News & Events Archives - Active Nottingham

The winners of the This Girl Can Nottingham 2024 Awards were revealed during a celebratory evening that recognised the achievements of women in the physical activity sector within the Nottingham community.

The top achievers were honoured during the awards ceremony, which took place at the Nottingham Council House on 21 November 2024. Over 120 finalists, guests, and community partners were in attendance.

The awards, sponsored by Reward with an Award and Matt Bradbury, were hosted by Charmaine Daley, the Workforce Development Officer for This Girl Can Nottingham, who kicked off the evening with a lively conga to lift everyone’s spirits and highlighted the impressive nominees selected across eight different categories. The full list of winners is available below.

The excitement continued as the finalists enjoyed a spectacular performance by Nottingham’s Dance Warriors, who showcased their talent with a rendition of ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten.

This year’s This Girl Can Nottingham Awards saw an impressive total of 154 nominees, with judges commending the exceptional quality of the applicants and the remarkable accomplishments showcased by all the finalists.

Charmaine Daley, This Girl Can Workforce Development Officer, said: “The Council House was full of celebration, positive vibes and raised vibrations. The strong sense of empowerment was felt by all who attended. To be in a room full so many esteemed and pioneering women was an honour. The event meant a great deal to finalists and winners’ representative of so many communities in Nottingham.

“What a special opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate so many of our unsung heroes, role models and champions. Nottingham is very proud of you all”

This Girl Can is a national movement, created by Sport England in 2015. The focus is on tackling the physical inactivity gap between men and women. At a national level, we know that 59.8% of women aged 16 and over are active (more than 150 minutes of exercise a week), compared to 63.1% of men. In Nottingham, 58% of women do more than 150% of exercise a week, compared to 63% of men. This Girl Can look at how women can move more in a way that suits them and the movement can be celebrated.

Dance Warriors were formed by the Nottinghamshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group in 2022 in response to calls for more dance opportunities for people with learning disabilities. They chose for it to be inclusive to people with all disabilities, not just Down Syndrome.

Active Nottingham gym undergoes a major transformation

The gym at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre has been transformed as part of a wider £1.5m investment for new equipment this November 2024.

Active Nottingham, which is part of Nottingham City Council, began investing funds in March 2023 with members at Clifton, Southglade, Victoria, and Harvey Hadden having already experienced the new gym concept. This investment extends over five years and covers all six of its leisure centres: Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Clifton, Ken Martin, Southglade, Victoria, and Djanogly Community Leisure Centre.

The revamp at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre includes premium equipment from Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, and ICG ®, which is suitable for all training interests and fitness levels. Additionally, the centre will join an exclusive group of UK gyms to feature Symbio™ Cardio, which will take fitness journeys to the next level.

The new kit will also include immersive digital experiences with cardio consoles, a functional zone and environmentally friendly Green Zones with self-powered equipment.

Cllr Sam Lux, Executive Member for Carbon Reduction, Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council said: “It was great to attend the reopening of the gym at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre with our fantastic team. The impressive upgraded facilities rival those of private gyms and will serve as an excellent resource for the community. I was particularly energised when I saw the new wall of self-powered equipment, helping towards Nottingham’s goal to be the UK’s first carbon-neutral city.

“This is the latest in a suite of renovations across Active Nottingham centres. It’s wonderful to see the penultimate phase moving forward following upgrades across Clifton, Southglade, Victoria, and Harvey Hadden over the past few years.”

On Friday 8 November, Djanogly Community Leisure Centre opened its doors to the gyms for a VIP Open Day, where Master Trainers from Life Fitness were on hand to help customers utilise the new equipment. Members were also be invited to bring along a friend for free for the day.

To tie in with the reopening residents are able to take advantage of special joining offers which include

For more information on the refurbishment project, visit Active Nottingham’s website here.

*Terms apply. Choose from one of the three mentioned offers. Offers are only available at Djanogly Community Leisure Centre from 8 – 15 November 2024 to coincide with the gym reopening and are only available when joining in person.

Nottingham Swim School backs National Drowning Prevention Week campaign

Nottingham Swim School, part of Nottingham City Council, is urging parents to make sure their children know how to stay safe and enjoy the water this summer.

Whether heading abroad this summer or opting for a staycation, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), fears that families will head to beaches and inland water locations this summer, without considering the potential dangers, putting themselves and others at risk. Those of us who will be venturing abroad for their summer holiday, may find themselves using non-lifeguarded pools and therefore be at risk if they do not have the necessary water safety skills.

