We are delighted to announce that St Peter’s Leisure Centre in Burnley is in the running for two prestigious national awards.
The centre, which has members aged between four and 87, is shortlisted in the National Fitness Awards for Gym of the Year North and Local Authority/Trust Gym of the Year.
The awards – billed as the UK’s biggest fitness awards – recognise excellence and achievement in gyms and individuals across the country.
It’s the first time these awards have been held in two years because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which means the shortlist is a combination of entries from 2020 and 2021.
Scott Bryce, our Head of Group Operations, said “We are immensely proud to be shortlisted for the National Fitness Awards 2021.
“It’s been a really challenging period over the last two years for the leisure industry, as it’s been for everyone, and it’s a huge achievement to have made it onto the shortlist in two categories, especially with additional nominations rolled over from last year’s entries into this year due to the 2020 awards being cancelled.
“This recognition is for the whole team at BLC group for their hard work, dedication, and passion to provide the ultimate health and wellbeing experiences to our local community.”
Since the Covid-19 Pandemic struck, we have created more than 400 fitness and healthy living videos for adults, children and people with learning disabilities. And while leisure facilities were closed our staff kept busy with:
- Educating our members on the technology needed to access videos and other online content;
- Holding weekly online question and answer sessions with members;
- Conducting 23 classes per week via Zoom;
- Loaned essential fitness equipment to members;
- Delivering PE lessons in schools and support sessions for schools’ non-PE staff;
- Conducting pre- and post-natal fitness classes;
- Organising online aerobic workshops for people with learning disabilities – which are now continuing in person twice a week.
We also collected emergency food supplies, prepared and delivered hot meals to local families, and created food parcels over the summer.
We also supported the town’s lateral flow and PCR testing for covid, collected and delivered toys and meals at Christmas and delivered more than 20,000 Easter eggs.
Our membership is almost back to pre-covid levels and some classes now have waiting lists.
Back to the awards, they are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading B2B fitness magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport.
Finalists have been selected in each category and trophies will be handed out a glittering awards ceremony on Friday November 26 at The Athena in Leicester, which we are looking forward to attending.
A National Fitness Awards spokesperson said: “All our shortlisted facilities should be really proud of their achievements – it’s been a really tough time for the industry, and it has taken a huge amount of hard work and innovation for them to bounce back. it’s a massive achievement to make the shortlist as the calibre of entries has been amazing.”
About Burnley Leisure and Culture:
Burnley Leisure and Culture (BLC) is a registered charity employing a team of more than 100 friendly, fully qualified staff.
Established in April 2014, we operate leisure facilities in the borough previously managed by Burnley Council’s sport and culture services.
We aspire to promote active and healthy communities in the Burnley area. We also strive to provide premier facilities for recreation, sport and cultural pursuits.
Working in partnership with Burnley Council, our trust is responsible for the operation, management and development of sport and leisure facilities, a theatre, arts development, health and wellbeing, and sport and play development.
The work of our trust is overseen by a board of trustees sourced from the local community, who both have the passion for sport and culture in Burnley, and the skills to help steer the organisation forward.
BLC works in many different areas with projects and campaigns ranging from Mechanics At Home, promoting creativity in local community groups, to This Girl Can, a national campaign celebrating active women countrywide.
