South Leeds residents interested in taking advantage of free daily sport and fitness sessions can now sign up to take part.
The pre-registration phase for Leeds City Council’s new sport and health pilot ‘Leeds Let’s Get Active’ has now started for anyone keen to take part in free sessions at council-managed leisure centres and local parks.
Running from now until the scheme officially begins on Monday 30 September, those interested can find out more details and pre-register at www.leedsletsgetactive.co.uk.
While open to all, the sessions are aimed in particular at encouraging those who currently do little or no regular sport or physical exercise in order to address health problems and inequalities in the city.
The scheme is to run for 18 months until March 2015 and is being funded through a total of £1million match-funding by Leeds public health and Sport England through the National Lottery, plus an additional £60,000 from Leeds City Council’s public health budget.
The Leeds Let’s Get Active scheme will see one off-peak hour each day made available at every Leeds City Council-managed leisure centre in the city for free gym and swimming sessions.
In addition to the core one-hour session, an additional hour each day will also be available at the John Charles Centre for Sport, while at Middleton Leisure Centre a total of two hours of free activities including exercise classes and racket sports will be on offer. The fitness sessions at Middleton will be: Monday: Circuit Training, Wednesday: Zumba, Friday: Bootcamp, Sunday: 20/20/20 Fitness.
The pre-registration has now begun, reinforced by a roadshow which will be touring one-stop shops and other venues in the city over the next month encouraging people to sign up. Pre-registration can also be completed at council-managed libraries which all offer free internet access.
Running alongside the free offer in leisure centres, community sport sessions such as running, walking and family-orientated activities will take place mainly in parks. Research will also be taking place with GP practices and public health service providers about how the project can support those referred to physical activity schemes.
There will be Health Walks from the Hunslet Club on Thursdays (12-12:45pm); Beginners Running sessions in Cross Flatts Park (TBC); and Family Fitness sessions in Middleton Park on Saturdays (1:30-2:15pm).
The project will strengthen ties between sport and health services, with links to health checks and advice on healthy lifestyles being offered. It also aims to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the city, increasing participation in regular exercise and cutting the cost of physical inactivity which is estimated by Sport England to cost Leeds as a city £10.4m every year.
In addition, the scheme is part of the drive for Leeds to be the best and most active big city in England, and is a leading example of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games for the city.
Leeds City Council executive member for health and wellbeing Councillor Lisa Mulherin said:
“We are now just weeks away from start of Leeds Let’s Get Active and we are really excited about people of all ages and backgrounds signing up and wanting to get involved.
“This scheme offers the chance to make a real difference not only to people’s lives but also to the broader health and economic wellbeing of the whole city, so we are encouraging as many people as possible to sign up to take part.”
Leeds City Council executive member for leisure and skills Councillor Lucinda Yeadon said:
“The possibilities around this scheme are fantastic but the first thing is for people to pre-register and it would be great to start as we mean to go on with sessions packed out with people having fun and getting fit. We are calling on everyone to help spread the word and make Leeds Let’s Get Active a wonderful success.”
For more details and to pre-register for Leeds Let’s Get Active visit www.leedsletsgetactive.co.uk.