Figures indicate that around 25 per cent of primary pupils leave school unable to swim, and experts fear that as a result of the pandemic many young people lack the ability to swim or self-rescue.

Nottingham Swim School is supporting RLSS UK’s national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, this year running from 15-22 June 2024.

Drowning Prevention Week aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety.

Over 300 people accidentally drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, sometimes life-changing, when they survive drowning.

Nottingham Swim School Officer, Claire Sullivan said: “We are proud to play our part in ensuring our families have a safe summer. We recognise how vital it is for children to know how to stay safe near water and urge our parents to access RLSS UK’s free water safety resources on the Charity’s website, which includes fantastic theme week lesson plans to allow schools to incorporate the resources into our existing lessons. We want our pupils to enjoy all the fun and benefits of being in and around water but be educated on how to do that safely.”

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: “The UK’s beautiful waterways should be places where everyone feels at ease, and can take pleasure from their surroundings, whatever their age, whatever their activity level. But we’re urging people to educate themselves and others on how to enjoy water safely and prevent a fun day out ending in tragedy.

“The Drowning Prevention Week campaign is crucial this year. In recent years, young people have missed out on the vital opportunity to swim, leaving a dramatic gap in school swimming and water safety education.

“RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy water safely. We urge as many parents as possible to get involved with the campaign, use our free online resources, and give their children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.”

Visit www.rlss.org.uk/DPW to access the Charity’s free water safety resources.

In addition, the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) will be visiting two Active Nottingham Leisure Centres during Drowning Prevention Week to promote water safety:

OWEN – In memory of Owen Jenkins – was founded to educate children and young adults in Nottinghamshire about how to stay safe around open water and what to do in an emergency, whilst also working closely with water safety groups such as Fire & Rescue Service, Police Service and the Nottinghamshire Water Safety Partnership group. “Had my son Owen and his friends been educated about open water, its dangers and what to do in an emergency he may still be here today” – Nicola Jenkins.

Active Nottingham earns prestigious global health and safety award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council – Sport and Leisure, has fought off global competition to win a prestigious RoSPA Award, demonstrating its commitment to health and safety excellence.

Active Nottingham achieved their sixth consecutive Gold Award in the Leisure Safety category.

The esteemed RoSPA Awards program now celebrates its 68th year as the UK’s largest and most impactful health and safety programme. With almost 2,000 entries annually from over 50 countries, impacting over seven million employees, they offer a platform to spotlight an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in health and safety.

Whether entrants seek non-competitive excellence recognition or vie for competitive awards across 32 industry sectors, the RoSPA Awards provide an unparalleled opportunity to stand among leaders shaping safer, healthier workplaces.

As of this year, the RoSPA award entry process can be used as reflective practise to contribute to continuing professional development (CPD).

Health, Safety and Training Manager for Active Nottingham, Sport and Leisure, Tom Bartley said: “Receiving this award for the sixth year in a row is truly a remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team.

“Everyone has played a crucial role in upholding our commitment to health and safety at all six of our sites. It is a result of our collective efforts to prioritize safety above all else, and to continuously strive for excellence in this area.

“I would like to extend our gratitude to every member of our team for their hard work and dedication. This award belongs to everyone, and we will continue to work together to ensure that safety remains our top priority at all times.”

“Workplace accidents don’t just pose financial risks and operational disruptions; they significantly impact the quality of life for individuals. This is why acknowledging and rewarding excellent safety performance is vital.

“We congratulate Active Nottingham for winning a prestigious RoSPA Award and showing an unwavering commitment to keeping employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.”

Sponsored by Croner-i, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for the health and safety industry.

“We are proud to sponsor the RoSPA Awards for a second year, which emphasises our dedication to prioritising health and safety—an essential foundation for lasting success and wellbeing at work.”

Active Nottingham operates six leisure centres across the city of Nottingham: Clifton Leisure Centre, Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Ken Martin Leisure Centre, Southglade Leisure Centre and Victoria Leisure Centre. Visit www.activenottingham.com for more information or to find your nearest centre.

What’s new at Harvey Hadden Sports Village

Exciting News: The Fitness Class Programme at Harvey Hadden Sports Village is getting a makeover.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday 2 April 2024! Harvey Hadden Sports Village Fitness Class programme is getting a fresh update.

We’ve listened to your feedback on our current programme and redesigned it to suit your needs better. Get ready to experience a new and improved workout routine.

Work is now under way to transform Active Nottingham gyms

Gyms at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centres are due to be transformed as part of a wider £1.5m investment for new equipment next month.

