HealtH aNd fitNeSS


Southampton leisure centres to be ‘protected’


PeTe hAymAn


Southampton City Council (SCC) has com- mitted to protect its libraries and leisure centres, despite having to find savings of £25m in 2011-12. Te council said that new partnerships


and technology meant that it had been able to ensure it would not have to cut back on its leisure and library services. Last October, SCC agreed a 15-year lease


with operator Active Nation to take over the running of city leisure venues in a move that will save £400,000 a year.


Zigzag mats used in NHS project Tom wAlKer


NHS Worcestershire is using ZigZag dance mats as part of its new family weight man- agement programmes. The new programmes,


which are known as FRESH, have been developed with the dance mats as a component of the two-hour weekly ses- sions, attended by children from seven to 13-years-old, and their families. Sarah Waddington, health


improvement co-ordinator at NHS Worcestershire, said: “We know from recent data that one third of year six children in the county are overweight, and this figure has increased from the previous year, so a fun engaging FRESH programme is just one solution on offer to all families now.” NHS Worcestershire’s public health team has recruited four part-time healthy weight


Life Fitness equipment is now Facebook-compatible


life Fitness takes virtual trainer into social media


Tom wAlKer


Life Fitness has announced that its Virtual Trainer has been made Facebook compat- ible, with a smartphone app also planned. When a user uploads a workout to the


Life Fitness Virtual Trainer, a “prompt” will appear to also post the update to that user’s Facebook wall, with a link for friends to view the details of the workout. By sharing their results, exercisers can


receive motivational messages and encour- agement from friends to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.


local backing for £31m redcar leisure scheme


PeTe hAymAn


Plans for a new £31m leisure and commu- nity facility in Redcar have received the support of local residents, following a pub- lic exhibition and consultation. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council


is proposing a purpose-built venue as part of the scheme, which will feature a six-lane, 25m swimming pool and leisure pool. Plus3 Architects and S&P Architects have


worked on the design of the venue, outline plans for which have now been submitted. A decision is expected in May.


4 NHS Worcestershire is using dance mats as part of its FRESH programme


trainers to work with families on the weight management programmes. Te trainers will also be taking the mats into local schools and will work alongside the school nursing teams who are undertaking the measurements of Year 6 children (aged 10-11 years) for the National Child Measurement Programme.


April reopening for Gateshead complex Tom wAlKer


Gateshead Council has announced that Dunston Leisure Centre is to reopen on 11 April, following a multi-mil- lion pound refurbishment. S&P Architects are behind


the design of the 12-month revamp, which has included the provision of a new gym; two studios and enhanced swimming facilities. Dunston Leisure Centre’s


steamroom, sauna, and squash court access have also undergone a series of improvements, along with changing rooms and the building’s entrance. Te work has formed part of the council’s


wider £36m investment in leisure facilities, which has also included refurbishment and new-build schemes across the local area.


Work at the new-look Dunston Leisure Centre is nearing completion Gateshead Council cabinet member for


culture Linda Green said: “Tis investment is providing really first class facilities for local people as well as a great base for competitive swimming in the borough as a whole.”


KKP to conduct Solihull referral scheme review PeTe hAymAn


Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) has been selected to undertake a review of the DocSport exercise referral scheme in Solihull. Te leisure consultancy will analyse data from the programme in order to assess the


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


number of people to have taken part since it was launched seven years ago. It is thought that the DocSport review will


demonstrate the initial and ongoing impact of the programme on the health of participants, while outlining strengths and weaknesses.


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011


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