Newham Council plans to refocus the future management of the borough’s leisure services to help improve the health and wellbeing of all its residents.
On 5 October, Newham’s Cabinet will discuss new ways to manage its leisure services at Atherton Leisure Centre, East Ham Leisure Centre, Newham Leisure Centre and Manor Park Fitness Centre, plus its community sports development services, parks bookings and events, 1,500 active volunteers and eight allotment sites, currently run by activeNewham until 31 December 2022.
Covid-19 clearly showed the differential health outcomes for different groups, and in the future leisure services would need to deliver a service that supports as many residents as possible to lead active, healthy lives.
Increased resident participation in leisure activities across a variety of groups is a key aim of the council’s health and wellbeing strategy; 50 Steps to a Healthier Newham.
Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, lead member for health and adult social care, said:
“The health and wellbeing of residents is of paramount importance for the Council and all our efforts during the last few years have been to address these through the development of various corporate policies.
“As our current leisure services management contract is nearing an end, it is a perfect opportunity for the Council to consider how we deliver the best possible leisure services for our residents.
“It’s vital that our leisure services are high quality and fully inclusive and align with our corporate priorities, including our 50 Steps to a healthier Newham, Community Wealth Building, Brighter Futures, Tackling Racism, Inequality and Disproportionality and putting people at the heart of everything we do.
“We remain committed to supporting and protecting local jobs and livelihoods and recognise our skilled activeNewham colleagues and the services they continue to deliver.”