Active Nottingham, which is part of Nottingham City Council, is investing the money over five years across all of its six leisure centres – Harvey Hadden, Clifton, Ken Martin, Southglade, Victoria and Djanogly – with Clifton and Harvey Hadden members already seeing the benefits of the new gym concept.

The revamp at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centres will feature premium equipment from Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ICG ®, which is suitable for all training interests and fitness levels.

The new kit will also feature immersive digital experiences with cardio consoles, a functional zone with a stretching area and environmentally-friendly Green Zones with self-powered equipment.

Victoria Leisure Centre is set to introduce a dedicated Functional Zone with multiple uses, including Ladies Only Functional Gym sessions, and Calm Functional Gym sessions which are aimed at gym-goers who prefer a quieter and less-crowded workout experience.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “The improvements to the gyms at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centre represent a continued investment in ensuring high-quality fitness facilities are available to our communities.

“We are refurbishing all Active Nottingham gyms across the city to ensure wherever people live, they have the opportunity and access to high-quality fitness equipment. It’s great to see the next phase in progress following the renovated gyms earlier this year at Clifton Leisure Centre and Harvey Hadden Sports Village.”

Sport and Leisure Development Manager, Sarah Retzlaff, said: “Active Nottingham aims to support the overall health and wellbeing of city residents, and the new Life Fitness equipment is set to play a significant role.

“The introduction of Calm Functional Gym and Ladies Only Functional Gym sessions, alongside an enhanced Group Fitness Programme at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centre, will enable us to reach out to a larger segment of the community, encouraging their engagement towards improving their physical and mental health.”

On Monday 4 December, Victoria Leisure Centre (11 December for Southglade Leisure Centre) will reopen its doors to the gyms for a VIP Open Day, where trainers from Life Fitness will be on hand to help customers with the new equipment. Members will also be invited to bring along a friend for free on the day.

To tie in with the reopening, residents will be able to take advantage of special joining offers* which include:

*Terms apply. Choose one of the three offers mentioned, which are exclusively available at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centres from 4th to 12th December, coinciding with the reopening of the gyms. Offers will only be available between 4 and 12 December in centre at Victoria and Southglade Leisure Centres, Offers not available over the phone or via the website.

For more information on the refurbishment project, visit Active Nottingham’s website here.

What’s new at Victoria Leisure Centre

Victoria Leisure Centre gym has now reopened following its refurbishment and we’re so excited! We’ve planned some amazing things behind the scenes for you to enjoy alongside the refreshed gym, keep reading to find out more.

We’re excited to introduce the Calm Functional Gym, located on the ground floor of the Victoria Leisure Centre. This gym is perfect for those who prefer to work out in a quieter environment.

Please note that Calm Functional Gym sessions are only available during selected time slots. Click here to book.

As part of our gym’s refurbishment, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of a Ladies Only Functional Gym.

This area, located on the ground floor, is perfect for toning up and improving overall fitness. Our functional gym zone offers a variety of cardiovascular, functional, and strength equipment to cater to your workout needs.

Enjoy a relaxed and friendly atmosphere while working out at your own pace and level, either with friends or by yourself.

Please note that Ladies Only Functional gym sessions are available during selected time slots only. Click here to book.

Exciting News: Fitness Class Programme at Victoria Leisure Centre is getting a makeover.

We’ve listened to your feedback on our current programme and have redesigned it to better suit your needs. Get ready to experience a new and improved workout routine.

Active Nottingham wins an internationally recognised health and safety accolade from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, has scooped a prestigious RoSPA Gold Award in the Leisure Safety category for the fourth time, demonstrating its commitment to high health and safety standards.

In addition to the RoSPA Gold Award, Active Nottingham was also presented with the RoSPA Leisure Safety Trophy; which is given to the overall highest performer within the Leisure Safety Award category and recognises excellence in health and safety management.

The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is the UK’s largest occupational health and safety awards programme. Now into its 67th year, the Awards have almost 2,000 entries every year, covering nearly 50 countries and a reach of over seven million employees. The programme recognises organisations’ commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work, looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

While most awards are non-competitive – recognising individual organisations’ achievements – competitive awards are presented in 20 industry sectors and for specialist areas of health and safety management.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis said: “I am thrilled the team have achieved Gold at the RoSPA Awards. To achieve this for a fourth time is a credit to the hard work of the management team and staff at each of our leisure centres, who ensure the safety of our customers is a top priority.

