Horizon Leisure, which operates Havant leisure Centre and Waterlooville Leisure Centre, was crowned Community Business of the Year at the Portsmouth Business Awards on Friday 23rd February.
The annual event held at the Portsmouth Guildhall, now is in its 24th year, recognises the success of local businesses and entrepreneurs in the region. The Community Business award required companies to demonstrate their commitment to supporting their local community, with expert judges looking for clear proof and evidence.
Mike Lyons, CEO Horizon Leisure says: “It was a true privilege to receive this award. It’s fantastic to see our teams efforts being recognised, and winning Community Business of the Year against some tough competition is a considerable achievement.
“As a charitable organisation, any surplus made by Horizon Leisure is reinvested back into our services, which create inclusive, affordable health and wellbeing initiatives for the people in the local community.”
Horizon Leisure was recognised for being a trailblazer for its community, with its wide range of neighbourhood-led initiatives, including its unique drop-in Wellness Hub in Havant’s shopping mall, which now has SurgeryPod taking blood pressure readings that feed directly back to local GP’s.
The charity contributed £3.7 million in social value last year, quantifying its non-market economic, social and environmental impact. That represents over £100 for every single customer, positively influencing everything from their physical and mental health to their life satisfaction, as well as reducing crime rates for young males in the area.
The past year also witnessed a 31% surge in memberships, a 26% rise in group exercise attendance, and a year-on-year increase of 25% in gym visits. Havant Leisure Centre was awarded ‘Trust Gym of the Year’ at the 2023 National Fitness Awards, with both Waterlooville and Havant leisure centres being accredited by Sport England’s quality assurance scheme, Quest.
Lyons concludes: “I’m immensely proud of Horizon Leisure’s diverse health and wellbeing initiatives, which include dementia-friendly activities, our successful ESCAPE-pain programme, clubs for additional needs and tea dances to combat loneliness, a health/GP referral scheme, falls prevention classes, long-term condition swim sessions, a new gym membership called Thrive for 10-15 year olds, a funded school holiday programme, and even GP and breastfeeding expert-led parent and baby groups.
“The Horizon Team won’t rest on their laurels, and we are committed to further extending our community led initiatives for the people of Havant.”