BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise is leading the way in water wellbeing across Bournemouth and Portsmouth.
Littledown and Pelhams in Bournemouth are operated by BH Live in partnership with BCP Council. Portsmouth’s flagship leisure centre Mountbatten is owned by Portsmouth City Council and operated by BH Live. Each centre has achieved a Swim England Water Wellbeing accreditation for demonstrating their commitment to providing tailored sessions and pool facilities for people living with long-term health conditions.
The Water Wellbeing accreditation is another outcome of BH Live’s ongoing partnership with Swim England, who work together to promote national campaigns and resources to encourage more people to stay active through swimming.
To receive the Water Wellbeing accreditation, BH Live underwent a series of rigorous assessments at each centre. This included employee training and providing customer case studies as evidence of how their pool facilities and classes are benefiting visitors.
BH Live’s exercise referral advisors across Bournemouth & Portsmouth completed an AAHF (Aquatic Activity for Health) qualification to learn more about the types of chronic conditions that impact the lives of many of their members and enable them to deliver water-based referral exercises.
In addition, some of BH Live’s swimming teachers attended training provided by the IOS (Institute of Swimming) to obtain up –to-date knowledge and aquatic adaptations to support swimmers with long-term health conditions.
Since receiving Water Wellbeing accreditation, BH Live has introduced new weekly aqua classes including specialised water rehab and hydro sessions at Pelhams, Littledown, and the Mountbatten Centre. These classes are also included in BH Live Active’s exercise referral scheme, which focuses on prescribing supported exercise sessions and group classes to encourage more individuals with long-term health conditions to stay active.
A 2017 Swim England health and wellbeing report found that more than 70% of the NHS budget is currently spent on chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Regular physical activity such as swimming is likely to reduce the occurrence of these conditions by 20%, improving heart health, reducing joint pain, lowering blood pressure, and improving mobility.
On behalf of BH Live, Vivienne Galpin, Health & Wellbeing manager in Bournemouth, shared:
“Swimming is one of the most enjoyable ways we can be active. It’s accessible for all ages, fitness levels and abilities and offers the opportunity to socialise within a safe group setting too. We hope that more people are encouraged to visit their local leisure centre with the knowledge that the activities that BH Live provide are supportive, inclusive, and of a high industry-recogised standard.”
Ali Noyce, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Swim England shared:
“We are delighted to have supported BH Live and congratulate them on achieving Water Wellbeing accreditation. Having completed the Swim England Environmental assessments, it’s been great to see how social barriers have been removed at both strategic and local levels to ensure more people are encouraged to stay active at these centres through swimming.
“The additional training undertaken by the teams at all three pools ensures that those with long-term health conditions feel supported in their endeavours to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. It’s been a pleasure to hear how aquatic activity has made a difference to participants. The range of aquatic classes BH Live offers continues to expand, creating more opportunities for people to enjoy the benefits of staying active in the water.”
Set in 47 acres of parkland Littledown is easily accessible by car, foot, and public transport. As the region’s largest leisure centre, it offers some of the best fitness classes, swimming, sports, and gym facilities in the local area.
There is a 25-metre swimming pool with lane swimming, public swimming sessions and pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a smaller 17-metre teaching pool for little ones and lessons. A spa area is equipped with sauna and steam rooms for relaxation.
Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre is set in an attractive park adjacent to the city’s northern shore. The centre is the city’s premier sports facility and has a long reputation for hosting a wide variety of national and international sporting events.
The centre has a 50-metre pool and teaching pool, a large 150-station fitness suite, a health suite. Other facilities on the site include an 8 lane athletics track, cycle track, squash court, dance studios, an all-weather pitch and a number of tennis and netball courts.
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member Community Safety, Leisure & Sport at Portsmouth City Council said:
“As a council we work hard to support and encourage healthy lifestyles in all our communities, and consistently promote positive physical health and activity.
“Helping those with long term health conditions is a priority for us. For this reason, I’m delighted to see that the Mountbatten Centre has achieved the Water Wellbeing accreditiation which encourage more people to get into the water and get active.”
Visit bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown for further information.
-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
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Driven by a mission to improve communities BH Live is dedicated to providing inclusive cultural experiences and promoting physical activity for all.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council.
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 community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK | Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
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.
About Littledown Centre
Littledown is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
Set in 47 acres of parkland, Littledown has some of the finest leisure, swimming, football and gym facilities in the country.
It is ranked among the top performing leisure centres in the UK, is accredited by quality scheme QUEST and is a National Fitness Award winner for the Local Authority/Leisure Trust Gym of the Year and finalist for the Best Group Exercise Gym of the Year.
It has more than 1.2 million attendances a year and is home to clubs including BH Live’s Swimming Academy, Swim Bournemouth, Littledown Juniors Football Club and Play Football. Indoor facilities include 25-metre and 17-metre swimming pools for lane swimming, public swimming sessions, pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a splash pool, steam room and sauna.
The venue has one of the largest gyms in the region complete with activity programmes for young people, and support for people recovering from an illness, injury or who are living with a long-term health condition. There are multiple training zones with ground level and lift access. There is something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness with cardio equipment, free weights and functional fitness training space. Hundreds of group exercise classes run seven days a week such as Group Cycle sessions, circuits, yoga, Pilates, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) and Les Mills™ classes including BodyBalance, BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyAttack, Sprint and more.
There is a large sports hall for events and multi-sport activities including trampolining, badminton, table tennis, football and gymnastics. Open to members and non members is Littledown’s Terrace Café (with soft play for under 5s) and Lookout at Littledown Bar (18+ only), each with free customer WiFi. Here you can buy all sorts of snacks, meals and drinks to enjoy indoors or outdoors for al fresco refueling, eating, drinking and socialising.
Outdoor features include six floodlit 3G rubber crumb training pitches, grass football pitches, parkland for recreation and events, a cricket pitch and pavilion, lake, children’s playground, a paddling pool (open summer months only), outdoor catering and free customer parking for up to three hours seven days a week. Littledown Park is also home to Littledown Miniature Railway.
ANPR is in operation at BH Live Active, Littledown. Customers get free customer parking for up to 3 hours seven days a week. Charges apply for longer stays.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown
Get social with us: X and Instagram @bhliveactive | Facebook @littledowncentre