Kensington Leisure Centre scoop two awards at UKActive Awards
Kensington Leisure Centre scooped two leading awards at the inaugural UKActive Awards at a Gala Dinner in Manchester last night (21 June), as part of the three-day Active Uprising event.
Oliver Stacey, General Manager at Kensington Leisure Centre, was handed the prestigious Outstanding Leader of the Year Award. The award was in recognition of Oliver’s inspirational leadership to a team that has supported and stood shoulder to shoulder with the local community over the past year.
Typically won by CEO’s, Board Director’s and senior level individuals, the award was judged on creativity, commitment and sheer determination to reverse the tide of physical inactivity, turning policy into action and action into results, both for today and in the years ahead.
The leisure centre in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was also handed the Regional Centre of the Year award, being named as the leading leisure facility in London. The centre was recognised for its outstanding facilities – including a programme of over 70 activities per week and facilitates in excess of 50,000 visits per month. The award also reflects the spirit of a team that supported its local community in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which occurred less than 100 yards from the centre’s doors.
Each of the award finalists underwent a rigorous independent assessment process designed to select the best in each category from hundreds of entrants. Several stages of evaluation took place, including customer insight surveys, mystery calls, visits and a ‘Judges’ House’ assessment day.
Oliver Stacey, who picked up both awards at the event, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured to have picked up two awards at this prestigious event. The team and I at Kensington Leisure Centre have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible service for the local community. This award really means a lot and we aim to ensure our service will only continue to get better going forward.”
The awards night attracted more than 800 people and was co-hosted by ukactive chair Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and physical activity expert Greg Whyte.
"The competition was particularly fierce this year – the first UKActive Awards in their new format," Grey-Thompson said.
“It was incredible to listen to the stories from our finalists – their passion for physical activity is clearly evident. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all those doing more to get more people active – you really are leading this movement.”
Ukactive CEO Steven Ward said: “Given the growing contribution of physical activity in all aspects of society, it seemed only fitting that we expanded the ukactive Awards to recognise the full breadth of our movement to create an active nation.
“Huge congratulations to Oliver and the team, who have been making such strides to get more people, more active, more often.”
The full list of winners can be viewed here - www.ukactive.com