ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15

WARRINGTON /yourLiveWire Borough Council /yourLiveWire Borough Council 2 @yourLiveWire yourLiveWire livewirewarrington.co.uk @yourLiveWire yourLiveWire livewirewarrington.co.uk STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF CONTENTS LIVEWIRE’S BOARD, ALAN YATES

03 STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF LIVEWIRE’S BOARD In our third year LiveWire has continued to develop opportunities for neighbourhoods across 05 STATEMENT FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR Warrington. Financially 2014-15 was a challenging year for LiveWire. However we continued to grow 06 WHAT WE DO income streams by 3% and were able to make an increased performance related payment to 07 LIVEWIRE IN NUMBERS Warrington Borough Council of £310,000. 10 HIGHLIGHTS Our vision is to support Warrington residents to lead 13 NEIGHBOURHOOD HUB healthy, active and happy lives and this is reflected in our key achievements which include: 14 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS • The successful transfer of the Active Warrington Team from Warrington Borough Council into 16 LIVEWIRE IN THE NEWS LiveWire, which has increased our ability to engage with our communities through sport and 17 KEY PARTNERS physical activity • Securing the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) Accreditation, which has created more 18 WHAT LIVEWIRE CUSTOMERS SAY opportunities for disabled people to use our services, making our offer more inclusive • Implementing an integrated staffing structure, so that LiveWire Advisors have the skill set to provide a direct point of contact for any leisure, library or lifestyle query

Our established Neighbourhood Hubs continue to thrive. Plans for the new Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub are at the implementation stage with a number of key partners working with us to develop the integrated facility. The build will incorporate a dementia friendly design, our first facility of this kind, which will allow us to support the needs of residents in West Warrington and expand our offer to support mental wellbeing across the town.

Once again we have received nominations and awards that recognise the outstanding work across all of our services, including: • Won Partner of the Year award from Create Development in recognition of the work we do to improve the quality of PE and school sport in Primary Schools • Orford Jubilee Park awarded Green Flag award • Mohamed Mahyoub, a library user, awarded the Young Adult Learner of the Year at the national Adult Learners Week Awards • My Garden winning a Silver medal at the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Flower Show

The year has also been challenging for our staff. We have completed a major LiveWire (Warrington) CIC is a limited company registered in and Wales. restructure and implemented changes to the terms and conditions of employment. Registered number 07972958. VAT registered number 134 9170 16. However the teams have remained motivated and continued to provide an excellent Registered office Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub, Jubilee Way, Warrington, WA2 8HE. service, resulting in good participation figures which show a valued and dedicated LiveWire (Warrington) CIC trades under the name LiveWire®. workforce.

43 STATEMENT FROM LIVEWIRE’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, JAN SOUNESS

Our entire organisation is populated by individuals who are passionate about improving The last year has enabled us to establish ourselves the wellbeing of people in the town, led by a strong management team who are as a truly innovative company committed to committed to ensuring that Warrington becomes the most active, healthy and happy improving the wellbeing of the residents of borough in the North West. The Board of Directors also provide excellent strategic Warrington by doing things differently. support to ensure that year-on-year we continue to deliver on our mission and vision. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues, directors and staff for their We have broadened our offer so that we can dedicated support which has enabled us to deliver beyond expectations. I would also ensure as much as possible that whatever their like to thank LiveWire members for their continued support. situation and circumstance our customers get the help they need to have a better quality of life. Here’s to another successful year. New areas have included the very successful Alan Yates Fit to Tackle programmes which have resulted in a great improvement for our customers who historically have not always found it easy to lose weight and improve their lifestyle. The work that has gone into the Great Sankey and Bewsey & Dallam developments in line with our commitment to have outstanding neighbourhood facilities has progressed at a pace working closely with our communities and partners together with our libraries being the first to access the governments free Wi-Fi installation schemes . We still have the challenge of physically improving all of our sites and we were pleased this year to be able to invest £25k in Broomfields and £3k in Woolston to improve facilities for customers, with a commitment of more to come.

We have welcomed new teams to LiveWire. The Active Warrington Team and The Macmillan Information service; together with our Dementia Friends initiatives and expanding LiveWire offer we have seen participation and membership figures continuing to increase and are encouraged that residents who have not previously participated are taking up memberships.

Our integrated wellbeing offer and staff training programme continues to be rolled out with the support and ideas from our wonderful staff, who have supported the board and the management team putting the customer first. When facing financial challenges as a result of reduced external funding the negotiated agreement with our staff and trade unions on terms and conditions enabled us to continue to develop during difficult times.

The positive results LiveWire has achieved in relation to wellbeing and participation have been recognised in 2014/15 by health, central government and national organisation’s for sport. The commitment, ideas and skills of our teams continue to make all the difference with 2016 looking promising in terms of our Company’s commercial and social contribution to our town.

