Oxford Council offering homeless people free access to leisure centres
By Tom Walker
Leys Pools and Leisure is among the centres offering free, three-month memberships for the homeless Credit: Willmott Dixon
People experiencing homelessness are being offered free access to leisure centres by Oxford City Council
The scheme will see the council offer free, three-month introductory memberships at its leisure centres
The programme has been made available by referral from any organisation working with people living in the adult homeless pathway
Once the initial period ends people can renew their free membership for another three months
People experiencing homelessness are being offered free access to leisure centres by Oxford City Council.
A scheme launched this month (June 2021) will see the council offer free, three-month introductory memberships at its leisure centres for anyone accommodated in hostels or supported housing through Oxford’s adult homeless pathway.
The scheme provides free access to swimming, gyms and exercise classes at Barton and Ferry leisure centres and Leys Pools & Leisure.
The programme has been made available by referral from any organisation working with people living in the adult homeless pathway.
Once the initial period ends people can renew their free membership for another three months.
After this, they will be able to do so at the discounted rate of £19.50 a month – or by paying the discounted pay as you go rate for individual classes or sessions.
Standard rate memberships at the leisure centres vary from £30 to £47 a month.
Councillor Diko Blackings, cabinet member for affordable housing, said: “We’re reintroducing free and discounted memberships at our leisure centres as people with experience of rough sleeping should have the same opportunity to access leisure and creative activities as the rest of Oxford's community.
"Homelessness can take a heavy toll on physical and mental health, and physical activity can help to counteract these effects and improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
“We saw a 58 per cent growth in companies launching one of our schemes from 2022 to 2023, which demonstrates prioritisation of employee health and wellbeing ”
Industry suppliers are responding to the exponential increase in
consumer demand for strength training with a raft of new and
innovative launches and concepts, as Steph Eaves reports
As more people join clubs to support their mental
health, fitness professionals need to be empowered to
take a holistic approach. Kath Hudson shares useful
tools discussed at the ACE summit on mental health
Experience the pinnacle of fitness and luxury at the premier industry event, Sibec EMEA, set
against the breathtaking backdrop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo this Autumn.
Study Active has legally acquired the name “Premier Global” and select Premier Global
branding assets from Assessment Technologies Institute LLC, part of Ascend Learning in the
US.
Being a carer – whether that’s looking after a young person, a senior citizen or someone with
a long-term illness or disability – can be rewarding but stressful at times. These
responsibilities may also limit the carer’s ability to find paid employment.
11 to 14 April saw the fitness industry impressively demonstrate just how innovative it is in
fulfilling its responsibility for a healthy society at FIBO in Cologne. Over 1,000 exhibitors
and partners generated boundless enthusiasm among 129,668 visitors from 114 countries.
Oxford Council offering homeless people free access to leisure centres
By Tom Walker
Leys Pools and Leisure is among the centres offering free, three-month memberships for the homeless Credit: Willmott Dixon
People experiencing homelessness are being offered free access to leisure centres by Oxford City Council
The scheme will see the council offer free, three-month introductory memberships at its leisure centres
The programme has been made available by referral from any organisation working with people living in the adult homeless pathway
Once the initial period ends people can renew their free membership for another three months
People experiencing homelessness are being offered free access to leisure centres by Oxford City Council.
A scheme launched this month (June 2021) will see the council offer free, three-month introductory memberships at its leisure centres for anyone accommodated in hostels or supported housing through Oxford’s adult homeless pathway.
The scheme provides free access to swimming, gyms and exercise classes at Barton and Ferry leisure centres and Leys Pools & Leisure.
The programme has been made available by referral from any organisation working with people living in the adult homeless pathway.
Once the initial period ends people can renew their free membership for another three months.
After this, they will be able to do so at the discounted rate of £19.50 a month – or by paying the discounted pay as you go rate for individual classes or sessions.
Standard rate memberships at the leisure centres vary from £30 to £47 a month.
Councillor Diko Blackings, cabinet member for affordable housing, said: “We’re reintroducing free and discounted memberships at our leisure centres as people with experience of rough sleeping should have the same opportunity to access leisure and creative activities as the rest of Oxford's community.
"Homelessness can take a heavy toll on physical and mental health, and physical activity can help to counteract these effects and improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
“We saw a 58 per cent growth in companies launching one of our schemes from 2022 to 2023, which demonstrates prioritisation of employee health and wellbeing ”
Industry suppliers are responding to the exponential increase in
consumer demand for strength training with a raft of new and
innovative launches and concepts, as Steph Eaves reports
As more people join clubs to support their mental
health, fitness professionals need to be empowered to
take a holistic approach. Kath Hudson shares useful
tools discussed at the ACE summit on mental health
Now mental health is the number one reason for people to join a
health club, do fitness professionals need a grounding in counselling
to offer a more holistic service? Kath Hudson asks the experts
As health club operators move to incorporate recovery into their
offerings to meet growing consumer demand, Steph Eaves takes a
look at what cryotherapy and ice bathing can add to the equation
Experience the pinnacle of fitness and luxury at the premier industry event, Sibec EMEA, set
against the breathtaking backdrop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo this Autumn.
Study Active has legally acquired the name “Premier Global” and select Premier Global
branding assets from Assessment Technologies Institute LLC, part of Ascend Learning in the
US.
Being a carer – whether that’s looking after a young person, a senior citizen or someone with
a long-term illness or disability – can be rewarding but stressful at times. These
responsibilities may also limit the carer’s ability to find paid employment.
11 to 14 April saw the fitness industry impressively demonstrate just how innovative it is in
fulfilling its responsibility for a healthy society at FIBO in Cologne. Over 1,000 exhibitors
and partners generated boundless enthusiasm among 129,668 visitors from 114 countries.