Jo Weedall, Recreation Manager at BH Live Active Littledown has been shortlisted as a Physical Activity Hero finalist in the prestigious 2025 ukactive awards.
The ukactive awards is one of the UK’s largest awards ceremonies for the fitness and physical activity sector to celebrate both the industry and the people who power it.
Jo was selected from hundreds of nominations across the country for her dedication to improving lives through physical activity, and making the much-loved community leisure centre a safe space for all.
With more than 36 years of leisure experience under her belt, Jo joined Littledown as a lifeguard when the centre first opened in 1989. Since then, her career has spanned many roles, including Duty Manager, Recreation Supervisor, Recreation Manager, and more.
Her work now spans across other BH Live Active centres, and she works tirelessly with her team to make them safe places to enjoy sport and leisure.
One of Jo’s responsibilities is also making sure her team is trained to high standards to provide a fast response when things don’t quite go as planned – this includes injuries and responding to unexpected health issues. Regular team drills, intensive training to industry standards and simulations means that Jo and her team are always ready to spring into action to help others. This can be in the pools, on the sports pitches, courts and halls, in the gym and on the many other attractions that BH Live operates.
This dedication and hard work literally saves lives. Over the course of her career, she has directly performed more than 10 successful resuscitations and supervised many more. Furthermore last year, Jo was personally commended by the DSAA (Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance) for her “rapid” and “outstanding” administration of CPR and defibrillation to a visitor who experienced cardiac arrest at the centre.
Jo said;
“I’m so pleased to be named a finalist for the Physical Activity Hero category at the ukactive Awards. This recognition reflects the incredible support I’ve received from colleagues, partners, and the community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do work that makes a positive difference across my local communities.”
BH Live Active, Littledown is managed and operated by registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
BH Live is a leading leisure and event venue operator. Its geographical reach spans across multiple venues, leisure centres, and attractions across Dorset, Hampshire, and in Croydon to generate more physical activity participation and higher audiences to improve community health and wellbeing and generate greater economic and social benefit.
On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development, said;
“We are all so thrilled for Jo and are immensely proud of what she has achieved over her career. This nomination reflects the positive difference Jo has made to people’s lives. Jo’s impact is far-reaching and deeply valued by the hundreds of people she has trained and mentored over the years, to the lives she has saved. I want to wholeheartedly thank and congratulate Jo for her hard work – she really is our Physical Activity Hero.”
The winner of the Physical Activity Hero award will be decided in an industry vote through ukactive’s members. The winners of the 2025 ukactive awards will be announced on Thursday 30 October 2025 at the ICC Birmingham. Finalists will gather to celebrate excellence across the leisure industry.
More information about the ukactive Awards can be found online at awards.ukactive.com.
More information about BH Live is online at bhlive.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues – a registered charity and social enterprise.
Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
Our organisational and charitable purpose are to generate:
- More participation – through the provision of leisure facilities to encourage active communities, improved health, and well-being
- Higher audiences – through the provision of a diverse range of cultural and artistic events that appeal to a wide audience
- Greater economic and social benefit – through hosting major conferences, exhibitions, and events for the benefit of the local, regional, and international economies and people
Working with support from our partners, we pursue our social objectives in a financially sustainable way.
We manage a diverse portfolio of venues and facilities, with millions of visits per year. Our geographical reach spans across 15 venues and attractions across the Bournemouth (BCP) and Portsmouth conurbations, together with Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
We operate in various market sectors, including sport and leisure, entertainment, conferences and exhibitions, hospitality, and catering services. Whilst each has its market focus, they have much in common and much to share.
Charitable activities are delivered by BH Live, with trading activities being delivered by BH Live Enterprises Limited (any surplus made by the trading subsidiary is gift-aided in full to the charity).
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners, we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the communities we serve.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn – BH Live
Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
Instagram @bhliveuk
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.