4 5 WHAT WE DO LIVEWIRE IN NUMBERS

3,657,779 NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WHO CHOSE LIVEWIRE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

4,358 7 NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERING HOURS. THAT’S ALMOST HALF A NUMBER OF APPRENTICESHIPS YEAR! (181.5 DAYS) OFFERED BY LIVEWIRE

LiveWire is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that has managed leisure, library and lifestyle services in Warrington since May 2012. We are now the largest provider of leisure and library facilities in the town, operating two neighbourhood hubs, four leisure facilities, and 11 libraries which have attracted more than three million visitors over the last year. 716 LiveWire strives to promote a healthy lifestyle, increased participation in activities whilst 434 COMPLIMENTS encouraging reading and learning through the use of free access to books, IT suites and the RECEIVED BY internet. We provide value for money leisure memberships and are committed to ensuring NUMBER OF STAFF LIVEWIRE facilities and activities are accessible for all members of the community. EMPLOYED BY LIVEWIRE

As a CIC, we invest any profit back into the business and the local community to improve services and facilities for Warrington’s neighbourhoods.

Mission To be the number one provider of affordable, inclusive Lifestyles, Libraries and Leisure 2,376 1,362 opportunities in Warrington. TWITTER FACEBOOK Vision FOLLOWERS FRIENDS To be a thriving strong company with fantastic facilities in every neighbourhood area of Warrington, inspiring and supporting residents to be the healthiest, most active and happiest in the North West. 36% 21,376 OF LEISURE NUMBER OF LEISURE MEMBERSHIPS ARE MEMBERS TO DATE CONCESSIONARY 6 7 LIVEWIRE IN NUMBERS

2,597,508 83% 36,935 12,731 PEOPLE CHOSE TO VISIT LIVEWIRE OF SMOKING NUMBER OF LIBRARY SWIMMING LESSONS LEISURE FACILITIES IN 2014-15 REFERRALS MEMBERS TO DATE DELIVERED IN THE GO ON TO QUIT LAST 12 MONTHS

1,104 532,132 698,201 261 NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BOOKS, NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED THE REACH TALKING BOOKS, CDS AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED LIVEWIRE’S STAY FOR HEALTH PROGRAMME DVDS ISSUED IN 12 MONTHS VISITED LIVEWIRE LIBRARIES ON YOUR FEET PROGRAMME

3,778 46 852 36 NUMBER OF TIMES SWIMMERS SCHOOLS SIGNED UP NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO QUIT NUMBER OF PE AND PROGRESSED TO A HIGHER STAGE OF AS A LIVEWIRE PE AND SMOKING WITH HELP FROM THE SCHOOL SPORTS TRAINING THE ASA LEARN TO SWIM FRAMEWORK SCHOOL SPORT MEMBER SMOKING CESSATION TEAM COURSE DAYS PROVIDED

30,362 1,328 3.6% 643 45 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BOOKS, NUMBER OF TIMES TEACHERS MORE PEOPLE VISITED PEOPLE COMPLETED STONE (285.6KG) LOST TALKING BOOKS & DVDS ISSUED AND SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF LIVEWIRE LEISURE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT BY THE FIRST COHORT AT THE PRISON LIBRARIES ATTENDED OR RECEIVED TRAINING FACILITIES THAN IN 2013-14 PROGRAMMES OF FIT 2 TACKLE

197 38 86 783 £966,371 VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED NUMBER OF LOCAL SPORTS PRISONERS COMPLETED YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND IN THE BY THE ACTIVE CLUBS PROVIDED WITH THE SIX BOOK COMPLETED THE SUMMER LOCAL ECONOMY WARRINGTON TEAM DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT CHALLENGE AT RISLEY READING CHALLENGE IN PRISON LIBRARY LIVEWIRE LIBRARIES 8 9 HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT PROGRESS HAS HIGHLIGHTS BEEN MADE AGAINST OUR AIMS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

