Making Our Mark Annual Report 2013/2014 Introduction | 01 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making Our Mark
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Making our Mark Annual Report 2013/2014 Introduction | 01 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making our Mark We now generate an increased income of £2.1 million per year These achievements and performance are not possible without Our Story (73%) in comparison to our first year of operation back in 2004. the commitment and hard work of our employees, the effective 2013/2014 We have also successfully secured investment in excess of leadership, expertise and innovation of our managers and £4.296 million that has directly gone into improving facilities Board members and the support of Sandwell Council and all Sandwell Leisure Trust is delighted across Sandwell. These investments are also now generating our partners. We sincerely thank them all for their contribution to report on its tenth successful additional income. and support. year of operation, 2013/14. Once again during a continuing tough and This increased income has allowed Sandwell Council to reduce Sandwell can be proud of a successful leisure trust that challenging financial climate SLT its subsidy to us by over £1.2 million per year, an overall 27% not only continues to perform year on year but also is fall from the original level. We have delivered this reduction benchmarked and performs well alongside the best operators has delivered service improvements in subsidy without reducing services, whilst delivering award nationally. Sandwell Leisure Trust is committed to delivering and exceeded targets agreed in winning services including RoSPA Gold Medal, Investors in ‘Excellent’ services that play a key role in contributing towards partnership with Sandwell Council. People and Quest. We have also made efficiencies of £126k the Sandwell Scorecard for Great People, Place, Prospects Increases in attendances and growth during 2013-14 by continuing to review systems and processes. and Performance. in memberships, in conjunction with We continue to work with partners and within the local further investment, have maintained a community to help develop new activities, host and support positive contribution to Sandwell and a wide range of events and actively promote opportunities to the continuous improvement of SLT. increase participation in physical activity and sport in Sandwell. We contribute significantly towards the priorities of Sandwell and the wider Black Country by increasing participation and actively promoting physical activity and sport. We have also continued to support the ‘5x30 Time to get Active’ initiative first introduced by SLT and adopted by delivery partners in Sandwell. Our achievements to date are helping to meet the challenges ahead and we will continue to work with our partners to Lois Taylor enhance the ‘Value for Money’ that we provide to Sandwell. Chair of the Board The continued delivery and achievement of Key Performance Indicators also provides the measure of our ongoing success Paul Slater and commitment to deliver and contribute towards council Chief Executive priorities including those identified in Sandwell’s Scorecard. On Our Marks It has been a wonderful year for Sandwell with the opening of two state of the art leisure centres, the first new centres in the borough for almost 40 years. Sandwell Leisure Trust is proud to be operating these facilities and is delighted at how well they have been received by Sandwell residents. Together, the new centres offer a full range of activities including fitness 1 gyms, fitness classes, swimming, Swim School, sports and indoor climbing. On Your Marks | 03 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making our Mark 301,000 Total visits in 2013 A Golden Opening for Tipton Leisure Centre Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Rebecca received the plaque as it was swam “We can all agree that it is fantastic to see this Adlington officially opened Tipton Leisure across the centre’s pool by four Swim School superb building open to the public, offering Centre on Friday 19 April 2013 alongside pupils. Rebecca, who also won a bronze state of the art leisure facilities that the people the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor medal at London 2012, held a swimming of Tipton and Sandwell deserve.” - Mayor of 40,000 Children Swim School Keith Davies. lesson with children from Summerhill Primary Sandwell 2012-13, Councillor Keith Davies. attendances School in Tipton. “I’ve seen many swimming centres in my time as I’ve been going to them since I was four, and this is really one of the best and a really amazing place for people to come in Tipton.” – Rebecca Adlington. SLT Customer Service Award For stretching beyond his remit, using his own initiative and taking Ellis Sabin – Tipton Leisure Centre on additional tasks throughout the opening of the new centre. This included attending lifeguard training