March Community News
Each month we like to provide an update of what's been going on not just in the leisure centres but in the wider borough too. As we endeavour to make the leisure centres community hubs were people can come for more than just exercise.
Guest Lecturing and Jobs Fair London School of Science and Technology (LSST)
The Community Sports Manager was invited by the London School of Science and Technology, to give a guest lecture to their students about working in leisure, career pathways and opportunities. The lecture was given to over 80 students with a Q&A session taking place at the end.
Better were also invited to attend a job fair at the college to speak to other students about Better and the roles we have available across South East London.
XO
Throughout March we have been working with OX across a variety of projects.
Football tournament
They have visited Bellingham Leisure and Lifestyle Centre as they are looking to use the centre for a football tournament in June. Not only will they be running a tournament they’ll be providing food and other extras at this event
Community Funded Membership
We have also met with XO bikes to discuss setting up a Community Funded Membership for those who go through the bike mechanic programme. We are looking to set up 10x 3 month memberships with them. We are hoping to get this set up for an April/May start.
Celebration event
The Community Sports Manager was invited to attend a partner event at XO’s new venture at a barber shop near Southwark tube station. This event was to celebrate partners who have worked with and supported XO across the projects they run. As part of this event, they needed “models/volunteers” to have hair cuts and beard trims, the Community Sports Manager volunteered to be one of these people.
999 Club
The final sessions of our project with the 999 club took place this month. The classes we offered to the 999 club proved to be very positive and we received positive feedback from the 999 club. We are going to look to see what work we can do in future together.
“I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you for allowing us to have the opportunity and your instructors Rhian and Michael for their time, care and attention to the members that attended the Fitness sessions from the 999 club over the past 6 week”
MSK Event
At the start for March Glass Mill Leisure Centre hosted an MSK event in partnership with the MSK team at the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS trust.
This event proved to be the most popular of the 3 events we’ve hosted this year, with over 100 people in attendance.
The event was also attended by local groups and organisations to promote what is on offer across the borough.
The MSK team have booked dates monthly for the rest of the year.
Hypertension event
Glass Mill Leisure Centre hosted a Hypertension event delivered in partnership with the Integrated Care Board.
Over 100 people attended this event along with 10 stall holders who made use of the upper foyer area at the centre.
Better via one of our Healthwise Facilitators delivered a presentation about Better as well as leadind a short, seated exercise class.
This proved to be a very positive event, and we have been approached by the diabetes service about replicating this event for their patients.
Lewisham Primary School Gala
The annual primary school gala took place at Glass Mill this month. The annual event organised and run by Saxon Crown Swimming Club. Over 20 schools from across the borough were invited to take place in this event.
Felix Fresh Food Giveaway
Bellingham Leisure and Lifestyle Centre once again held a Felix Fresh giveaway in partnership with the Felix Project. The event was also attended by Lewisham Local to hand out leaflets about their service.
Over 260 people attended this giveaway with another date booked on Wednesday 18th April. This giveaway was our most popular to date. The Somerville Centre came at the end of the giveaway to collect surplus food to take to those in need in the New Cross area.
Imago Community Network Meeting
Better were invited to take part in Imago’s Community Network meeting to discuss provision for unpaid carers in the borough. Each group in attendance presented about the work they are doing. This gave us an opportunity to speak about our new contract with the council and our Active Communities programme and how this could potentially incorporate unpaid carers. This network meeting also provided us with the opportunity to meet groups we’d not previously worked or engaged with.
Brent Knoll School
We were approached by Brent Knoll School who wanted to bring 5 of their learners to the gym at Glass Mill this month. We explained the sign up process to ensure the young people who were residents got the free access to the gym. The session took place on their last day of term, so we haven’t got feedback on how the session went. But we have given them the option to use the gym again or explore other activity options with us.
Mencap Partnership Forum
With Bromley Mencap’s planned merger with Lewisham due to take place this year, Better were invited to attend their Bromley Mencap Partnership Forum. It gave us an opportunity to discuss the work we are already doing with Mencap via the two work placements we are hosting at Glass Mill as well as make introductions to our library colleagues who run the libraries in the borough. It also gave us the opportunity to link in with groups in the room to see how we can work together in the future. One group was transitioning into Lewisham, which gave us the opportunity to promote the free access for disabled residents via the Be Active Scheme
Prostate Cancer Awareness Stall
Across two Tuesday’s this month our prostate cancer group have had a stall at Glass Mill to raise awareness of prostate cancer and encourage those of qualifying age to get checked.
They are looking to make this a regular booking with us and will mix up the days and times to ensure they reach as many people as possible.
Easter SEND camp
Tuesday 30th March saw the first of four planned SEND multi-sport camps take place at The Alex Yee Ladywell Arena over the Easter Holiday. Coordinated and led by Access Sport via the Lewisham Disability Sports Network the camp has been made possible thanks to funding from the GLA.
Sports on offer on the Tuesday were, Athletics, Adapted Cycling, Cricket, Football, Taekwondo and Tennis.
33 people attended this first session.