To be the customer’s first choice for recreation, leisure, libraries, improving To provide a diverse range of activities to meet the specific needs within each health and wellbeing: neighbourhood in Warrington: • Mystery Shop process implemented across 16 LiveWire sites • Programme of open days and seasonal festivals across sites • Customer Care Policy reviewed and implemented • Introduced LiveWire’s first Spring Fayre • 90 staff completed Accredited Level 2 NVQ in Customer Care • Successful World Book Night saw hundreds of books given away for free through • Introduction of a point of sale enquiry process and implemented a member LiveWire sites cancellation process • Children’s author Holly Smale visited Library • Introduced a live chat link for the Lifestyles Stop Smoking team, supporting • Harry Potter Events residents online • Let’s Play programme hosted at Leisure & Tennis Complex • 46 primary schools signed up for LiveWire PE and school sport services To provide accessible, modern and well maintained facilities that cater for • 12 schools completed training in Real PE all customers: • Provided 19 pop up sports activities in neighbourhood venues across Warrington. • Delivered the first Cycle Celebration at Orford Park in September 2014, attracting • Installed WiFi within all 6 leisure facilities 350 to the event • Great Sankey Redevelopment project • Invested in refurbishment of Broomfields wet changing room To address disadvantage and inequality and contribute towards a positive • Installed air conditioning at Orford Park reduction in health inequalities: • Anti flooding tank and park gates fitted at Orford Park • Completed a Facilities Strategy for Warrington • Agreement for LiveWire to develop and manage a neighbourhood facility in Bewsey & Dallam • Smoking cessation brief intervention training delivered to 9 dental surgeries within Warrington targeted at those catering for patients from the 20% most deprived wards • Launched ‘Alive’ inclusive fitness programme • Introduced Dementia Book Collections • Delivered a 6 week Rugby Reading Champions programme • Supported Women’s 10 week wellbeing / weight management programme • Worked with young volunteers to develop Library offer and deliver reading activities • Expanded the Read to Relax offer

10 11 GREAT SANKEY NEIGHBOURHOOD HUB CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE To increase participation in leisure, learning and health activities: FOR WELLBEING • Successful Fit to Tackle programme launched in February 2015 • Launch of Bewsey & Dallam Active Zone LiveWire is delighted to announce the transformation of Great Sankey Leisure • Launch of the Sports Mobile • Delivered the first Cycle Celebration at Orford Park in September 2014, attracting 350 Centre into a neighbourhood hub, centre of excellence for health and wellbeing. The to the event dementia friendly facility will include a fitness suite, swimming pools, sports hall, • Revised fitness programme, introducing quarterly fitness timetable tennis courts, 3G pitch, GP surgeries, library, cafe and health and wellbeing facilities • Undertook a review of swim programmes across sites including a spa. • Reviewed opening and closing times of LiveWire sites • 44,189 visits across Active Warrington activities during 2014/2015 Construction on the first stage of the development will start later in 2015 with phase To achieve and maintain financial viability and deliver long term growth 1 of the project set to open late 2016. The £16 million project will revamp the existing for LiveWire: centre to provide residents with a one-stop-shop for all their leisure, health and • Introduced Exchequer software and E-procurement function resulting in an enhanced wellbeing and cultural needs. Services will be delivered by LiveWire, Warrington audit trail Borough Council, Culture Warrington, the NHS, Warrington Clinical Commissioning • Undertook a supplier price review Group and Health Plus. • Increased customer retention to 9 months • Attracted £.75m in external funding • LiveWire traded with Warrington based suppliers to the value of £230k in 2014-2015 BEWSEY & DALLAM ACTIVE ZONE AND COMMUNITY FACILITY To position LiveWire as the employer of choice: During 2014/ 2015 LiveWire secured funding from Sport England which led to • Restructured the company on an integrated neighbourhood basis investment of £93,000 in developing the Active Zone project in Bewsey & Dallam • Introduced a revised set of terms and conditions of employment • Created a Peoples Solutions team which included 1,324 local people participating in the opportunities provided, over • Implemented a process for Human Resources casework management 14,278 visits throughout the year. This includes a free swim and transport initiative • Programme of training and development created to meet business needs including: for the central neighbourhood area. This work will be supported by the agreement • Dementia Friends training delivered to 250 employees for LiveWire to run a neighbourhood facility in Bewsey & Dallam. • 90 staff completed We’re positive Cancer Rehabilitation Training • Introduced Employee Benefits offer e.g. incentivised staff memberships • Launched LiveWire intranet, accessible from any location • Successfully delivered LiveWire Employee Awards

To develop the LiveWire Brand: • Introduced digital marketing strategies including Search engine optimisation, pay per click campaigns and Google Adwords • Introduced an Annual marketing activity planner linked to events throughout the organisation • Creation of Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub websites • LiveWire’s first digital membership sales campaign

12 13 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

1. ‘My Garden’ won a Silver medal at the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Flower Show 9. Health & Safety dashboard has been implemented across all sites

2. Orford Jubilee Park awarded Green Flag award 10. Creation and launch of Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub website

