Public leisure should evolve to focus on active wellbeing

Sport England has launched a report outlining a shared vision for the future of public leisure, transitioning from delivering traditional services to a more active wellbeing focus.

This vision would create a closer relationship between health and leisure, built on social prescribing, co-location of services and the delivery of preventative activity opportunities – providing users with convenient places and ways to be active, located in close proximity to other health and social care services and facilities.

Co-location of facilities maximises the impact and value for money of these services and forms a key part of the 20-minute neighbourhood concept.

The report, ‘Future of public life leisure’, provides an overview of the current landscape and outlines a model that will enable the sector to create a more sustainable future for the public leisure services that are crucial in providing opportunities to be active.

“Public leisure facilities and services have a vital and unique role to play in our sport and activity ecosystem because of their value to the people who use them most,” said Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth.

“Collectively the focus should be on repositioning the traditional offer of public leisure into an active wellbeing service, doing more to create healthier and more active communities.

“The sector has already seen good examples of the shift in approach across the country but also recognises the need for national momentum.

“By providing this common agenda, we will help the sector move forward in a sustainable way with a service that meets the needs of modern users.”

The report, in collaboration with a number of organisations and partners – including CIMSPA – maps out shared medium-term goals for the public leisure sector and compiles commitments from across multiple stakeholders, which cover a range of activities that will support services on the ground, strengthen the sector’s leadership, facilitate innovation and help to share best practice.

The model also focuses on added value and supporting the delivery of key local priorities, aiding local authorities that are looking to collaborate more with parts of their local ‘system’, in order to better deliver community outcomes and align with their broader strategic outcomes – particularly health.

• To read the full report, click here.