Healthy exercise funding in St Austell

St Austell Leisure Centre has been awarded funding from the Sport England Together Fund to help people with low level health conditions get fitter.

Working with the St Austell Health Hub social prescribing team, Active Cornwall and other key partners, the centre is offering discounted adult swimming for £3 per session. Swimming lessons for those aged 45 and over are also available for those referred on social prescription.   

The third project to be awarded funding encourages women to play badminton in the centre’s newly established women’s badminton club.

“Badminton is a recreational and easy to learn sport that is being played universally,” said Penny, one of the club’s members.  “It has many health benefits and is a good way of meeting other people.

“With the Together Fund’s support, we’re hoping our sessions will remove some of the barriers that stop women getting involved within the game. Social badminton club nights might also encourage them to try other well established and long running activities that will give them the boost that exercise provides.”

Operating under the Better brand, GLL is a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs Cornish leisure centres on behalf of Cornwall Council. Councillor James Mustoe is a regular St Austell Leisure Centre user and an enthusiastic supporter of the work it is doing to engage with the local community.

“It is great to see GLL’s St Austell Leisure Centre taking full advantage of Sport England’s Together Fund to make a real impact in the community it serves, with the introduction of a new weekly ladies badminton session,” he said.

“This will provide another affordable regular physical activity for people living in St Austell and the surrounding area. The positive mental impact of regular exercise should also be highlighted, as well as the social benefits. I would certainly encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch with the excellent local GLL team to find out more.”

Discounted swimming sessions run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2.30 to 3.25pm. Participants with low level health conditions pay on the day with a card and don’t need to be leisure centre members.

Adult swimming lessons take place on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. They run on a social prescribing referral basis. Email Jack Watterson – St Austell Health Group jack.watterson1@nhs.net and Fiona Hunt - Clays Practice fiona.hunt3@nhs.net for details.

For all other information email gll@staustell.org or ask at the St Austell Leisure Centre reception desk.