Northampton gym trust's social impact programmes 'at risk’ due to second lockdown

A charitable organisation which runs a number of Northampton gyms is concerned how the latest national lockdown will affect its social impact programmes.

Trilogy Leisure, which operates Cripps Recreation Centre, Danes Camp, Duston Sports Centre, Lings Forum, The Mounts Baths, the Forum Cinema and Berzerk Soft Play Centre, has had to close all centres for the second time this year inline with the four-week lockdown.

As part of the Northampton Leisure Trust, the company reinvests its profits, from membership fees and the like into community initiatives such as weight management programmes, school programmes and more.

Bosses at the trust have already spoken out about the heartbreak for gym members as the facilities have had to close again, however they also want explain how the loss of earnings will cause community programmes to suffer.

Lawrence Kay, director of health and wellbeing development at Trilogy, said: “We are proud of the significant impact we make across the communities we serve in Northampton.

“Our Inspiring Active Lifestyles programme has been developed over a number of years in partnership with Northamptonshire Public Health, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton General Practice Alliance and others.

“The impact has made a real and lasting difference to so many people and with the need to further expand our social impact and collaboration we are concerned about how the November lockdown will affect the health and wellbeing of those we serve.

“With the significantly reduced income from our members during lockdown our vitally important outreach work is at risk, as there is currently very limited Covid-19 Government financial support package for our sector.

“We know from those who take part what an important part of their lives these programmes are. It is a crucial time.”

Sally Gedney, a volunteer on the Trilogy 50 plus activity sessions added: “I see first-hand the positive impact of exercise on the many participants.

“The varied activities on offer provide older adults the opportunity to improve and maintain fitness in a friendly and sociable setting.

“All those returning after the first lockdown were so pleased to be back to regular physical activity and safe contact with others.

“The falls prevention programme that I teach is still on hold and the worry is that all the strength and balance benefits of this programme will have been lost.”

Young people are also helped by projects funded by the trust and as income suffers funding loss has become a concern for some of those programmes.

Aaron Lee, project lead for Northampton Street Sports said: “For 15 years across Northampton we have been leading Northampton Street Sports.

“Our work is with young people to empower them, to engage in positive behaviours and deter them from taking part in negative behaviour.

“Funding is always our biggest challenge and people being members of Trilogy makes an enormous difference to our work.”

Trust bosses are urging members to sign a petition to reconsider the restrictions on gyms, which they hope will then in turn help the social outreach programmes continue.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you