Today we’ve published a report outlining a shared vision for the future of public leisure as the sector looks to transition from delivering traditional services to a wider focus on active wellbeing.
This vision would create a closer relationship between health and leisure, built on social prescribing, co-location of services and the delivery of preventative activity opportunities – providing users with convenient places and ways to be active, located in close proximity to other health and social care services and facilities.
Co-location of facilities maximises the impact and value for money of these services and forms a key part of the 20-minute neighbourhood concept.
This report provides an overview of the current landscape and outlines a model that will enable the sector to create a more sustainable future for the public leisure services that our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth knows are crucial in providing opportunities to be active.
“Public leisure facilities and services have a vital and unique role to play in our sport and activity ecosystem because of their value to the people who use them most,” he said.
“Months after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, participation levels at public leisure facilities have only partially recovered.
“Facilities have also had to battle rising energy costs, chemical shortages and challenges in maintaining the right levels of recruitment and retention of the workforce.
“However, the sector has come together to meet these challenges and, where possible, turn them into opportunities.
“Collectively the focus should be on repositioning the traditional offer of public leisure into an active wellbeing service, doing more to create healthier and more active communities.
“The sector has already seen good examples of the shift in approach across the country but also recognises the need for national momentum.
“By providing this common agenda, we will help the sector move forward in a sustainable way with a service that meets the needs of modern users.”
The impact of the restrictions resulting from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the rising cost of energy and challenges with recruitment and retention, are some of the factors being felt hard by local authorities and public leisure operators – and this is alongside overall visits to these facilities only reaching 76% of pre-coronavirus levels in England between April 2021 and October 2022.
As a result, we’ve worked, and will continue to work, with key players in the public leisure sector after it was agreed that change is needed to become stronger and more sustainable.
