About Us
Introduction
"The team at GLL have shown that it is not only possible to combine private sector entrepreneurial flair with strong public sector commitment to deliver public benefit, it can also be highly successful!
GLL has taken a lead in showing how social enterprises can play a role in the delivery and reform of public services by combining enterprise, social purpose and customer focus to excellent effect." Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
GLL is an innovative charitable ’leisure trust’, with a social enterprise structure. We manage over 65 leisure centres within the M25 area in partnership with twelve London Boroughs, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Reading Borough Council, Bellingham Community Project, the London Playing Fields Foundation and the London Development Agency. As a Non Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) we re–invest any surpluses back into services.
Our Mission Statement
’We are committed to the provision of leisure and fitness facilities at affordable prices. It is our aim to ensure financial viability of GLL, meet our charitable objectives, increase employee participation, maintain and expand our services. We will endeavour to continually exceed our customers’ expectations’
Our Partners
GLL believes in partnership working and the benefits this brings to both the delivery of leisure centres and the wider social agenda, these are our local authority partners:
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Greenwich
London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
Reading Borough Council
Wider partners include:
Bellingham Community Project
Charlton Athletic Football Club
Greenwich Community College
London Development Agency
London Playing Fields Foundation
In addition to the partners outlined above, GLL works directly with organisations and agencies across London (E.G. Sure Start, Primary Care Trusts, UK Athletics, Amateur Swimming Association, Social Enterprise Coalition).
Ownership and Empowerment
GLL is guided by a board of trustees, which is appointed on an annual basis at the general meeting. The board has representation from a number of stakeholders including customers, council, trade union and the workforce. This stakeholder mix has helped create empowerment, enthusiasm and ownership at all levels of the organisation. In turn this has led to improved commitment and motivation of staff, resulting in an improved quality of service for customers.
Promoting Social Inclusion
GLL has successfully introduced many ’inclusive’ initiatives into its partnerships to promote and encourage more people to visit the leisure centres, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability or financial background. This social inclusion agenda is as important to us as ensuring a value for money service.
Bringing Added Value to our Partnerships
We believe in delivering added value to our partners by:
Working to a social agenda with key local partners in each borough and Implementing local Leisure Centre Advisory Committees. Delivering cross cutting programmes with partners, including health, crime diversion, children and young people strategies.
Introducing Inclusive Fitness Initiative Gyms to a number of centres, improving access for those with disabilities
Investing in Community Development Officers to work directly in the community to engage new users.
Investing in the leisure centres to make them modern and relevant for today’s customers.
Creating access to work routes and employing locally as well as reducing the cost of service to partners, combined with ongoing investment.
Quality and Awards
GLL has always invited scrutiny of its service and quality.
This is reflected in the range of recognition we have received:
National Social Enterprise of the year award in 2005
National Chartermark for service quality – 3 times
Investors In People – 4 Times
Quest leisure quality award across a growing number of centres.
National Training Awards for our Recreation Academy and Graduate Training Scheme.
Number 1 ranked centre nationally in the independent Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) quality audits
Future Ambitions
GLL is a dynamic and innovative organisation with long term ambitions:
To be at the forefront of London’s Olympic preparation and legacy requirements
To be the operator of the Olympic Aquatic Centre
To develop pan London initiatives that promote a cohesive approach to sport, leisure and its cross cutting benefits
To introduce the Amateur Swimming Association’s National Teaching Plan as our learn to swim programme
To ensure that we continue to deliver a socially responsive and financially viable business