The Bridge Leisure Centre

🌟 We're delighted to see padel coming to Gosport Leisure Centre! 🌟

Working with Gosport Borough Council and the Lawn Tennis Association to deliver the project, the centre will see four brand-new padel courts. 🙌

Padel has become an increasingly popular activity, making it an exciting time for the local Community to get involved. As with all of our places, the courts will be an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone, with beginners to experienced players able to enjoy the sport and get active.🧡

Read more in our article here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQx9R

🌟 Why do we love swimming? Because it’s amazing for MSK health!

If everyday aches and pains from musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are slowing you down, swimming could be the solution. It’s gentle, effective, and a great way to stay active while managing discomfort. 💦💪

Discover how swimming can make a difference here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQmvs

👋 Meet Kaila-Rose and Lillia, who have been getting stuck into the 'We Move' sessions ran as part of the Big Sister Project.

The Big Sister Project is a programme in collaboration with Women in Sport, which aims to encourage girls aged 9-15 to reclaim a love for sport and staying active. 💪

We’re not just here to help Communities get active, our centres are places where they can socialise and become healthier in a way that suits them. No pressure or rules – just doing things their way while having fun! 😍

Read more about how the Big Sister Project has helped both Kaila-Rose and Lillia make new friends and become more confident in our latest In My Own Words piece 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQlKZ

Know anyone taking part in the Big Sister Project? Make sure they tag us and use in their posts!

The countdown is on - it's the final week of Doddie Aid! ⏰🔥

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part this year and made a difference! By moving more and getting involved in challenges over the last month, the support for vital motor neurone disease research is getting even stronger. 🧡

Find out more about Doddie Aid here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQhuC

Swimathon is back at our pools - and you can now save on your sign up fee! 😍🌟

The event is a fantastic chance to get involved in a swimming challenge while raising money for two charities, Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. You can swim solo or make it a team activity! 🔥

Offer ends 3rd February - join here! 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQhiS

We've loved seeing everyone taking part in Doddie Aid so far this month, and there's still a couple of weeks to go! 💪

By taking part in Doddie Aid, our Communities are supporting fundraising efforts for motor neuron disease, helping to find potential cures and treatments for those living with it. 🧡

Be part of the cure! Learn more about Doddie Aid here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQ5Rn

Want to donate? Just use this link: https://brnw.ch/21wQ5Ro

They say when you find an exercise you love, sticking to it becomes second nature - and that’s why so many people can’t get enough of our Aquafit classes! 🙌💦

With high energy, positive vibes, and a full-body workout in the pool, Aquafit is more than just a class - it’s the highlight of the week! 💪😍

Whether you’re splashing your way to fitness or just enjoying the inclusive atmosphere, Aquafit makes it easy to do things your way. 🌊

Ready to dive in? Learn more here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wQ58E

🎉 Who's taking part in Veganuary this year? 🎉

Veganuary aims to encourage people to become vegan and try a plant-based diet throughout January, with hundreds of thousands of people committing to it every year. 💚

Steven, our Senior Internal Communications Manager, used to be the guy who needed some sort of meat in every meal - or it wasn't a meal. Fast forward to now, he's been vegan for five years! 🥳

"My journey to becoming a vegan started with meat free Monday, then being a vegetarian, Veganuary and then going full vegan. The range of products out there have improved so much and make it much easier to make your favourite meals but completely plant based.

My top tip to People is to not just dive in and cut everything out, you'll just end up craving meat or cheese. Try having one meal a week which has no meat, or look at meat alternative and use plant based mince for your next chilli. Take small steps, test and learn what you like and most importantly have fun." Steven says.

There are a handful of benefits when it comes to going vegan, including:

🌟 A higher fruit and vegetable intake = more vitamins and minerals!

💰 Plant-based meal ingredients can be cheaper than meat, helping you save as you shop.

😍 Finding a new favourite recipe - just like Steven says, as the demand for vegan products increases, there are so many new vegan food options out there to try!

Don't forget that we offer vegan alternatives in most of the cafés at our centres! Tell us how you're getting involved this Veganuary in the comments below. 👇

💪 Don’t let musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions hold you back!

Swimming is an incredible way to stay active while easing joint strain and supporting your body. 🏊‍♀️✨ Whether you’re looking to reduce pain or keep moving, the pool is packed with benefits you might not expect! 🌊🔥

Find out more in our latest blog 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPYtc

Just before Christmas we were delighted to welcome Sky News into one of our centres in Berkshire to take a look at our We Move sessions which we run as part of the Big Sister Project in collaboration with Women in Sport. Their recent research showed that more girls than ever are dreaming of reaching the top level in sport, but a gender gap remains with more boys believing they can reach the top than girls.