“I’m delighted Active Nottingham has been recognised, for being one of the best in the country within the leisure industry, even more so with the addition of the RoSPA Leisure Safety Trophy.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “Accidents at work and work-related ill health don’t just have huge financial implications or cause major disruption – they significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. That’s why good safety performance deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

“We are thrilled that Active Nottingham has won a RoSPA Award and would like to congratulate them on showing an unwavering commitment to keeping their employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.”

Pictured left to right:
Errol Taylor – RoSPA, Chief Executive.
Geoff Ritson – Nottingham City Council, Sport and Leisure – Health, Safety and Training Manager

Active Nottingham swimming pools awarded PoolMark Accreditation

Swimmers attending any of the six Active Nottingham swimming pools, part of Nottingham City Council, can be assured they meet the highest quality standards after achieving the PoolMark Accreditation from the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG).

The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) is the leading authority on swimming pool operation, water treatment and technical information relating to health and safety.

PoolMark is the UK National Standard for quality, healthy pools. The PoolMark certification assures operators and the public that the pool meets essential healthy pool operational standards.

Pools that follow and achieve the Code’s standards through assessment are awarded a plaque and certificate to show their achievement.

Jonathan Cook (Swimming Pools Technical Officer) and Ian Dunphy (Assistant Manager/Project Lead) from Clifton Leisure Centre (pictured above) said: “We’re proud to have undertaken this journey for Active Nottingham’s swimming pools. It’s a first for Nottingham City, as only 42 swimming pools (out of the 800+ pools in the UK) have been accredited, and we have six of those – it’s a huge achievement for us.”

Active Nottingham gyms undergo a major transformation

The gyms at Harvey Hadden Sports Village and Clifton Leisure Centre are currently being transformed as part of a wider £1.5m investment for new equipment and set to reopen to the public on Tuesday 28 March 2023.

The average lifespan for a cardio machine is five years and the costs to repair will outstrip the value of the machine, resulting in a higher repair bill. This £1.5m cash injection will make sure each centre has new kit for gym-goers to use.

The money has been set aside to support the income generated from customers, allowing the investment to be made without the need for borrowing or impacting on wider day-to-day council services.

The revamp at Clifton and Harvey Hadden features premium equipment from Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ICG ® – suitable for all training interests and fitness levels. The new kit will also feature immersive digital experiences with new cardio consoles, a functional zone with a stretching area and environmentally friendly Green Zones with self-powered equipment so more can be done to help the environment.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “it was great to visit the gym at Clifton Leisure Centre this week during the installation process, to see the new and improved facilities, meet the team and see their excitement for the gym to reopen. I’m confident these improvements will become a real asset to the community.

“We are refurbishing all Active Nottingham gyms across the city, to make sure wherever people live, they have the opportunity and access to high-quality fitness equipment.”

On Monday 27 March, both Clifton Leisure Centre and Harvey Hadden Sports Village will reopen their doors to the gym for a VIP Open Day, where Master Trainers from Life Fitness will be on hand to help customers utilise the new equipment. Members will also be invited to bring along a friend for free for the day.

To tie in with the reopening, residents will be able to take advantage of a special joining offer of three-month Fitness+ membership for £70 (a saving of £40) when visiting either Clifton or Harvey Hadden Sports Village.

Active Nottingham set to invest £1.5m in gym equipment

Gyms at Harvey Hadden Sports Village and Clifton Leisure Centre is in line to receive a share of £1.5m for new equipment over the next few months.

Active Nottingham, which is part of Nottingham City Council, is set to invest the money over five years across all of its six leisure centres – Harvey Hadden, Clifton, Ken Martin, Southglade, Victoria and Djanogly.

Harvey Hadden and Clifton will be the first in line to receive new equipment from Spring 2023.

The average lifespan for a cardio machine is five years and the costs to repair will outstrip the value of the machine, resulting in a higher repair bill.

This £1.5m cash injection will make sure each centre has new kit for gym-goers to use.

Active Nottingham has set money aside to support the income generated from customers, allowing the investment to be made without the need for borrowing or impacting on wider day-to-day council services.

With increasing membership numbers and by listening to members, replacing old equipment will improve customer satisfaction as well as mental and physical health and wellbeing.

It will also allow Active Nottingham to remain competitive in an ever-growing sport and leisure marketplace – especially as today’s gym-goer wants to see smart technology on fitness equipment to enhance the gym experience.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “I am pleased we are investing in our residents’ mental health and wellbeing by replacing the current gym equipment. This will play an important role in the promotion of getting more people active within our community.”

John Wileman, Head of Sport and Leisure for Active Nottingham, said: “This is great news for our members and local residents at each of the six Active Nottingham locations. We are always looking to improve and replacing our equipment means our gyms are not just great to use, but we are directly helping the city of Nottingham.”

