Free leisure centre membership for children and young people in care
Four leisure centres in Warwick district are offering free membership to children in care and care experienced young people to reduce their barriers to participating in sport and physical activity.
St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre, Meadows Community Sports Centre and John Atkinson Sports Centre, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Warwick District Council, are taking part in this new initiative to reduce the barriers between children and young people participating in sport and physical activity. Everyone Active is a proud Child Friendly Warwickshire Friend, working to make the county more child friendly.
The free membership will give children and young people access to a range of facilities depending on their age, including gym, swim, soft play and group exercise.
According to latest figures from the Department for Education for children looked after (CLA) in England, the number of children in care is at an all-time high, at more than 80,000 children or 67 in every 10,000.
This year, Everyone Active has launched its national Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with the aim to meet the needs of individual communities through programmes that support people to be physically active, and to feel happy and healthy. As part of the strategy, this membership will support children in care or care experienced young children with free access to leisure facilities that can help improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
The complimentary membership for cared for children and care experienced young people can be accessed and set up through a referral system from local Council Family support teams.
Gareth Wagg, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said:
“We are immensely proud to launch this partnership in Warwick district. We understand the vital role we play in supporting all areas of the community and feel this membership will make a real difference to many young people’s lives.
“We want to provide opportunities for young people and children who have been in or currently are in care, showing that activity is for all, and we want to offer them a safe space to enjoy our sports and activity offering.”
For further information, visit: https://www.everyoneactive.com/about-us/what-we-offer/health-and-wellbeing/. If you're interested in becoming a Child Friendly Warwickshire Friend, like Everyone Active, visit https://www.childfriendlywarwickshire.co.uk/our-friends for more information.