ISSUE 1 May
WEEKLY
Issue 71 - 15 October 2021
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
Your Space brand launched across Bassetlaw PAGE 3 Have you made the shortlist for this year’s National Fitness Awards? PAGE 5
WORKOUT WEEKLY
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Your Space brand launched across Bassetlaw LEISURE operator BPL has celebrated the rebranding of its fitness facilities across Bassetlaw with an official launch event to coincide with National Fitness Day on September 22. Over the last couple of years, BPL, in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, has invested heavily into its fitness facilities across all its sites. This includes rebranding them to Your Space and upgrading to offer the latest gym equipment and group exercise classes, all in a fun and friendly atmosphere. As part of the launch event, invited guests from BPL, the council and other partners enjoyed a tour to showcase the improvements, starting at Your Space
Worksop before moving on to sites at Bircotes and Retford. To tie in with nationwide celebrations to mark National Fitness Day, Your Space Worksop also held a free Les Mills event where members and friends could try out the latest Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack and Sh’bam group exercise releases and donate to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Charity. BPL contract manager for Bassetlaw Glyn Davies said: “We are thrilled to officially launch our rebranded Your Space sites across Bassetlaw. “We pride ourselves on playing a vital role in supporting our local communities and with these latest upgrades, can now offer members even better value for
money by providing the latest state of the art equipment and group exercise classes alongside the fun and friendly atmosphere they know and love. “However you enjoy getting active, our centres are your space to feel good and we’re looking forward to welcoming regular customers and new faces through our doors to enjoy the great range of activities on offer.” Councillor Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, added: “We have come a long way since we first started working in partnership with BPL in 2010, and this has enabled us to continually improve the facilities we offer and the quality of service provided to local people.
“Over the years, our gyms have been expanded, health improvement programmes have been developed and a wider circle of engaged partners from all sectors of the community has been created. “This is the latest stepping stone on our journey of continuous improvement, in terms of services and facilities, with plans already being drawn up for the refurbishment of the swimming pool changing facilities at Bircotes Leisure Centre. “Congratulations to everyone involved in the journey so far and thank you for your efforts in fulfilling our joint vision of providing the best possible opportunities to our local communities.”
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WORKOUT WEEKLY
Fitpros invited to workshops to learn how best to include people with sight loss FITNESS professionals are being invited to a free online workshop to gain practical guidance on how to successfully engage people with sight loss into their physical activity sessions. There is a choice of two 90-minute workshops taking place on Saturday October 23 at 2pm or Friday October 29 at 1pm. The workshops will be delivered by Step Change Studios. Supporting the workshops will be one of the company’s visually impaired students who will be sharing her live experience. “I have seen first-hand the physical, mental and social transformation among disabled people when they’re introduced to physical activity,” said Rashmi Becker MBE, founder of Step Change Studios. “The aim of our workshops is to encourage fitpros to reflect on their current practice and to improve their insight, skills and confidence so they can support people with sight loss in their sessions.” These sessions are in direct response to research that Step Change Studios undertook among 128 fitpros as part of its Dance Dosti programme in partnership with Metro Blind Sport. Their answers revealed a clear lack of inclusive training and very low confidence in being able to support people with sight loss in their physical activities. The research also showed a desire among fitpros to upskill in order to be
able to work with this demographic and an acceptance that it is currently not well catered-for within the leisure sector. Key findings from the research showed: n Just 12.5 per cent of fitpros felt ‘very confident’ teaching someone with sight loss. n 77.3 per cent cited their lack of specialist training in supporting people with sight loss as a barrier to them being fully inclusive. n 72 per cent said hearing from someone with sight loss would be most helpful to them in supporting people with sight loss.
