Private clubs could get involved by reaching out to new groups at off-peak times
CHRIS HOLLIDAY Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council • Head of leisure & community health
“I
’m ever optimistic, so I’d say these changes represent an opportunity
for a more joined-up approach. Nationally we want health and fitness and
sport professionals to work together to make a real step change. It’s not often that we’ve had an opportunity like this, where public health has been brought into the same room as leisure services, with both sectors aiming for broadly the same outcomes. As a discretionary service, that’s great for our industry. If a director of public health takes a holistic view and uses
budgets imaginatively to create health opportunities, it could be exciting – there’s an opportunity to jointly pull in the same direction. However, given all the public sector cuts and with more to come, I’m not sure how much new funding will be available. Nevertheless, the health and fitness sector has a great role
to play going forward. The agenda in sport, leisure, recreation and fitness will have to align closely with public health’s to help them deliver against their agendas for obesity, smoking, alcohol and diabetes. Operators will need to think outside of the box to come up with innovative ways of drawing the physically inactive into exercise. My advice is to knock on the director of public health’s door and show how you can help.
” April 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
PROF GABRIEL SCALLY University of England • Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments
departments will transform themselves into physical activity departments, so they are not just in the business of managing leisure facilities, but are integrating their efforts with other parts of local government – such as parks – to increase levels of physical activity. There’s an opportunity here for private sector fitness
“A
providers to broaden and expand their offer to welcome new audiences, particularly outside of peak times. But there’s also an obligation for all leisure facilities to improve their food and beverage offer. I would like to see all sites taking part in the Food For Life catering mark, to guarantee the food and beverages they provide match up to the exercise opportunities they are offering. The sale of junk food in health clubs currently undermines their efforts to help people live healthier lives. Each local authority will be in the process of preparing plans
on how they will improve the population’s health. The fitness industry needs to engage with local Health and Wellbeing Boards while they are preparing their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, to make sure they are part of the plan.
” Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 31
s a result of these changes, I hope local authority leisure services
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