From run-down pool to multi-purpose leisure centre

Five million pounds of Lottery funding invested by Sport England turned a run-down swimming pool into a state of the art sports facilitiy at Dearne Valley in Doncaster.

The modern centre, which cost a total of £5.5m, now meets the sporting demands of the local community and addresses the under-provision of up-to-date sports facilities in the area.

The new facility includes a 25m swimming pool, a learner pool, a four-court sports hall, multi-purpose leisure hall, health and fitness suite, mini-sports ancillary room, outdoor floodlit multi-use games area and a sports resource centre/lecture facility.

With such a wide mix of facilities there’s no excuse for anyone in the local commmunity not to get active and enjoy sport. And with an encouraging 260,000 people annually visiting the centre – helping Sport England towards its target of upping participation by 1% a year up to 2020 – it looks to be doing its job well.

Dearne Valley Leisure Centre factfile

• The facility has 67% use by females and 28% use by under 18’s
• 26 new jobs have been created as a result of this facility
• There are 21 coaches at this multi-sports centre
• Weekly coaching hours for under 18’s have increased to 67 hours a week
• 800 people receive swimming lessons every week
• Over 1,000 disabled people use the facility annually and 16 local schools are frequent users
• Six clubs and organisations regularly meet there including a swimming club, badminton club, gymnastics club, disabled club, martial arts club and sure start group)
• A young disabled group uses the facility and the local Sure Start project
• There are over 120 people on the GP referral scheme

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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.