Free swim and gym through Be Active
Birmingham City Council, in partnership with the NHS, is offering all Birmingham residents free swimming, group exercise classes and gym sessions through its Be Active scheme.
The service is open to all Birmingham residents that pay council tax to Birmingham City Council.
Contact your local Leisure Centre or visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/beactive to find out more.
when will the Sparkhill Leisure centre open?
it is on Court road, Sparkhill B11 4LX
All I can find is a new story on the Birmingham Mail that says the centre will not be open until at least 2012. The Birmingham City Council website says the centre is closed.
Rob Benson
Ecommunications
NHS Birmingham East and North
Hi,
I am living in Solihull,,Is Solihull city council also offers free swimming and gym facilities. if not,,how can I get benefits from Birmingham city council in terms of free swimming and gym
This is something you would have to take up with Solihull Council; you may find the information at: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/leisure/sports.htm useful.
Rob Benson
E-communications
NHS Birmingham East and North
Free off-peak access to Birmingham leisure centres for B’ham residents as funded by the NHS is to expire by 31 March 2011. Is there any news about its extension? Thanks.
Dear Ambrat
The Be Active scheme is being extended after a £2.5m cash injection from the NHS. Free gym and swim has proved extremely popular and it is great news that it will continue for another year. The Birmingham Mail reported on the story earlier in March.
Kind regards
Rob Benson
E-communications officer
NHS Birmingham East and North
Thank you for your response and it is a good news that the scheme has been extended. I also found out about this from the local leisure centre on the day. However, I am disappointed that the access times to the gym have been revised which are not suitable for those who are working or are in the employment. For once I thought there is something for the benefit of those who are working, and paying taxes esp when pays are frozen for the past 2-3 years. We are several people who were going regularly to gym at 7am for 45-50 mins and then go to work. Perahps 10,000’s others throughout the city. Now this won’t happen becasue the local gym has published a notice that timings have been revised under this scheme from 07:00-17:00 weeekdays to 12:00-17:00 hours. This will undo the positive effect this scheme had brought to working people. Has this been thought through? It would really be a good news if the timings were still the same otherwise it is not going to be of much use to those who are in the employment. The negative effects of NOT being ACTIVE are widely known in terms of health issues (burden on NHS) and its adverse impact on the eoconomy due to the lost working days from sickness.
Kind Regards
Ambrat