Thread by @LGAcomms

Council run leisure facilities play a key role in keeping communities together, the nation active and reducing the burden on the NHS.

As representatives of #LocalGov, we're proud to back the #SaveLeisure campaign, launched by @CommLeisureUK, @_ukactive and @cimspa.

Why? Thread:

Leisure centres and other sporting facilities provided by councils support 36% of physical activity across the country.

While private sector facilities contribute greatly, it is councils that provide the swimming pools and other facilities that would generally be less profitable for and less attractive to the private sector.

This gives them a particularly high reach into deprived and BAME communities, making this an equalities issue as well as a national health challenge.

Currently, many of these leisure facilities (or really: community assets) are under immediate threat of closure due to the impact COVID-19.

#SaveLeisure
lgafirst.co.uk/news/leisure-i…

In a nutshell, the pandemic has greatly affected their ability to generate income while facing ongoing high standing costs.

Councils are doing their best to help their leisure partners through emergency measures, but more needs to be done to secure the survival of the sector.

This is why, last week, @LGAculturesport chair @geraldvjuk wrote to @OliverDowden – offering to work with Govt to identify emergency funding to stabilise the leisure sector.

(You can read the letter in full here👉 local.gov.uk/sites/default/…)

And this is why, we fully support #SaveLeisure – which you can read more about at communityleisureuk.org/work/saveleisu…

For more insight into the importance of the local leisure sector and community health, mental as well as physical, take a look at our recent webinar with @ukactive Chair and LGA Vice-President @Tanni_GT – it's well worth 1 hour of your day!

#SaveLeisure
local.gov.uk/about/campaign…