SIBEC REVIEW Talking points
SIBEC UK took place in May, attracting more than 150 operators and suppliers from the leisure and education sectors. Katie Lewis summarises the key points raised in the Question Time-style debate, hosted by Mike Hill of Leisure-net Solutions
PANEL MEMBERS
David Stalker, CEO, ukactive
Neil Mosley, head of sport, Imperial College London
Martin Kay, general manager, Rossendale Leisure Trust, & member of the national sporta executive committee
Lee Mason, CEO, County Sports Partnership Network
John Wileman, head of sport & leisure, Nottingham City Council
84 Question 1
Wesley Hutchins, assistant director, community services, Borough of Broxbourne
The leisure and education sectors are under huge pressure to address obesity. What initiatives and actions are going to make the biggest impact?
John Wileman Making local leisure provision more accessible to a wider demographic. Not everybody feels comfortable walking into a leisure centre. In Nottingham, we’re working with other community providers, such as resident and tenant associations, to deliver a wider leisure service in village halls and community centres. If we train residents to run activities such as walking or jogging sessions, we will hopefully break down some barriers. Once people feel comfortable exercising in familiar environments, we can signpost them into our leisure centres.
David Stalker Better community engagement is the answer. The leisure sector will not make a significant impact on the obesity issue working in silos. Instead, we need to concentrate efforts on building partnerships with other community organisations to deliver activities. Initiatives such as The Responsibility Deal may also make it possible to attract private sector investment.
Neil Mosley Many students are inactive during their time at university, with cost cited as a main reason for this. Higher Education organisations are now recognising this issue. In some cases, more effort is being made to provide smaller leisure facilities on residential campuses, negating travel fees and increasing ease of access. Many universities are also subsidising leisure provision, offering free use to students at scheduled times.
Lee Mason Providing more choice of physical activity is what’s needed. A community
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital has many different leisure needs and a
‘one size fits all’ approach does not work. Many NGBs are having significant
success in attracting new participants by remodelling their traditional game format to meet the needs of specific groups within the community. Perhaps the fitness sector needs to do the same.
Question 2 Rory McGown, MD, GYMetrix
Do you think that the thousands of pounds spent on gym equipment every year, without data to support this investment, is money well spent?
David Stalker There is little doubt that leisure operators need to become better at data collection and analysis. Without solid evidence to support the purchases we make and the actions we take, we’re going to struggle to stake our case for investment from either government or the private sector. Making better use of the technology available to measure, track and analyse is the key to the growth of the sector.
John Wileman There’s little doubt that the purchase of gym equipment has had a huge impact on community leisure provision. Let’s not forget, it was the arrival of the gym into leisure centres that drove the direct debit model and enabled the sector to enjoy huge revenues, subsidising other physical activity services and provisions. So yes, it has been money well spent.
Moving forward we need to direct more resources to staff training. This will help ensure users receive the education necessary for them to make the right exercise choices.
Question 3
Christian Harris, director, Bonasystems
What are the key areas of focus moving forward, and what will success look like?
July 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
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