Kirklees Active Leisure

Kirklees Active Leisure is the newly formed charitable trust responsible for the management, operation and development of 10 sports centres and swimming pools in Kirklees. The trust also manages the Stadium Health & Fitness Club and Spenborough Athletics Track. What is the Aim of Kirklees Active Leisure? Kirklees Active Leisure aims to: get "more p... eople, more active, more often, in Kirklees." and provide opportunities for affordable sport, leisure and recreational activities for local people. When was it Formed? The Trust gained Charitable Status on 21st March 2002, and formally came into being on 1st April 2002. Although a completely independent body making its own decisions at meetings of the Board of Trustees, the Council and the Trust are working together in partnership. The Trust is responsible to an eight member board comprised of local people and chaired by David Heddon, former Regional Director of Sport England. The Trust and the Council have signed a Statement of Understanding which summarises mutual and common aims which are intended to improve the service and the facilities, whilst at the same time meet the needs and aspirations of the community of Kirklees as a whole. The agreement with the Trust ensures that charges to customers will be affordable. Why Was it Formed? Following a detailed review of the provision of sport and leisure facilities throughout the district, wide consultation with users and non users, and a Best Value Review, the Council determined to enter into a Trust arrangement for its Leisure Management Activity. The review identified the need to invest substantial amounts of capital funding to address the decline in the structural condition of the buildings. This issue is not unique to Kirklees; it is a problem which is coming to the surface across the country. There is a high demand and usage of these facilities, particularly those providing for swimming and pay and play. The review also recognised that the community wanted facilities in good condition within reasonable distance ...Read More