Richmond leisure centre membership up 20% in first year with Better

Membership at Pools on the Park and Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre has grown by 20% in the first year of GLL’s partnership with Richmond Council.

The centres, operated under GLL’s Better brand, now have 3,613 members, up from 3,011, and recorded more than 700,000 attendances during the past 12 months.

Jonathan Davey, GLL’s Partnership Manager for Richmond upon Thames, said: “It’s been a hugely positive first year in Richmond, with investment in our facilities, new health and wellbeing programmes, and growing opportunities for local residents to be active.”

Two major additions at the centres are helping residents manage long-term health conditions and supporting local sporting talent.

Healthwise, a GP exercise referral scheme, has already attracted more than 100 residents. It offers support from trained staff and subsidised gym and exercise classes to help people manage conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. A specialist falls-prevention programme is also available, with a cancer rehabilitation course launching this November.

The GLL Sport Foundation is supporting 49 local athletes and para-athletes in its first year in the borough, offering financial and practical support.

Among them is Whitton swimmer Florence, who has Down’s syndrome. She receives free access to Better leisure facilities across the UK to support her training.

Florence’s mum said: “The membership has had a great impact on her levels of activity, swimming performance and generally her overall mental and physical wellbeing.

“She uses it at least four times a week and is getting an enormous amount out of it. I can genuinely say that it has changed her life.”

Other improvements include a new multi-purpose fitness studio at Pools on the Park, women-only strength training sessions and Les Mills classes. The Active Communities programme has also taken free exercise classes into local care homes.

The centres have also hosted information sessions with groups such as Age UK, Achieving for Children, and Dementia Friends, helping to promote awareness of fostering, using digital technology, and coping with dementia. Some members of staff have also undergone dementia-awareness training.

Councillor Elizabeth Gant, Vice-chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport committee at Richmond Council, said: “Our leisure centres are about much more than swimming pools and gyms – they are places where residents can build confidence, meet others and find support to lead more active lives.

“It’s fantastic to see our partnership with GLL opening up more opportunities, from helping people manage long-term health conditions to taking exercise classes into care homes and supporting local sporting talent.

“We want more residents to find an activity that works for them, and this first year gives us a strong foundation to build on.”