. There will also be links with schools, leisure centres, libraries and supermarkets to promote the scheme and encourage people to self-refer on to the programme.

The weekly lifestyle sessions will initially be run at two of the recently opened leisure facilities, managed by DC Leisure on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council – Rotherham Leisure Complex and Aston-cum-Aughton Leisure Centre. Children will attend with a parent or guardian in the hope of getting the whole family involved. Over the 12 week term, participants will increase their levels of activity, improve their understanding of diet and nutrition and hopefully make a long term behavioural change. Regular updates and reviews will continue after completion of the course.

Carol Weir, Public Health Specialist for NHS Rotherham, explains: “We are the first PCT in the country to launch this type of programme and on this scale. The significant level of investment demonstrates the priority it has been given and our commitment to reducing obesity levels in Rotherham. At the moment, 1 in 3 of our residents is overweight or obese. This number is continuing to rise at such an alarming rate that by 2050, three fifths of people in Rotherham will be obese. The consequences for people’s health and the NHS are extreme. Hopefully by investing now, we will save in the future.”

Carol continues: “DC Leisure is an ideal partner to work with us on this project. The team from Carnegie will train DC Leisure’s staff to lead the lifestyle sessions. They will then combine this with their own experience to motivate the participants and their families to take part in physical activity both at the centres and at home.”

Steve Philpott, Chief Executive of DC Leisure, says: “Rotherham is in no way unique in its growing obesity problem, it is a story repeated across the country. NHS Rotherham has been very proactive both in creating its policy and moving quickly to implement it. This is indicative of the local authority’s vision and commitment to working with different agencies to meet the needs of the community. It’s a fantastic example of joined up thinking and we are delighted to be involved in this exciting project.”

DC Leisure is well placed to help NHS Rotherham meet the objectives of their Local Area Agreements and already has extensive experience in delivering health programmes in the community through its work with MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!), a programme also dedicated to reducing childhood obesity levels. The company is the largest deliverer of MEND, with 20 programmes currently running in its centres throughout the UK.

SPONSORED BIKE RIDE TO HELP SAVE BABIES’ LIVES

Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd June will see Fareham Leisure Centre play host to a 24 hour sponsored bike ride to raise funds for Women for Women.

Nicola Newman, a member at the Everyone Active centre, is cycling to raise a staggering £2500 to enable her to take part in Cycle Jordan, the 9th women-only challenge to fund groundbreaking medical research work at the Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health in London.

Nicola will be joined on the day by a friend and work colleague, Clare, who is a single mum of a premature baby. “We are both mental health nurses working at a local Forensic Psychiatric Secure Unit and we will be giving up our annual leave to take part in Cycle Jordan, cycling 300 kilometers through the desert,” comments Nicola.

Cycle Jordan will be lead by Professor Robert Winston and the funds raised by the Women for Women ride will be used to train women scientists and clinicians to work on major research projects to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions that cause miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility and cancer. The fundamental aim is to safeguard our future generations by improving women’s health and ensuring more women have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

Commenting on her reasons for taking part in Cycle Jordan, Nicola said, “Clare and I have worked together for about 9 years. She recently gave birth prematurely to Samual. Both were well but it could have been very different. I was widowed in 2007 when my husband lost his life to cancer. We have no children but the miracle of childbirth has always been close to my heart. I am now in a position where I can put time and effort into helping those less fortunate than myself while trying to make a difference to their lives. This charity is relatively unknown and needs the support and funding raised by events such as Cycle Jordan.”

If you would like to support Nicola and Clare in their quest to join Cycle Jordan please contact reception at Fareham Leisure Centre who will be able to put you in touch with Nicola. Alternatively why not show your support and join them on the day of the 24 hour challenge.

Maidstone Re-bid Success

Subject to final contractual arrangements and working as managing agents to the Maidstone Leisure Trust, Serco Leisure has been awarded a 15 year contract to manage the Maidstone Leisure Centre. This is fantastic news for Serco Leisure and our team in Maidstone who have provided an excellent service to the community dating back to 1994.

The new contract, which was won in open competition, will commence in June. The next 10 months will be challenging with over £5m of a £7.3M enhancement and refurbishment programme to be completed ready for a centre re-launch in January 2010.

Olympic Hopeful gets a Boost

Local Olympic hopeful, Joe Hoyes, has received a massive boost in his quest to compete at the 2012 Olympics as part of the Great Britain canoeing squad when he received a sponsorship cheque for £2000 from SERCO Leisure at a recent awards ceremony held at Market Harborough Leisure Centre in Leicestershire.

The sponsorship came in support from Joe's previous employer's SERCO Leisure via the John Adams Trust Fund, an establishment that has been set up as a tribute to the work and legacy of a former chairman and as a mechanism to raise funds for the promotion and participation in the development of sport and active recreation with the SERCO family.