The state-of-the-art fitness equipment will be purchased by Active Nottingham over the next five years, providing an enhanced gym experience to residents and members at Active Nottingham’s six leisure centres.

Active Nottingham Leisure Centre first in the country to be recognised for tackling inequalities

Active Nottingham’s Ken Martin Leisure Centre (part of Nottingham City Council) in Nottingham has become the first leisure centre in the country to achieve the Quest Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard, demonstrating its commitment to tackling inequalities.

The Tacking Inequalities in Leisure accolade was bestowed on the centre as part of its Sport England Quest assessment, which measures how well a facility is operating and how effective organisations are across a range of areas.

First established more than 20 years ago, the renowned Quest award has evolved over the years to keep pace with the ever-changing sport and leisure industry, now including aspects such as the Tackling Inequalities assessment and an Exercise on Referral Standard. Still the sector’s best-known improvement programme, its rigorous assessments challenge even the very best leisure centres in the UK.

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “I’m thrilled that our efforts and the ongoing work at Ken Martin Leisure Centre have been recognised with the Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team. As a service, Active Nottingham is committed to providing accessible leisure facilities and I hope this encourages more local residents with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions to be active.”

Ken Martin Leisure Centre was recognised for working hard to ensure all demographics of the local community are welcome and find the centre accessible, which includes partnering with trusted local organisations, such as housing associations, primary care networks, social prescribing teams and mental health services.

The Sport and Physical Activity team have also been working with the community to help remove any barriers to access through campaigns such as Get Out Get Active, This Girl Can and the Disability Sport Insight and Participation project, which invited people living with a disability to try the facility for free in exchange for honest feedback.

Kirsty Worthington, General Manager at Ken Martin Leisure Centre says: “As well as proactively researching the demographics of our area so we can anticipate some of our community’s needs, we take a more holistic and individualistic appreciation of their requirements by working with partners, such as My Sight Notts, Disability Direct and the Women’s Centre, and local projects, including community-based sports groups, to directly engage with people living in the local area.

“This includes attending local meetings and events, such as community fun days, inviting groups to attend the centre and help alleviate first-time visit anticipation, as well as offering virtual tours and subtitled centre walk-through videos on our website and social media, so people know what to expect in advance.

“The area around the centre has some of the highest levels of deprivation across the UK, experiencing a number of health challenges. Added to this, the area has a mixed population of ethnicities, including new and emerging communities, a large proportion of families and single-parent families, as well as a significant population of older people. We need to offer programmes and activities that truly cater for everyone.”

Some of the activities that ticked the boxes for the Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard assessment team include Swim for Health, a 50+ morning and line dancing classes, which all attract a diverse attendance, as well as low-intensity mental health mindfulness classes, which enable customers to learn mindfulness meditation practices to help relax, reduce stress, slow down and live their life in the present.

Along with Active Nottingham’s other leisure centres, Ken Martin also boasts CredAbility accreditation; an independent quality mark run by disabled people, and the CredAbility Access Card, a national scheme that commits organisations to providing a quality service to people with a disability. The CredAbility Access +1 card scheme also allows holders to gain free access for essential companions or carers at Active Nottingham leisure centres.

Kirsty explains: “The CredAbility Access Card acts as evidence that someone needs support to use our services or is eligible for our offers. Not only does it mean we discreetly know they are entitled to concessionary prices and may require individual help, they know we are a verified accessible venue with their best interests at heart.”

Sarah Maxwell, Head of External Accreditations at Right Directions, which manages Quest on behalf of Sport England, says: “We were truly impressed with the investment Ken Martin Leisure Centre has made around inclusivity for its local community. For instance, the video on the Swim School is one of the most inclusive videos I have seen as an Assessor, with information being available in picture, sound and caption formats for members of the community, users and coaches.

“All the evidence, which includes investment in Disability Training Scenario Videos and Unconscious Bias Training to help prepare staff for their roles, demonstrates the centre and organisation are quality, not quantity, driven, with a focus on individual opportunities and thought, without taking a ‘blanket approach’ to their customers’ needs.”

Active Nottingham leisure centre awarded top marks on ‘Quest’ for excellence

Active Nottingham’s Ken Martin Leisure Centre has been awarded ‘Excellent’ for its facilities and services, recognising high quality within UK Sport and Leisure.

It joins Djanogly Community Leisure Centre at the top of the rankings for 2022 – another site run by Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council.