and attending work in his own 50,000 time to train as a receptionist. Gym attendances On Your Marks | 04 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making our Mark Tipton – One year on “The new centre has brilliant We celebrated Tipton Leisure Centre’s Tipton Leisure Centre has also been first year with the first customers that the most popular pool since the facilities and the staff here used the centre when it opened in introduction of Sandwell Council’s free are so welcoming.” March 2013. swimming initiative back in July 2013, – Ray Brothwood having already received over 9,600 free The £8.1m centre replaced the ageing swimming attendances to date. Tipton Swimming Centre which was opened in 1933. The new centre Tipton Civic Society Chairman Ray provides the people of Sandwell with an Brothwood MBE, 74, and his wife improved facility featuring a greater mix Denise Brothwood, 72, were the first of activities. customers through the doors when the centre opened. They have been using In its first year, the centre has proven so the centre every day ever since. popular that it has already introduced additional public swimming times and swimming lessons and extra fitness “It’s unbelievable how many people, especially older people, come in classes to meet with demand. and use the centre first thing in the morning to try and stay healthy.” – Denise Brothwood. On Your Marks | 05 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making our Mark Portway Lifestyle Centre’s first customer loses 3 stone Steve Cartledge, aged 50 from “I’ve been using the gym on and off Rowley Regis, was Portway Lifestyle for years and then slipped a disc last Centre’s first customer when the Christmas which meant I had to take doors were opened by Councillor 6 months off working out. Steve Eling on 23 September 2013. “I decided to join the Since then, Steve has been using the new centre when it centre between 8-10 times a week Portway Lifestyle Centre and has lost over 3 stone in weight. opened to help me opens its doors 75,000 His fitness routine has been made shift the extra weight up of workouts every morning as well I’d put on.” Attendances as two or three nights every week. The landmark £18m Portway Lifestyle Centre opened to the - Steve Cartledge in first 6 months Steve’s diet was also key to his weight public on Monday 23 September 2013. The ethos of the centre loss success – eating good food, is to serve people with and without disabilities equally, offering cutting down on carbohydrates and health and leisure services under one roof. eating more protein. The centre is the result of a partnership between Sandwell Council, Sandwell Leisure Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham “SLT is delighted to be CCG and NHS England, Portway Family Practice, Sandwell LIFTCo and Sport England. The entire project was aided by £1.5 managing this fantastic facility million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Olympic for the people of Sandwell. and Paralympic legacy programme, Iconic Facilities. “Portway Lifestyle “This is a fantastic centre that is a real bonus Centre will help to deliver for the community. The combination of health a first class facility for health, and leisure services with special facilities for well-being and physical people with disabilities must rank among the activity in the borough.” best in the country.” - Paul Slater, SLT Chief Executive – Councillor Steve Eling, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader. Building Speed We have continued to invest in the facilities that we manage in Sandwell. During 2013/14 £296,000 was invested into centres to make a direct impact 2 on service quality for our customers. Building Speed | 07 Annual Report 2013/2014 | Making our Mark “I am delighted that the “The classes and gym at new car park is now Haden Hill Leisure Centre open for customers are brilliant. On my days at this popular leisure off I set myself a triple centre. I’d like to thank challenge of two classes local residents and and a session in the gym. partners for being so The One Card membership supportive during the offers me great value. The gym and reception New car park opens at car park’s construction.” team offer great friendly customer service. – Sandwell Leisure Trust’s Chair The centre plays a role in my social life.” Haden Hill Leisure Centre of the Board, Lois Taylor – Linda Cresswell, customer We purchased the Municipal Buildings The £1/4million car park development gave adjacent to Haden Hill Leisure Centre from us 98 spaces increasing the overall car Sandwell Council in order to secure the parking capacity. £248K land for the development of a new car park Haden Hill LC for customers. The new car park was opened on schedule Car Park Development on 22 November 2013 following a 12-week We sold part of this land to West Midlands programme of work. Fire Service for the creation of a new fire £70K £12.5k Tipton SA Track Replacement Tipton SA Shutters station for Cradley Heath and Halesowen.