Council launches partnership aiming to get more people active

Harborough District Council has officially launched its partnership with sports and leisure operator, Everyone Active, with a host of exciting opportunities planned.  

In December, Harborough District Council announced it had awarded a three-year contract to Everyone Active to drive forward its ambitious ‘Healthy Harborough’ initiative to create more opportunities for residents to enjoy sport and leisure activities across the district – as well as improve existing leisure facilities.

On Monday (1 April 2019) the partnership was officially launched at Lutterworth Sports Centre.

As part of the partnership, Everyone Active will manage Harborough Leisure Centre and Lutterworth Sports Centre and continue to provide quality leisure services for the community, with an affordable and diverse range of sports facilities for everyone to enjoy. New state-of-the-art gym equipment will also be installed in both leisure centres, and new virtual exercise facilities will be introduced to studio areas in the venues.

Beverley Jolly, Joint Chief Executive of Harborough District Council, said “We are looking forward to working with Everyone Active who have an excellent record in getting people active and involved in sport and leisure. This is a really exciting time and, with new high-tech equipment on the way, we hope more residents will take the opportunity to enjoy the enhanced facilities.”

Based in Leicestershire, Everyone Active has over 30 years experience of managing leisure facilities across the country and is the longest-established leisure operator in the UK. It aims to get everyone active by doing at least 30 minutes of activity, five times a week, and currently operates over 190 leisure facilities across the UK, in partnership with over 60 local authorities. The business also has long-standing experience of operating services within the area, and manages leisure facilities in nearby Enderby, Huncote, Oadby, Wigston and Melton.

Dan Hicks, Everyone Active’s Area Contract Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcomed into the community to manage leisure facilities in the area and begin our official partnership with the Council. Embarking on a new chapter with all colleagues from the centres is incredibly exciting for us, and we’re looking forward to them joining the Everyone Active family, as well as helping more people to improve their wellbeing by getting active.”

Customers at Lutterworth Sports Centre will shortly be enjoying brand new fitness equipment when the gym reopens on Thursday 4 April 2019 following an installation of state-of-the-art kit. 

The gym at Harborough Leisure Centre is currently undergoing its refurbishment, and a temporary gym has been set up in the main studio while new equipment is installed in the fitness suite. Customers will be able to use the fully refurbished gym when it reopens on Monday 15 April 2019. All other areas of Harborough Leisure Centre are open as normal throughout this period.

For further information on Everyone Active, Harborough Leisure Centre and Lutterworth Sports Centre, please visit www.everyoneactive.com 

Pictured: Everyone Active regional director Paul Dowling and Beverley Jolly joint chief executive of Harborough District Council with staff at Lutterworth Sports Centre

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Notes to Editors

Everyone Active has won awards for its high-quality services, and was recently named as Swim England’s Facility Operator of the Year for the eighth time. Everyone Active will continue to deliver the Learn to Swim Pathway to children in the district, and will also look to introduce additional classes in the future with the aim of helping more people get active in the water.

Everyone Active will also be introducing its Sporting Champions scheme to the Harborough District, a talent development programme that supports up-and-coming athletes with free access to its centres and funding to help with their training and competition costs.

For press information please contact Helen Knight, PR and Media Officer at Harborough District Council at h.knight@harborough.gov.uk or Laura Newton, Everyone Active’s Group PR Manager on lauranewton@everyoneactive.com