These sessions give girls aged 9 to 15 a place to stay active and try out different sports and exercise, all with the support of "Big Sisters" who are based at their local centre. 🌟

When talking about the reasons why girls shy away from sport or physical activity, one of the girls in the sessions said, "For sports it's kind of hard to get into because you think you're going to get judged...", making the Big Sister Project's work all the more important.

We can't wait to see the next generation of girls in our Communities up and down the country getting involved this year! Too many girls drop out from sports and exercise, and with programmes like the Big Sister Project, we can help turn this around. 🙌

Learn more about the Big Sister Project here: https://brnw.ch/21wPRuc

Why work out solo when you can get stronger together? 💪 Group exercise classes like Les Mills’ BODYPUMP are the perfect way to stay motivated and crush your fitness goals with others! 🎉

BODYPUMP focuses on resistance training to build strength AND make everyday movements feel easier. 🙌

Ready to give it a go? Learn more about BODYPUMP here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPKFw

Doddie Aid is back at our centres! 🎉

Doddie Aid is a 5-week fundraising campaign and personal challenge encouraging People to get active and raise money for My Name-5 Doddie Foundation, which invests in research needed to cure motor neuron disease and support those living with it. 🧡

Any exercise counts and anybody can take part! Gear up for logging your miles, setting some goals, and driving healthy competition with your family, friends, and colleagues. 💪

Ready to join in? Sign up here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPKuX

If you can't join in but still want to donate, just use this link! 🔗 https://brnw.ch/21wPKuW

✨ "New year, new me! This time I’ll stick to my resolutions!" ✨ Sound familiar? 👀

We get it - resolutions don’t always stick. That’s why we’re ditching them! Instead, we’re here to help you get moving and see real progress with your fitness journey - not just in January, but all year round. 💪🎉

Are you the New Year Newbie who finally finds the fun in fitness? A Leisurely Floater? Or keeping it pool-side as a Keep Kicking Commander? Let us know in the comments! 😍

Start 2025 your way - no pressure, no rules, just fun. Join us today 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPJBV

⛄ Don’t let the weather stop you from making progress during the colder months, winter-proof it instead! ⛄

In between quality time with loved ones and a busy social calendar, this time of year can make it tricky to stick to a regular workout routine, so our new blog has all the tips to help your workouts become winter ready. 💪

Read it here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPAPT

Our 12 Days of Giveaways campaign returned this month! 🎁🌲

We loved seeing our centres up and down the country getting involved and surprising Customers with some festive freebies! It's a fantastic way to mark the beginning of the festive season and say a big thank you to our Communities for their continued commitment to us. 🧡

You can read about some of our lucky winners here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPwba

🎄✨ Last weekend, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a very special Christmas party at Places Leisure Camberley in partnership with Face Everything and Rise (FEAR), a charity supporting those living with a central line or on artificial nutrition. 🧡

Over 60 families joined us for a day packed with festive fun - soft play, climbing, swimming, and our popular active play & bounce facilities. For many, it was their first time being able to enjoy activities like swimming, which can often be tricky for those with a central line or on artificial nutrition. Seeing the smiles and joy on their faces was truly magical. ✨

We’re so proud to create spaces where everyone can make happy, healthy memories. And the best part? This incredible event will now be an annual tradition at Places Leisure Camberley! 🥳

Because creating inclusive places is at the heart of everything we do. 🧡

📸 Thank you to Face Everything and Rise for capturing these wonderful moments!

We're pleased to announce that we have been successful in extending our partnership with Maldon District Council, who we currently partner with to operate Blackwater Leisure Centre, Dengie Hundred Sports Centre, and Maldon Splash Park! 🥳

Our operation of these centres has been extended on a 20-year term, commencing early next year. During this time, we will be delivering some exciting investment plans which will transform the leisure facilities and build on our current offering.

We're thrilled to continue working with Maldon District Council and we're looking forward to creating more opportunities for our Communities to get active and lead healthier lives, both now and in the years to come. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved! 🧡

You can read more about the news here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wPcU8

Our Head of Swimming and Sport, Mark Haslam, had the pleasure of attending the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Swimming last week! 🏊‍♂️

Shaping fresh priorities in the world of swimming with the new Chair, Jonathan Brash MP, was first on the list of to do's. The group then spoke about the wide range of issues which pools up and down the country continue to face, such as closures and the need for investment. There was also a review on the national curriculum and its potential impact on swimming and water safety in schools, where the group all landed on the importance of swimming remaining a critical life skill. During the day's meetings, Mark also got to spend time with the triple Olympic gold medallist swimmer, Tom Dean! 🌟

We're so proud to know that Mark, and many other passionate, like-minded People, have a seat at the table where essential discussions on swimming provision are taking place at a Government level. We want to do everything we can to ensure Communities can continue to access swimming lessons and public pools, so the link between swimming and its positive impact on national wellbeing must remain centre stage for decision makers. 🧡