Since BH Live began operating Pelhams Park Leisure Centre on behalf of Bournemouth Borough Council, the trust has injected circa £400,000 into the facilities to get more local people active.
With Bournemouth boasting one of the most active communities in the UK according to a recent UK Active Report, the trust’s investment is delivering results.
Since 2010, visits to Pelhams Park Leisure Centre have increased by 30% to over 10,000 per week, 950 people of all ages are taking part in weekly swimming lessons and 1700 people regularly play sport on the artificial training pitches and field.
In 2012 BH Live opened a FeelGood Factory with power assisted toning tables and chairs. This has been popular with customers living with mobility issues, including multiple sclerosis and Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), and those in recovery from cancer treatment, strokes and surgery. The FeelGood Factory environment has also been helpful in breaking down barriers for people who have had fears and anxiety around exercising in a traditional gym environment and it also bridges the gap between non exercise and being more active.
This month, a state-of-the-art gym has opened. Life Fitness cardiovascular equipment and new layout with 130 activity stations has created a bright, airy facility.
Peter Gunn, BH Live Chief Executive says:
“Bournemouth has some of the largest and best attended public leisure centres in the region. Our social objective is to work with local councils and healthcare partners to get more people active; reaching out especially those living with health issues. By providing the community with the best possible facilities and caring for those who need extra support, we are achieving our goals and, as a result, seeing a more active local community.”
The investment at Pelhams Park Leisure Centre complements other leisure centre investment projects in Bournemouth including £300,000 at the Sir David English Sports Centre in 2013, to create larger gym facilities, and £1.7 million to improve the health and wellbeing facilities at Littledown Centre, due to complete later this year.
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Notes to the editor
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk
01202 451866