September Community News
Find out what we’ve been up to this September to support the local community
Lewisham College Welcome Event
Better were invited to attend Lewisham College’s annual Welcome Event for new students. Over 750 students attended this event with students ranging from 16/17 year olds through to their adult and ESOL learners.
We had lots of interest in our stall with Swimming Lessons being the most popular enquiry, followed by our Women’s Only programme. We had literature promoting the centres, swimming lessons as well as job and training opportunities.
We also spoke with staff at the college about work experience and job placement opportunities.
Recovery Month
Throughout September we have been in dialogue with the team at Lewisham Council to provide leisure centre access options to people overcoming addiction. We have concluded that the Community Funded Membership option will be the best approached and the team at Lewisham Council will be sorting out users 6 week passes. As part of this Better were invited to attend the Recovery Month Network Meeting. This gave us an opportunity to speak with other groups and organisations to showcase the leisure centres and discuss ways we could work together
National Fitness Day
The centres across the borough offered a range of activities to celebrate National Fitness Day. The centres offered a mix of gym challenges/classes and additional aerobics classes. Those that took part in these activities provided positive feedback with customers of all ages getting involved.
Felix Fresh
Better have partnered up with Felix Fresh to support their food distribution work around the capital. Having successfully hosted an event at New Addington Leisure Centre, Felix Fresh will be running more events from our centres across the capital. Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre has been chosen to host an event and this will take place on Wednesday 29th October. Felix Fresh are hoping to distribute 12 tonnes of food to local residents on the Bellingham Estate. Staff from across the partnership will be supporting with this event.
Club Games - Timed Swim
Glass Mill Leisure Centre was chosen to be a host venue for this years Club Games Timed Swim. The centre hosted boroughs from across South East London (Greenwich & Croydon) who competed against each other to see who could swim the furthest in 45 minutes. With their results contributing to the boroughs overall score.
A team of 5 represented the London Borough of Lewisham and managed to swim 1,875 metres in the allotted time. Sadly, this was only enough lengths for second place in the region having been beaten by Team Croydon’s 2,000 metres.
All those who took part enjoyed representing their local area and are already looking forward to next year.
Hypertension event planning
The Community Sports Manager and Healthwise Coordinator have met with the Head of Long Term Conditions and Cancer, SEL ICB – Lewisham to discuss three hypertension events due to take place across the borough. The first being on Wednesday 22nd October at Forest Hill Pools, Better will not only be hosting this but also giving a talk on Healthwise as well as leading a seated/low impact class for participants. Two events are scheduled in the new year, one at Wavelengths in January followed by one at Glass Mill in March 2026.
SEN Job Placement meetings
This month we have met with Lewisham College and Bromley College who are keen for us to host Lewisham learners with additional needs in our leisure centres.
We have agreed to host one placement at Glass Mill for 1 day a week, and another placement 3 days a week at Wavelengths. A mock interview is schedule in October for the learner due to be placed at Wavelengths. The college have asked for this as part of the learner’s development. The Glass Mill placement will start in October, with the Wavelengths placement due to start in November.
5K for 5 years
We have been approached by a Men’s Health Group who want to work with us to highlight health disparity between men and women in the borough. They are looking to run a series of events throughout November encouraging men to complete 5K on either a bike, rower or treadmill. These events will run every Saturday throughout November rotating around the borough. They have also booked Wavelengths to run a monthly men’s talking group.
Club Games – Walking Sports
On Friday 26th September the London Borough of Lewisham was represented at Walking Netball and Walking Football at this year’s Club Games event which took place at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
The Walking Netball team were sadly unable to retain their title, having eased their way into the final they narrowly lost in the final to Greenwich.
The Walking Footballers finished in 3rd place which was their best ever performance. Due to the cruel nature of football, the team didn’t concede a goal nor did they lose a game in open play only missing out on the final on penalties. They had also beaten the eventual tournament winners in the group stage.