GLL's first year in Newham sees significant improvement in activity levels!
Charitable social enterprise leisure operator GLL has announced a significant increase in physical activity from borough residents following its first full year of operation in Newham.
GLL provides leisure services under its 'Better' brand at Atherton Leisure Centre, East Ham Leisure Centre and Newham Leisure Centre - as well as the latter's 3G and grass pitches.
GLL's leisure partnership contract with Newham Council commenced on 1 April 2024. Since then, memberships have increased from 17,158 to 25,742 - an increase of 50%.
Overall monthly visits increased from 67,460 in April 2024 to 83,454 in April 2025 - an increase of 24%.
With a particular operations focus on activating harder to reach groups, GLL's statistics also confirm an increase in monthly visits by female customers from 26,970 in April 24 to 34,147 in April 2025 - a rise of 27%.
Increases are attributed to engaging residents through marketing and promotions but also in part to investments in centres. £1.1m has been spent by GLL and Newham Council on gym upgrades, free community sports equipment and improving the look and feel of centres including Sport England-approved new flooring of the sports hall at Newham Leisure Centre - which now hosts 13,000 visitors a month.
£30,000 was invested in physical activity packs to get more people active - including 1200 delivered to Newham Food Alliance and those with Unsettled Immigration status.
The borough runs FREE Open Weekends throughout the year in centres and parks to allow residents young and old to 'try something new'.
GLL's Newham Partnership Manager Paul Whiteman said:
"We are absolutely delighted to have hit the ground running in Newham and to be making a measurable difference to community health and wellbeing.
"These numbers evidence the emphasis we and Newham Council put on raising physical activity levels for the benefit of all residents.
"Following our FREE Open Weekend in May we are looking ahead to another over 19-20 July where we look forward to meeting more residents and introducing them to healthy habits for life."
Cllr Neil Wilson, Newham Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “Getting Newham’s residents fitter and active, especially as they get older, is an important goal for the Council.
“People who are healthy and mobile, will enjoy longer happier lives, so this is excellent and welcome news.
“So, congratulations to GLL for helping us on our journey to achieving this objective in their first year.”
Total Social Value raised across all leisure activities - measured by improvements to physical & mental health, happiness, personal, social and community development rose to £6.5m - an impressive £103 per person.
Further health improvement is anticipated as GLL took over the management of the new community health initiative Live Well Newham (from 1 May) and, from this autumn, the Falls Prevention Service.
For more information, see: www.better.org.uk/newham