Darren Campbell (left) with Noor Kassam, chair/CEO of McLean Events, which runs SIBEC (meeting forum inset)
We need to ensure our leisure offering evolves with changing interests and cultural trends
is now very much part of an ongoing community delivery plan.”
engaging young people In addition to introducing better programming and signposting, some local authorities are starting to develop radical new facilities to better engage with core community groups. Paul Cluett, commercial director at Alliance Leisure Services, says: “Thankfully, local authorities are starting to see the value in moving away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to leisure. Thinking more creatively and engaging with partners such as Alliance to access capital funding and manage the build works has opened up a whole new world of opportunity. “Working in partnership with local
authorities, Alliance Leisure has recently developed two 10-pin bowling facilities and a public day spa. Next year, Bournemouth Borough Council will open a high ropes course at the Littledown Centre, and we’re just about to start work on an indoor extreme sports centre with Flintshire County Council. This will include a climbing wall and a skate park.
july 2011 © cybertrek 2011 “It’s not enough to provide a traditional
leisure centre and simply expect people to use it. If we can build programmes and facilities that excite and interest local residents, we have a much better chance of getting them active and addressing wider social and health issues.” Nigel McArthur, group operations
manager for Sportspace (Dacorum Sports Trust), shares this opinion. He explains: “In July, the trust will open a radical new leisure development in Hemel Hempstead. The site will incorporate the longest indoor caving system in Europe, a climbing centre, a skate park, a BMX track and a high ropes course. “The centre will also house a recording
studio, a band rehearsal room, an internet café and a teen-focused health centre with counselling rooms. Youth Connexions Hertfordshire – a service for young people that provides information and advice, guidance and personal development opportunities for all 13- to 19-year-olds – will also be based on-site. “The new centre will be accessible
to the whole community, but our main target groups will be families and young adults. We want to create a
safe, fun and controlled environment where young people can hang out. In the leisure sector, we often talk about wanting our leisure facilities to become community hubs – this is exactly what we’re aiming to create here. “While there’s still a place in the
community for a more traditional multi-sports facility and swimming pool, we need to make sure our leisure offering continues to evolve in line with changing interests and cultural trends. Extreme sports are attracting interest from more and more youngsters. We want to respond to this and harness it for the benefi t of the community as a whole.”
SIBEC UK took place on 25–26 May, at the Marriott Forest of Arden Golf and Country club, and attracted 150 of the UK’s most infl uential operators from the leisure and higher education sectors –
www.sibec.co.uk
healthclub@leisuremedia.com katie start
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