Ladywell gymnasts are the tops

A gymnastics club which uses the revamped Bellingham Centre in South Lewisham was voted London’s best after taking advantage of the smart new facilities it offers.

Ladywell Gymnastics Club received the accolade a year after the refurbished centre was officially opened in 2004.

Before that the buildings were in a  poor and shabby state condition and the ageing sports hall was unsuitable for most indoor sports.

Football pitches were poorly drained with poor road access and car parking and a new facility was desperately needed to provide a range of new opportunities to encourage the local community to get active.

Then Sport England invested over £1.95m of Lottery funding in the new Leisure and Lifestyle Centre and it was given a new lease of life.

Now the centre boasts three full size football pitches, a floodlit multi purpose area, a Wellness fitness centre, dance studio, three storey indoor adventure playzone for Under 12’s and a café.

Bellingham Centre factfile:

• 29% of users come from ethnic minorities
• Since opening over 53,000 people have visited the facility helping Sport England  towards its target of increasing participation by 1% a year up to 2020
• 12 new jobs have been created with 40 seasonal members of staff
• 12 sports clubs operate from the facility

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To find out more about the Everyday Sport campaign, for activities taking place in your area and simple tips on how to get active, log onto www.everydaysport.com or call the Everyday Sport hotline: 0800 587 6000.