3. Employed 6 apprentices with Warrington Collegiate 11. Successful transfer of Active Warrington team from Warrington Borough Council to LiveWire 4. Leisure, Library & Lifestyles services supported a range of National Campaigns: Stoptober, Sports Relief, World Book Night, Reading Challenge, Stop Smoking Day, 12. Young volunteer, Jade Schofield addressed the Association of Senior Children’s and Children in Need, Swimathon, National Libraries Day Education Librarians (ASCEL) national conference after winning Reading Activist of the year 5. Great Sankey swimmer Kathleen Dawson became the youngest member of the Scottish Aquatics Squad and finished 5th in 50m backstroke at the 13. The successful introduction of a PE and school sport membership scheme, saw Commonwealth Games 46 primary schools have signed up to receive high quality teaching and learning support 6. Cancer rehabilitation pilot has been extended for a further 12 months with LiveWire instrumental in the delivery of restorative and palliative programmes 14. LiveWire is proud to hold the chairmanship of the strong and dynamic Warrington Dementia Action Alliance. The Alliance is made up of 30 organisation’s across 7. Staff integration at Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub has resulted in the ability to Warrington, working together with the aim to radically improve the lives of people extend the opening hours within the library setting living with dementia and their carers. It is a privilege to be a part of such a movement 8. LiveWire secured funding of £108,000 from Sporta’s Make Your Move Programme which has enabled 5 sites to achieve national accreditation and provide accessible physical activity

14 15 LIVEWIRE IN THE NEWS KEY PARTNERS

• Warrington Borough Council • Create Development

LiveWire and council propose £16m • NHS • Warrington School Sports Partnership neighbourhood hub for Warrington • Clinical Commissioning Group • Warrington Disability Partnership LIVEWIRE AIMS TO HELP MORE • Macmillan Cancer Support DISABLED PEOPLE KEEP ACTIVE • Third Sector Hub • St Rocco’s Hospice • The Gateway • Police Girls represent LiveWire Tennis Academy in Portugal • Voluntary Action Warrington • Culture Warrington • The Reading Agency BLOOMING • Warrington Wolves Orford Park among • Time to Read best in country BRILLIANT WIN • Warrington Town FC • Network Warrington FOR LIVEWIRE • Warrington Guardian • Sport England LiveWire supports national Just Read campaign • Warrington Worldwide • Liverpool County Football • Warrington Collegiate Men shed 45 Association • Citizens Advice stone with Fit TRIATHLON EVENTS FOR • Lawn Tennis Association to Tackle BEGINNERS LAUNCHED • Golden Gates Housing Trust (LTA) • Active Cheshire • And many more Leisure trust wins £1,000 grant

BIKE HOP WORLD RECORD BROKEN IN WARRINGTON Helping smokers to

16 become “quitters” 17

WHAT LIVEWIRE CUSTOMERS SAY “

The tennis programme at Birchwood Leisure & Tennis Complex just FIT TO TACKLE PROGRAMME - MIKE, WINNER OF FIT TO TACKLE 1: keeps going from strength to strength, the team really work hard on getting the little details right At the start of 2015 I was a couch potato who didn’t exercise. I saw the advert for Fit to Tackle and thought I would give it a go. I never liked

“ “the gym but this looked different.

The sessions were hard, but most of all enjoyable, mainly due to those In the 3 months that I have not been smoking, I managed to save some who were doing the course with me. Circuit sessions offered great money. I bought paint and decorated my bedroom, bought a new bed “ variety of exercises but also a chance to push yourself and the person and bedding, with matching curtains. Treated myself to a new sewing you were training with. Touch Rugby was a chance to build the team

machine, bought a couple of tops and cropped trousers. All this would spirit which was in my opinion the foundations of the course.

“have been impossible if I was still smoking. I thank the day I walked into the drop in at Fearnhead. You changed my life for the better and Losing 17% body fat and 22kg and getting fitter were two of the main

benefits. However, the biggest benefit of all was the friendships made probably saved it too “ and the support mechanism created amongst those who went through “ it with you.

Since the end of the course, I’ve continued to play rugby with the other Whilst attending Great Sankey Leisure Centre I bought a discounted lads and complete regular 5km Park Runs. I am now physically and book from the foyer I ended up enjoying the book so much I visited

mentally fitter. This is due to the Fit to Tackle course Penketh Library for the first time to borrow the full series. I was

“impressed and will be returning CANCER REHABILITATION PROGRAMME – MARIAN “ WINNER OF ADULT LEARNER AWARD TONY: “ I have enjoyed the exercise part of the cancer programme and I will I found a new love for reading at Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood be looking to continue exercising with my husband once the 6 weeks Hub Library. I have learnt how important and how much fun sharing programme has finished. The atmosphere is fantastic and I thoroughly “enjoy the sessions. One of the main highlights for me is being able to stories with my daughters is. This has made lots of difference in my “relationship with my girls as I now make sure I spend one-on-one time talk to other patients and carers about their experiences sharing books each day

18 19