Leisure centres in Hart are set to offer free membership to children in care, and young people who have experienced care, from this month.
Hart Leisure Centre and Frogmore Leisure Centre, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Hart District Council, are taking part in the new initiative to reduce the barriers between children and young people participating in sport and physical activity.
The free membership will give them access to a range of facilities depending on their age, including gym, swim, soft play and group exercise.
According to the latest figures from the Department for Education for children looked after (CLA) in England, the number of children in care is at an all-time high, at more than 80,000 children or 67 in every 10,000.
This year, Everyone Active has launched its national Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with the aim to meet the needs of individual communities through programmes that support people to be physically active, and to feel happy and healthy.
As part of the strategy, this membership will support children in care or care experienced young children with free access to leisure facilities that can help improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Luke Charlton, Everyone Active’s Contract Manager, said: “We are immensely proud to launch this partnership in Hart. We understand the vital role we play in supporting all areas of the community and feel this membership will make a real difference to many young people’s lives.
“We want to provide opportunities for young people and children who have been in or currently are in care, that activity is for all, and we want to offer them a safe space to enjoy our sports and activity offering.”
The complimentary membership for cared for children and care experienced young people can be accessed and set up through a referral system from local Council family support teams.
Cllr Stuart Bailey, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Hart District Council, said: “Our community services team have been working with Everyone Active to introduce this new scheme, to make sure that the correct support is offered to children who have experienced being in care. My thanks to Everyone Active for facilitating this and I hope this will be well-received within our local community.”
For further information, visit: www.everyoneactive.com/about-us/what-we-offer/health-and-wellbeing/