Furthermore: n 73.4 per cent rated the dance/fitness sector as ‘poor’ in terms of access and inclusion of people with sight loss. n The top three factors that fitpros believe are barriers for people with sight loss to take part in physical activity are: Accessibility of venue and equipment – 85.9 per cent. Finding information about opportunities – 85.2 per cent. Low confidence in the activity provider – 80.5 per cent The Dance Dosti workshops aim to break down these barriers and build
up skills and confidence among fitpros by providing practical guidance and exercises. In the UK, there are almost two million people living with sight loss and every day 250 people begin to lose their sight. In January 2021, Activity Alliance found that disabled people felt that they do not have the opportunity to be as active as they want to, compared to non-disabled people (29 per cent v 44 per cent). Respondents said the lack of activity has led to both their physical and mental health being harder to manage while feelings of loneliness and social isolation were frequently voiced. These findings tally with research from Blind Ambition that show people with sight loss are reported to have several associated conditions, including depression, anxiety and diabetes. It is widely known that physical activity can help to improve all three of these conditions but, as the Activity Alliance states, disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive compared with nondisabled people. The Dance Dosti programme was launched earlier this year to support people with sight loss to be active. It is especially focused on participants from a South Asian background. Central to this programme is understanding the views and experience of fitpros in supporting people with sight loss and enabling better practice. Dance Dosti is supported by Vision Foundation.
to completely reboot its PT offer. YOUR Personal Training managing director Aaron McCulloch said: “South Downs’ previous PT offer wasn’t properly functioning, their PT service was unfortunately not widely available. We will be completely restarting South Downs ‘PT offer across a number of its gyms. “We will be providing South Downs with up to 13 YPT personal trainers across its clubs, this offers local PTs the opportunity to build a long term, successful and sustainable business.”
Tom Austin, sales and marketing director at South Downs Leisure, added: “South Downs Leisure is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of its members, and firmly believes this partnership reflects these principles, as it will mean our members now have access to bespoke training and education on exercise and nutrition to help them reach their specific goals and improve their health. “We chose YOUR Personal Training as our partner based on testimonials, feedback from other operators and
the professional integrity the YPT team brings to every meeting and consultation. Their values and ethos reflect our own, and together we plan to completely overhaul our PT offer.” Aaron concluded: “Our team will deliver a professional, credible and friendly service to the customers of South Downs Leisure, and help support South Downs’ collective mission and objectives. “Every operator within the leisure industry and each of its customers can benefit from expert and accessible 1-2-1 coaching.”
South Downs Leisure introduces new PT offer SOUTH Downs Leisure has partnered with YOUR Personal Training to support its business development and recovery after a review identified service areas that could perform better. The leisure group, which operates sport and leisure facilities across the South coast in Sussex, aims to create a dynamic and exciting personal training service that is accessible and deliverable across four of its sites. The leisure group, which previously had an unthriving ‘in-house’ PT model across some clubs, is looking to YPT Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia. co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia. co.uk
Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia. co.uk Sales manager: Louise BristoweHarrison Tel: 01226 734699 workout3@ scriptmedia.co.uk
Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@scriptmedia. co.uk
www.workout-uk.co.uk
Volunteers get fighting fit for charity FITNESS fans have raised more than £200 for a mental health charity with a gruelling five-hour ‘body combatathon’. The event, organised and led by Life Leisure instructor Jodie Bannerman, saw 42 volunteers take part in the high-octane fitness class at Houldsworth Village in return for a donation to charity. Jodie said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have raised £238 for such a worthwhile charity. “Body combat classes usually last around 45 minutes but many of our participants stuck at it for several hours which is a huge achievement, I’m so proud of everyone for taking part.” The money will be donated to the charities Rethink Mental Illness and MIND, which both work to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness. Jodie added: “It was a great day and I’m still recovering, but it is made all worthwhile to know that our money will go some way to help people in need.”
Houldsworth Village member Dawn Pickford.
N F A 2 0 2 1 S H O R T- L I S T IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Functional
National Gym of the Year
Colne Valley Fitness, Huddersfield Elite Fitness, Stoke-on-Trent JWPT, Nottingham KCT Community Fitness, Dingwall Kept Fit, Bolton ManAlive, Kings Langley Unity Fitness, Berwick Upon Tweed
The winners of the gym categories will automatically be entered for the National Gym of the Year Award.