An industry standard developed by the UK Sports Council, Quest assessors look at a range of factors including operational management and approaches to engaging with customers through to community outcomes. Taking place over a two-day on-site assessment and a mystery shopper visit, the overall process ensures a thorough review takes place and provides assurances a quality service is being provided to residents.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “I’m thrilled Ken Martin Leisure Centre has been awarded ‘Excellent’ for its performance and management on the latest Quest Assessment. This is a testament to the incredible work and dedication of our front-line staff delivering best practice and the highest industry standard for the benefit of Nottingham residents using the centre.”

Ken Martin Leisure Centre General Manager, Kirsty Worthington, said: “Thank you to everyone at Ken Martin Leisure Centre and the wider Sport and Leisure teams for their assistance and support during the Quest preparation as well as the recent two-day assessment. It’s brilliant news for us all that we were rated as ‘Excellent’ as it highlights the hard work that is put into Ken Martin Leisure Centre. The hard work does not stop here, we will continue to assess, reflect and progress the site and the services we offer to Nottingham residents and customers. Great job everyone!”.

Active Nottingham operates six leisure centres across the city of Nottingham: Clifton Leisure Centre, Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Ken Martin Leisure Centre, Southglade Leisure Centre, and Victoria Leisure Centre.

Take a virtual tour of Active Nottingham without leaving your house!

A NEW virtual tour promoting the facilities of six leisure centres in Nottingham has been launched by Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council.

The online tool not only allows users to see inside each Active Nottingham leisure centre but also view spaces from 360-degree angles. During the tour, potential members can gain virtual access to the facilities and visit each building from the comfort of their mobile device or computer.

Active Nottingham is much more than just a ‘gym’ with indoor swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and a range of exercise classes, there is something for everyone and the new virtual tour allows potential members to explore the layout and details prior to arrival.

“I’m delighted Active Nottingham has launched their virtual tours, especially as they provide flexibility for potential members as well as those who may not be comfortable having an in-person tour and want the freedom to view the leisure centres at their leisure.

“The tours also offer valuable information for service users wanting to understand access arrangements, where the changing rooms are, where specific rooms are for classes etc.

“Nottingham residents will benefit greatly from these tours and I hope they will inspire more people to get active.”

Brown Gal Can’t Swim: City Council helps BBC presenter to get South Asian women swimming

Summaya Mughal (left) and Alice Dearing (right). Image: Charlie Firth

Nottingham-born BBC presenter Summaya Mughal has been learning to swim at Active Nottingham pools in a bid to encourage other South Asian women to take the plunge.

Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, has supported her during her journey which she starts sharing on air this week. Her five-part series looks into learning to swim at the age of 27 and explores why many South Asian women are less likely to swim.

In revealing that she couldn’t swim, Summaya exposed the cultural barriers that she faced and how it has affected her both physically and mentally. As part of this journey, Summaya has given other members of the South Asian community the confidence to take their first steps into swimming.

As a result of her campaign, Summaya was honoured at the Nottingham Awards 2022 last week for her work in the Voluntary and Community Sector. Meanwhile, Active Nottingham, Nottingham Swim School and the council’s school swimming department have been honoured at the recent Swim England Teaching and Education Awards.

The series titled ‘Brown Gal Can’t Swim’ sees Summaya learn to swim in just eight weeks at Active Nottingham swimming pools, supported by Nottingham Swim School swimming teacher Victoria Charles. Olympians Rebecca Adlington and Alice Dearing also provide support and guidance and set Summaya additional challenges including a 500m open water swim – will she do it? You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “We’re thrilled to be a part of this project with Summaya and the BBC to help raise awareness and showcase the importance of learning to swim within South Asian communities. This campaign will go a long way to help break down barriers that people face when it comes to swimwear, changing rooms, and going swimming itself and help get more communities involved in swimming.

“Active Nottingham and Nottingham Swim School are proud to have helped Summaya learn to swim over the past eight weeks and it was great to see her face the 500m open water challenge at Spring Lakes.

“Summaya has also worked with the black swimming association to challenge the lack of representation of black and Asian people in both recreational and elite swimming – she also engaged with Olympic swimmers Becky Adlington and Alice Dearing in her campaign, who both set her challenges for Summaya to complete.

Her work with diverse communities is second to none, both engaging and empowering!”

The Brown Gal Can’t Swim podcast is available on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p0ctzgft It will also be broadcast as a series on BBC East Midlands Today from Tuesday 11 October 2022.

*Summaya at Southglade Leisure Centre. Image: Charlie Firth*

Importance of learning to swim

Reasons why you should learn to swim

Learning to swim is a skill for life and is rarely forgotten, swimming doesn’t care about age either making it an accessible sport for all.

