Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) is heralding its latest independently verified success story of generating and delivering £16.5 million of social value* back to the borough.  

In the last full operational year prior to the impact of COVID-19, the Black Country-based charity (which runs nine leisure facilities for Sandwell Council across the borough) achieved 16.1% local resident attendance figures – the national average is 15.9% – but with seven of its centres sitting in the top 50% of sites it places them all well above standard for the industry.

The Social Value report measures and benchmarks the contribution services make on improved health, improved subjective well-being, increased educational attainment and reduced crime – and is a key measure of how charitable and leisure operators contribute back to their local areas.

This positive news comes with SLT retaining all frontline staff as all nine centres have re-opened successfully following pandemic restrictions lifting, plus the Trust being given a clean bill of health by an independent Health & Safety advisor following no less than 46 separate inspections of their COVID-secure procedures prior to and during lockdown re-openings.

SLT has also recently celebrated being the only leisure operator to achieve RoSPA’a President’s Award for achieving the highest Gold Safety Standard for 15 consecutive years; one of the few nationwide to maintain Investors in People Silver Standard for leading the way in people management skills; as well as being awarded the highest possible Quest Prime Excellent Status at two of its oldest premises no less for superior facility management and COVID-secure standards.

What’s more, the recently completed Reach Project, funded by the National Lottery’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund (CCSF), sought to increase the confidence and self-esteem of some 120 individuals by re-introducing them into SLT centres and back towards a healthy and active lifestyle. Nearly 90% said it had a positive impact on their mental health, 89% were motivated to improve their activity levels, 74% felt it has improved their sleep and 68% their general eating habits.

SLT CEO, Ash Rai, says: “We have managed to navigate one of the worst crises to hit the leisure industry in our lifetime, whilst maintaining national award winning and safe services. Some others have unfortunately not re-opened, handed services back and made large redundancies, but we want our positive example to give hope to other operators.

“Ours is a confident but cautious approach and we’re encouraged to see an enthusiastic return by our customers, even though it may take some time to get attendances back to pre-COVID levels again. The signs are certainly promising and we are actively recruiting again – with, for example, over 60 applicants applying for a part time receptionist post.”

SLT’s Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury and Tipton Sports Academy have also played a major role in the borough’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, with both the facilities being part converted to approved vaccination centres and responsible for nearly 150,000 jabs as at early August ’21.

*Benchmarks and comparisons are from the DataHub, which is the largest database of physical activity data in the UK, with automated membership and participation data feeds from over 2500 leisure facilities. It values and measures the social impacts of participation in sport nationwide.

Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has been given a clean bill of health by an independent Health & Safety advisor following inspections of their COVID-secure procedures prior to and during lockdown re-openings. 

The Health & Safety Executive conducts stringent spot checks on business re-opening to ensure they have safe and proper practices in place – and all of SLT’s nine centres across the borough have consistently attained the required levels.

Chris Williams, of independent auditor Health and Safety Services, said: “Regular COVID-secure inspections have been carried out prior to lockdown re-opening and during periods when SLT centres have been operational – and passing these audits ensures that optimum control measures remain in place to protect customers and staff alike.”

This positive feedback was also echoed by happy new member Danni Walters, age 35 from Halesowen, who recently joined up at SLT’s Haden Hill Leisure Centre in Cradley Heath. She explained: “I had a fantastic experience. From the moment I arrived, there was clear signage and direction around their COVID-19 regulations, plus a member of staff was on hand to help me complete my membership process with reception staff.

“Off I headed to the gym, having not set foot in one for five years and having always lacked confidence in this environment, but PT’s Richie Lilly and Andrea Woodward were really friendly and welcoming and took time to explain the layout, plus opportunities to have input from PT staff around structured workouts. They answered all my questions and really put me at ease, as well as re-introducing me to some of the equipment and how to use safely.

“The hour went in a flash and I came out on a high, really positive and confident, having been absolutely dreading it. I can’t thank them enough. I just wanted to say, after the difficult last year everyone has had, how good it is to see people are still intent on doing a really great job.”

SLT’S Business & Commercial Manager, Mark Wildman, added: “The safety and wellbeing of both our customers and staff is always paramount, but it’s especially gratifying to see and hear such substantial assurances on the Trust in these most challenging of times.”

Pic shows positive new member Dani Walters at SLT’s Haden Hill Leisure Centre in Cradley Heath.

For more information visit: https://www.slt-leisure.co.uk/