Joe was a fitness instructor at the local Loughborough Leisure Centre (managed by SERCO Leisure on behalf of the Charnwood Borough Council) when he initialling applied to an advert asking for 'relatively fit people who were over 6ft 3 to attempt trials for rowing'!

The rest as they say is history, and now Joe is part of 8 canoeists that form the Great Britain Canoe and Kayak squad.

"I am really grateful for the support shown to me from SERCO Leisure via the sponsorship as this will be a great help towards my training costs and will enable me to concentrate fully on achieving my goal that is to compete at the 2012 Olympics in London. I still get down to Loughborough Leisure Centre and really appreciate the local support that I am receiving, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to represent my country and win a medal"

Exciting News at Swallows Leisure Centre

Swale Community Leisure Ltd, Swale Borough Council and Serco Leisure Operating Limited have agreed to undertake a £500,000.00 improvement programme at the Swallows Leisure Centre.

The works are focused on two key areas: -

1. Refurbishment of the village change.
2. Adding some fun and interaction in to the pool.

The following enhancement works programme will commence on Wednesday 13th May and be complete by Friday 17th July 2009.

1. Changing Village Refurbishment

• New changing cubicles
• Additional lockers
• Improved shower area
• All walls will be retiled
• New lighting throughout
• Re-decorated ceiling and walls (where they are not tiled)
• Two new private shower cubicles
• Refurbished disabled changing area.
• Refurbished male and female toilets and washrooms
• Refurbished stairwell access corridor from reception to changing village
• Re-siting of the existing lockers
• New branding and signage.
• New handrails allowing easier access from changing village to poolside.
• Overhaul of the air movement system in the village change to provide a more comfortable changing environment.
• Double glazed screen to the pool viewing area adjacent to the lift behind reception to improve the environment and safety in that area.

2. Fun and interaction in the pool

• A complete overhaul of the wave machine.
• A new interactive water feature aimed at toddlers, this will be created in the form of a pirate ship and will be situated in the beach area. This is the only ship of its kind in the area.
• A new 3 lane multi slide will be built on the pool surround adjacent to the deep end of the pool. This is the only one of its kind in the area.
• The pool hall will be given a face lift, we are currently in discussion with various local and national artists as to how best we can “lift” the internal façade of the pool hall.

Government Free Swim Initiative

Leisure Connection has worked with their clients to guide them through the Government’s Free Swim process that will not only benefit them but also encourage more people from the target groups into the pools each week. During the first six weeks of the launch an additional 90,000 users have registered for free swimming offered at Leisure Connection pools.

Leisure Connection continues to deliver its extremely successful swimming programme – Harpers SwimSchool. Each week approximately 40,000 children swim in our pools and following a strategic review in 2008, we are at 90% occupancy.

Photo: Mark Foster with Leisure Connection customers at the launch of free swimming.

Vale Farm Sports Centre - Inclusive Fitness Initiative accredited

On Friday 8th May Vale Farm Sports Centre qualified for the Inclusive Fitness Initiative accreditation after an extensive inspection by the IFI.

The IFI is a programme supporting the fitness industry to become more inclusive. It ensures that its facilities cater for the needs of disabled and non-disabled people, raising physical activity participation levels. The model is built around developments in four key areas, Accessible Facilities, Inclusive Fitness Equipment, Staff Training, Inclusive Marketing Strategies. Alterations had to be made in order to the building to qualify, such as painting the grab rails in the toilets for people with visually impairment, ensuring the facilities equipment was IFI acceptable including CV, strength and weight equipment, markings on windows, grab rails in lifts, lowering of door handles and other equipment.

Training was also attended by the Harpers Gym, reception and management team on level 1 and Level 2 Inclusive Fitness training. This award will allow Vale Farm to include on all literature the IFI mark, as well as the IFI advertising the sports centre through their extensive mediums.

SLM PASSES FIA CODE OF PRACTICE

SLM have passed the FIA Code of Practice. The Code is designed to ensure that health and fitness operators maintain a basic level of practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their customers.

The Code is externally audited by Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ), an established awarding body, with Government approval via the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Drawing on its specialist knowledge of the industry, CYQ is ideally placed to be the assessor of the FIA Code of Practice.

Compliance with the Code communicates your commitment to standards, quality and customer welfare. It is an important statement to Government and other regulatory bodies that the health and fitness sector is a professional industry that takes its operation and duty of care seriously.

Four of our centres were assessed in order to gain this accreditation: Grimsby Swimming Pool, Hucknall Leisure Centre, Southam Leisure Centre and Dolphin Swimming Pool.

DC LEISURE APPOINTS NEW GROUP FITNESS MANAGER

DC Leisure has appointed Sarah Leonie to the position of Group Fitness Manager. Sarah, who has been with the company for seven years, was originally Fitness Manager at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre in Worcestershire. Her career path within DC Leisure has included roles as a Regional Support Trainer and most recently Regional Fitness Manager.