Brown Gal Can’t Swim: Summaya Mughal aims to get South Asian women swimming

Nottingham-born and raised Summaya Mughal, a BBC presenter and podcaster for BBC Radio Sounds, and Radio Leicester is presenting a five-part series which explores why many South Asian women are less likely to swim.

The Brown Gal Can’t Swim (BGCS) series, will see Summaya take on swimming challenges set by Olympians Rebecca Adlington and Alice Dearing. She said: “I’ve spent over 20 years embarrassed about not having a skill it feels like kids have”.

Breaking down barriers and misconceptions

Statistics from Swim England show people from black and Asian backgrounds are less likely to swim than those from white communities, with 49% of black and Asian communities unable to swim 25m unaided.

Summaya aims to break down misconceptions about swimming and encourage members of the South Asian community to get behind her campaign and learn to swim.

About the journey itself, Summaya says: “It has tested me physically and emotionally but I’m hoping it makes a difference and encourages others to learn to swim too. After all, it could save your life.”

As part of the BGCS project Summaya is challenged to swim 50m in a swimming pool by Rebecca Adlington and 500m in open water by Alice Dearing in just eight weeks – will she do it? Keep listening to the BGCS podcast daily from Monday 10 October 2022.

Ihttps://bbc.in/3fV17lpmportance of learning to swim

According to Swim England, swimming is the only sport that could save your life.

Swimming is a tremendous amount of fun for all people of all ages and children, especially, who enjoy getting into the water. But it is important to swim safely. Check out our blog for the importance of learning to swim.

Good luck with the campaign Summaya, Active Nottingham and Nottingham Swim School is proud to work with you on this project and we all look forward to seeing more about it in the next few days!

Active Nottingham named finalists at the Swim England Teaching and Education Awards 2022

Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, is delighted to have been named by Swim England as 2022 Awards Finalists after entering the awards for the first time.

Deborah Williams was awarded ‘Runner Up’ for Swimming Teacher of the Year after being nominated by Nottingham Swim School parents and students from Djanogly Community Leisure Centre and Southglade Leisure Centre.

Additionally, Nottingham City Council’s School Swimming department came away with School Swimming Provider of the Year for the second year in a row.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “I’m delighted Active Nottingham has been successful in their efforts to become finalists at the Swim England Teaching and Education Awards 2022 in two categories. This is an incredible achievement to all the team for their incredibly hard yet rewarding work.

“Well done to Deborah Williams for achieving ‘Runner Up’ in the Swimming Teacher of the Year category. Deborah should be very proud of her achievement, as should all who were nominated.

“Congratulations also to our Nottingham City Council colleagues for winning School Swimming Provider of the Year for a second year in a row, with special thanks to School Swimming Manager, Claire Moores – well deserved.”

Nottingham Swim School Manager, Claire Sullivan, said “We’re pleased Nottingham Swim School was nominated for Swim School of the Year, alongside many of our Nottingham Swim School teachers in the Swim Teacher of the Year category.

“As a City Council delivering both school swimming (during the daytime) and Nottingham Swim School (Monday-Friday 4-6.30 pm and weekends) we are committed to teaching as many children and young people in our City to swim and to learn this vital life skill.”

Nottingham City Council School Swimming Manager, Claire Moores, said “Thank you to the Sport and Leisure teams at Active Nottingham for providing us such a fabulous learning environment for school pupils to learn new and essential life skills. How we pull together from collaboration to delivery is a real team effort, and the Swim Teachers should be very proud of the recognition of all their hard work.”

The Swim England Teaching and Education Awards 2022 took place in Solihull on Thursday 28 September and gave Swim England the chance to honour the very best of the swimming workforce within the UK. It’s a chance to highlight the innovations and achievements of the best educators, swimming teachers, tutors and swim schools within the sport and recognise their success.

Nottingham Swim School operates swimming lessons at six Active Nottingham leisure centres across the city of Nottingham: Clifton Leisure Centre, Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Ken Martin Leisure Centre, Southglade Leisure Centre and Victoria Leisure Centre

Is there a better time of day to work out?

Are you a morning or evening person? Some people find it easier to exercise in the morning as their energy levels are at their highest, others prefer to wait until the evening as it fits better with their daily life.The time of day we choose to workout will depend on many things – ultimately it needs to fit in with everything in our lives. It needs to fit around work, studies, family and other commitments. We also need to choose times best suited to our bodies and our natural energy levels. The best time to exercise is down to us, working out whenever we can and being consistent.There are some benefits to exercising at certain times of the day, take a look below.Morning workouts:

Important: if exercising in the morning don’t forget to sufficiently warm up. Your muscles and joints tend to be “colder” when you have just woken up and are more prone to injury.

