West Berkshire Council appoints new operator, Everyone Active, to run its seven leisure centres
West Berkshire Council has appointed a new operator to run its seven leisure centres, writes Sofia Franco.
Everyone Active will take over as leisure management operator to manage facilities across the district from next Saturday, July 1.
The company has been awarded a 10-year contract with the council in order to run Northcroft Leisure Centre and Lido, Hungerford Leisure Centre, Kennet Leisure Centre, Cotswold Sports Centre, Willink Leisure Centre, Lambourn Sports Centre and the Downland Sports Centre.
The council said the new contract will have a strong focus on community outreach, which provides a variety of creative and physical activities in local venues such as community halls, churches, centres and outdoor locations in order to increase accessibility.
Area contract manager at Everyone Active, Steve Salwa, said: “We are delighted to officially begin our partnership with West Berkshire Council and are looking forward to many successful years ahead.
“The sports and leisure centres within this contract are so important for the health and wellbeing of the local communities and we look forward to supporting the council’s vision for leisure across West Berkshire.”
Mr Salwa also reassured existing customers that all memberships, classes, lessons and club bookings will carry over and continue as normal during the transition.
West Berkshire’s executive member for culture, leisure, sport and countryside, Janine Lewis (Lib Dem, Tilehurst and Purley), said: “The contract is the start of a very exciting period for leisure in West Berkshire. Increasing participation in active leisure for all, especially those currently less active, is a key focus of our new leisure strategy.
“We are delighted to be working with Everyone Active to deliver leisure opportunities.
“Our centres are about so much more than leisure activities. They are community hubs where people can socialise while keeping active and well. This element of socialisation has become even more vital as our lifestyles evolve and interacting remotely becomes the norm.”
Mrs Lewis also thanked the current provider Parkwood Leisure for their “hard work over the last 19 years, as well as their contribution to improving health and wellbeing across the district.
Everyone Active is the longest-established leisure operator in the UK, having formed in 1987 and operates more than 200 leisure facilities and cultural services across the country in partnership with over 60 local authorities.