Sarah has worked in the leisure industry since 1995 and has a wealth of operational experience both in the gym and as a group exercise instructor. Prior to her promotion, she has been pivotal in developing a Quality Management System for Group Exercise Programming within the business. The manual, which is being launched next month, is a support document for all DC Leisure’s sites to help them run and manage a successful and profitable class timetable.

On her new role, Sarah says: “Having worked my way up through the company, I feel I have a good grounding and a true understanding of the day to day challenges of operating a centre. I am looking forward to helping the business grow, sharing best practice across the group and continuing to lead the field with new ideas and products.”

Steve Philpott, Chief Executive of DC Leisure, adds: “I am always pleased to see people promoted from within, and I am delighted to welcome Sarah into her new position. During her time with the company, Sarah has always been willing to get involved and take on more responsibility. She is an excellent communicator and has a true passion and enthusiasm for the industry and DC Leisure. I have no doubt that she will do an excellent job.”

Stoke Mandeville Institute of Sport and Education launched at home of British Wheelchair Sport

A brand new facility which united education with disability sports was launched last week at Stoke Mandeville. The centre will provide a unique programme of sports education and training opportunities for disabled people and those working in disability sport, which will contribute to the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The institute is a partnership between Bucks New University, Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership, Leisure Connection and WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport, and it was launched during the Inter Spinal Unit Games in the company of distinguished guests from across the region’s sporting organisations. The Institute is committed to enabling disabled people to become involved in sport as athletes, coaches, administrators or officials, and to increasing the number of qualified coaches, officials, volunteers and classifiers. Courses scheduled to be offered at the Institute this year include: An Introduction to Disability Sport; Running Sport: A Club For All; Certificate in Sports Leadership; and Wheelchair Basketball Grade 1 Coaching Assistant. If you are interested in arranging or undertaking disability sports education, please contact info@smise.org.uk or visit www.smise.org.uk

DC LEISURE AWARDED SWIMATHON FOUNDATION GRANT

DC Leisure has been awarded a £5000 operator grant by the Swimathon Foundation to support swimming related training and education. The money will be used to fund a scheme to train and support 25 aquatic coaches across the company’s 71 swimming facilities.

To date, 38 training and education grants have been awarded to staff at Swimathon 2008 pools and leisure centres across the UK. Last year’s pilot scheme proved so successful that Swimathon Foundation grants of up to £1000 will be offered again to pools participating in or acting as a host pool for Swimathon 2009. Centres delivering the highest swimmer recruitment will also be able to apply for enhanced grants.

Mark Haslam, Group Swimming Manager for DC Leisure, explains: “The Swimathon event is a key driver of swimmer recruitment for our pools. Not only are we keen to top the national and regional league tables, we also have are own internal challenge running between the sites to enrol the highest number of participants.”

The 23rd annual Swimathon in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care will take place between April 16-19, 2009. During its time, the event has attracted over 500,000 participants and raised over £30m for charity. DC Leisure has always been a huge supporter of the Swimathon and was the largest single operator hosting the event in 2008 with 59 of its sites involved.

The Swimathon Foundation is an independent registered charity which owns the Swimathon event. Originally devised as a swimmer recruitment and retention programme for local authority pools, the Swimathon challenges participants to swim further, faster or for longer than they have done before. The Swimathon Foundation grants are intended to support the training and education of leisure centre staff and volunteers to become more involved and qualified in swimming. By enabling the best pools to access this development funding, it is hoped that they will promote their facilities and services to an even wider audience and deliver excellent Swimathon events.

Exhibition and concerts win local award

The Hub and artsNK, managed by Leisure Connection on behalf of North Kesteven DC, have won a local award for the excellent Guitars exhibition and accompanying concert series that took place at the National Centre for Craft and design in Sleaford.

Phil Cosker and Dave Groom were presented with the 2009 Visual Arts Award as part of Sleaford Awards night. The ceremony, which was jointly sponsored by Sleaford Town Council and the Sleaford Target newspaper, was held in recognition of people who have made a difference in the community and deserve to be recognised for their efforts.

The awards were the result of a public nomination, which opened in January and ran for several weeks. "We are very fortunate here in Sleaford to have such a wealth of artistic talent and now an investment by public bodies, private and voluntary effort to nurture that talent," said Windham Hime, of the Carre Street Gallery Arts Trust Ltd, who sponsored the category. Phil and Dave brought together more than 50 British guitar makers for the Hub’s exhibition ‘Guitars: Made in Britain, Played the World Over’, which ran from last November through to January.

Alongside the exhibition, a series of concerts with the likes of Newton Faulkner, Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap took place. Phil said: "It is a real privilege and honour to have this award. "The Guitars exhibition was a great event and brought lots of people into the Hub.” Dave added: "How lucky we were to get the artists involved to come to this event. The reason they came is because they were so enthusiastic and supportive of the venture. "Artists including Newton Faulkner were very generous with their time because they wanted to be part of this event.” This is an excellent example of connecting the community to leisure activities – well done to everyone at artsNK and the Hub for putting on a wonderful exhibition and concert series!