A rounders group, set up to inspire more girls and women into community sport and physical activity is celebrating its first year with a brand new season.
The sessions were launched and delivered by registered charity BH Live last summer, supported by Sport England’s, Together Fund through Rounders England. Aimed at women and girls aged 14+, the rounders-inspired sessions were created to encourage more female engagement in sport.
Following its popularity, sessions have resumed this summer and take place in Littledown Park every Tuesday from 6:15pm-7:15pm.
The last session of the season will take place on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
Sessions cost £3 per person on a pay-to-play basis and include equipment, refreshments, and instructor support. Revenue generated from the group will be used to fund future sessions.
In 2023, the group welcomed more than 240 attendances over 16 weeks. Thanks to its popularity and participant feedback, more people are expected to attend this year.
One regular player shared;
“The sessions are brilliant and they give me something to look forward to every week. The people there are so lovely, friendly and supportive. It’s great to play the sport after a stressful day at work in a fun and safe environment.”
BH Live is a registered charity and social enterprise. BH Live operates Littledown and the centre’s activities, facilities and classes in partnership with BCP Council.
On behalf of BH Live, Viv Galpin, Health and Wellbeing Manager, shared;
“Rounders is a great way to get active as a group in the outdoors which is brilliant for mental health, social interaction, and physical wellbeing. All abilities are welcome to play. No previous experience of the game is needed! We currently have around 15-25 participants joining in every week. We urge anyone interested to get in touch!”
For further information and to book a place on the rounders group, get in touch with communityclasses@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 the funding and sessions
In 2023, funding was awarded to BH Live from Sport England’s Together Fund to provide Rounders-inspired sessions promoting physical activity for women and girls in the community.
This money has been used by the charity BH Live to facilitate the session. This includes subsidising the player fees, buying equipment, staff training and delivering the weekly classes.
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 Concil, Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council.
BH Live’s core social objectives are to:
- Encourage more people to take part in physical activity– by providing leisure facilities to encourage active communities and improve health and wellbeing.
- Attract bigger entertainment audiences– with a diverse range of cultural and artistic events that appeal to a wide variety of tastes.
- Deliver economic benefit– by hosting major conferences, exhibitions and events that benefit the local, regional and international economy.
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 and 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