Afternoon/evening workouts:

Regardless of the time of day we exercise, it is still very important to ensure we warm up sufficiently.

Try to find a time to work out that suits your lifestyle – taking all aspects into consideration – but most importantly, a time that you will consistently be able to stick with in the long run.

Active Nottingham leisure centre awarded top marks on ‘Quest’ for excellence

Active Nottingham’s Djanogly Community Leisure Centre (DCLC), part of Nottingham City Council, has been awarded ‘Excellent’ for its facilities and services, recognising high quality within UK Sport and Leisure.

An industry standard developed by the UK Sports Council, Quest assessors look at a range of factors including operational management and approaches to engaging with customers through to community outcomes. Taking place over a two-day on-site assessment and a mystery shopper visit the overall process ensures a thorough review takes place and provides assurances we’re providing a quality service to residents.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “I’m really proud of Djanogly Community Leisure Centre being awarded ‘Excellent’ in terms of its performance and management on its latest Quest Assessment. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our front line staff delivering best practice and highest industry standard for the benefit of Nottingham residents using the centre.”

Djanogly Community Leisure Centre General Manager, Tom Nelson, said: “Thank you to all the team at DCLC and the wider Sport and Leisure service for their help and support during the Quest preparation and the two-day assessment. It’s great we were awarded ‘Excellent’, but it doesn’t stop here, we will continue to review, reflect and continually improve the site and the service we offer to residents and customers. Well done everyone and thanks again!”.

Working out in the heat

It might be hot out but we also want you to stay active but safely! So, here are some tips for keeping your cool when working out!

To help protect yourself and others is to spot the symptoms of heat stroke, which include:-

Active Nottingham named as Triple Finalists at the 2022 ukactive Awards

Active Nottingham, part of Nottingham City Council, are delighted to have been named by ukactive as 2022 Award Finalists after entering the awards for the first time.

They have been shortlisted in three categories – Regional Club of the Year (Harvey Hadden Sports Village), Activation Award (recognising organisations who run events to inspire and encourage people to be more active) and Physical Activity Hero Award (Charmaine Daley with This Girl Can Nottingham).

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Eunice Campbell-Clark, said: “I’m delighted to announce Active Nottingham has been successful in their efforts to become finalists at the ukactive Awards, in not one but three categories. This is an amazing achievement to all the team for the incredibly hard work they do, not just at our leisure centres, but within the community. I wish them the best of luck at the finals in June.”

Charmaine Daley will go head to head with other finalists in a public vote for the Physical Activity Hero Award. Charmaine has been involved in this Girl Can Nottingham since 2015 and more recently involved as the community motivator role, empowering and inspiring thousands of women to enjoy moving more and falling in love with their bodies through exercise.

Charmaine has a passion for helping those in need by dedicating her time to raising money for good causes through the power of Zumba; including the delivery of ‘Socially Distanced Street Zumba’ with This Girl Can Nottingham at the height of lockdown in Bulwell.

Voting opens on Monday 9 May and closes on 27 May, with the winner announced at the awards ceremony in Birmingham on 30 June 2022.

ukactive’s annual awards are the most prestigious within the physical activity sector; they recognise facilities, suppliers, operators, educational institutes, health practitioners and large corporations that have demonstrated exceptional standards in driving forward the physical activity agenda.

This Girl Can returns to Nottingham

This Girl Can believes that there’s no right way to get active.

If it gets your heart rate up, it counts, and we want more women to find what’s right for them.

Since This Girl Can launched, nearly 3 million women have been inspired to get involved in physical activity, but it isn’t stopping there. With a new drive in Nottingham comes a fresh approach and the ambition to reach all areas of Nottingham.

To connect with Charm and other Nottingham women on their activity journey, find inspiration to be active, or share your journey (you can post as much or as little as you want) visit the ‘This Girl Can Nottingham’ Facebook group.

Women come in all shapes and sizes with all abilities and from all backgrounds. Some of us are expert sportswomen, some of us really aren’t. It doesn’t matter. We’re just happy that you’re getting active. If you’re still not sure that you can, we’re here to help you to figure out the way of getting active that’s right for you.

Many women are put off taking part in physical activity due to a fear of judgement, or because they have other priorities, often putting others first.

This Girl Can is about sharing real stories of women getting active or playing sport in the way that’s right for them, in all its sweaty, red-faced, jiggly glory.