A thriving leisure centre that serves many of my constituents has exciting plans to expand so it can cater for even more people.
I visited West View Leisure Centre, where Michael Manley, Partnership Manager at operator GLL, gave me a tour and talked me through the fantastic work going on now and what’s on the cards in the future.
GLL, a charitable social enterprise, also operates Fulwood Leisure Centre, which has recently undergone a refurbishment.
At West View, plans are being developed with the ambition of building a whole new building to cater for the wide demographic that take part in everything from fitness classes and swimming lessons to pickleball, climbing and soft play.
The centre really serves the community it sits in. There are women-only gym sessions and classes, special sessions for the over-55s and parents, and a junior gym membership for anyone aged 11 to 17 to help teens stay active.
There are also free swimming sessions for all Preston children and eligible adults, including pensioners.
About 300 children use the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which offers free school meals and activities for children from low-income families during the school holidays. NHS physio classes run three times a week and, on certain days, the DWP offers advice to young people not in education, employment or training.
It was lovely to hear about one young person who had just that week secured employment thanks to the nurturing of staff at the centre.
Michael shared some of his ambitions for the new centre and it’s going to be an exciting time for all those involved. It’s vital that centres like this, that provide affordable, accessible services to everyone, are able to flourish.
Thanks also to Michael for meeting with me the morning after he’d run a marathon!