Scotland AKR Fitness, Aberdeen Diamond Fitness, Edinburgh Future Fitness, Glasgow Garioch Sports Centre, Inverurie Pro Life Fitness Centre, Paisley SGF Gym, Wishaw Synergy Group Fitness, Edinburgh
Midlands and Wales CKI School of Martial Arts, Leicester Elite Fitness, Fenton New Image Gym, Sleaford T30 Fitness, Penygroes The Pit, Birmingham Your Space Worksop Leisure Centre Zumba with Sion, Swansea
South Fit Club, Hillingdon Lifestyle Fitness, Canvey Island Luxe Fitness, Bristol Peak Health and Fitness, Tavistock Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island Vision Fitness, Henham, Essex
Strength Dual Strength and Fitness, Horsham Fit Club, Hillingdon Fit24 ‘Hessle Road’, Hull Hamiltons Fitness Centre, Colchester Kings Gym ‘Farnworth’, Bolton Live Health and Fitness, Chorley Urban Performance Fitness, Egremont
North Fit24 ‘Hessle Road’, Hull Kings Gym, Farnworth, Bolton Pace Health Club, Manchester St Peter’s Leisure Centre, Burnley YourGym, Lytham Your Space, Hoyland Leisure Centre
Outstanding Achievement Claire Adams, Claire Adams Total Health, Edinburgh Graham Partington, National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham Ismail Saleh, CKI Martial Arts, Leicester Matt Gleed, Winchester Sion Lee, Zumba with Sion, Swansea Tracey Taikes, Zumba with Tracey, Penarth Vikash Prang, Duo Chelsea, London
Customer Service AKR Fitness, Aberdeen BFit Lincs, Caistor Boss Fitness, Durham Elite Fitness, Alnwick New Body Fitness, Weymouth Pro Life Fitness Centre, Paisley Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island
Boutique BLOK, London Marina Fitness, Gosport Synergy Group Fitness, Edinburgh The Pit Gym, Birmingham Vision Fitness, Henham, Essex W10 Personal Training Gym, London
Education Coventry University Sports Centre Fitness Evolution Education, Burnley Fitter Stronger, Kent Forces Fitness, Bridgend
Personal Trainer Alex Youngman, Keepfit, Edgworth Daniel Harrod, Harrow Leisure, Harrow Jake Harvey, YourGym, Lytham Jamie Kirk, Diamond Fitness, Edinburgh Kevin Poole, Fitness for All, Liverpool Leanne Bierton, Winners 2000, Paignton Tracey Chuck, Bfit, Caistor
Group Exercise
BFit Lincs, Caistor Cocks Moors Wood Leisure Centre, Birmingham Just Train, Knowle Green, Staines T30 Fitness, Caernarfon Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island Your Gym, Lytham
Ladies Only Amy Pounder Personal Training Ltd, Middlesbrough Believe and Achieve, Sheffield Boom Fitness, Canterbury Claire Adams Total Health, Edinburgh Club Zest, Sunderland Serendipity Ladies Health and Fitness, Selby T30 Fitness, Penygroes
Member Achievement Cairen Bedward, The PIT Gym, Birmingham Chris Hayes, Premier Kickboxing, Newton Abbot Liz Dennett, Fitness For All, Liverpool The Knight family, XCELERATE Gym, Edgware Wendy Ince, Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness Complex, Mansfield
Local Authority Basingstoke Aquadrome Oswestry Leisure Centre St Peter’s Leisure Centre, Burnley Two Riversmeet, Christchurch Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island Your Space Hoyland Leisure Centre, Barnsley Your Space Worksop Leisure Centre
Community Involvement Blazefit, Leicester Bollington Health and Leisure, Cheshire Boostfit, Surrey CKI Martial Arts, Leicester J7 Health Centre, Manchester Ladywood Leisure Centre, Birmingham Platform for NHS Workers
Health Club Cambridge Country Club Chelsea FC Health Club and Spa Coolhands Fit24 Central, Hull Foxhills, Ottershaw Pace Health Club, Manchester Silver Bay Holiday Village, Anglesey
Newcomer Axe & Hammer, Rainford Coach Gym, Leeds Fierce Gym, Milton Keynes Luxe Fitness, Bristol Ramsay Fitness, Nuneaton Snap Fitness, Newport Urban Performance, Carlisle Urban Reform, Ancoats
Hotel and Spa Foxhills, Ottershaw Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa, Nantwich The Spa at St Michaels, Falmouth
Gym Team Anytime Fitness, Welwyn Garden City Fit Club, Hillingdon GymFit, Ripley Synergy, Edinburgh Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island YourGym, Lytham