Latest news with #GLL
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Wickham library transformation to be unveiled with café and business lounge
A major library transformation is set to be unveiled following a multi-million-pound refurbishment. West Wickham Library will reopen to the public on Friday, June 27, following extensive works that include a modern café, business lounge, and an expanded children's library with outdoor space. Councillor Yvonne Bear, Bromley Council's executive councillor for renewal, recreation and housing, said: "I'm sure residents passing by during the works have been curious about this landmark building as it has taken form in the heart of West Wickham and I encourage residents to soon explore the impressive new facilities firsthand. "We use libraries throughout our lives and not just for books, which is why the council have long supported the borough's beloved library network. "Recent improvements across our libraries continue to drive their popularity, while ensuring they have the resources needed to support residents long into the future." Multi-million-pound refurbishment transforms landmark West Wickham Library (Image: West Wickham Library) West Wickham is the fifth library in the borough to be refurbished as part of more than £30 million of investment aimed at modernising facilities and reducing future maintenance costs. A highlight of the new library is the first Makerspace in a Bromley library, offering 3D printers, a die cutter, and sewing machines to support innovation and entrepreneurship. This facility was made possible by more than £1 million in funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The library also features new bookable areas, including a community space and business lounge, public toilets on each floor, and additional work and study zones. The project has already attracted industry recognition, having been shortlisted for Best Retrofit Project in the Building London Planning Awards. First Bromley library Makerspace features 3D printers and sewing tools (Image: West Wickham Library) To mark the reopening, Bromley Council is inviting residents to join in a day of activities on June 27, from 11.30am to 5pm. The celebrations will include craft workshops, art sessions, and a children's event with author Peter Bently. The Mayor will officially open the library at 11am. The library will be operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the charitable social enterprise that runs all of Bromley's libraries. Rebecca Gediking, head of libraries at GLL, said: "It has been a privilege to work with the London Borough of Bromley to renovate and refurbish West Wickham Library. "GLL libraries are some of the highest performing across the UK with Bromley Libraries lending the highest number of books in London for the last two years. "We cannot wait to open the new West Wickham Library which captures all of the magic of the old library whilst inspiring and supporting a new generation of readers." The refurbishment was delivered alongside the construction of 26 new affordable homes on a nearby car park site, part of the council's Bromley homes for Bromley people programme. The housing development, which supported the library project, is expected to be completed later this year. Three alternative council car parks are available within a ten-minute walk of the library. Bromley Council's wider library improvement programme continues, with refurbishments currently underway at Chislehurst, Mottingham, and Orpington libraries. Plans are also progressing to relocate Bromley Central Library to a new high street location, with further details to be announced in due course.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
The main barrier to children accessing swimming lessons in Cardiff revealed
The main barrier to children accessing swimming lessons in Cardiff revealed It comes after a study came out showing that only 16% of children in the capital could swim There are concerns about the number of children in Cardiff who can't swim (Image: Sakhorn38 ) The cost of transport was the biggest barrier to school children in Cardiff participating in swimming lessons, according to a key council decision maker. A partnership including Cardiff Council launched the Cardiff School Swimming pilot after a study came out in 2024 showing that only 16% of children in Cardiff could swim. City councillors said at a meeting earlier this year that they were worried to learn there were fewer people signed up to Greenwich Leisure Limited's (GLL) swim school membership in March 2025 compared with figures for March 2024. The council is now saying school engagement figures are up from 57% to 74% and that more than 2,250 children will have accessed swimming lessons at local pools through its pilot before the end of the academic year. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for education, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "Swimming is part of the Curriculum for Wales, yet only 57% of Cardiff schools were participating in curriculum swimming lessons in 2022/23 with transport costs identified as the most significant barrier. "We are committed to making significant changes so that schools have as much support as possible to enable swim provision to be delivered to learners and the pilot has already made an encouraging impact on accessibility and quality across the city, supporting the continuation and expansion of the model. "We want to ensure that with further refinements and through successful partnership working, Nofio Ysgol Caerdydd can lead the way in ensuring every child in Cardiff becomes a confident swimmer and is able to have fun and be safe in and around water." Article continues below One leisure manager in Cardiff said they were saddened by the findings in Cardiff Metropolitan University and Swim Wales' study on swimming ability in the city last year, which also revealed that only 57% of primary schools sent pupils to swimming lessons. The issue was raised again at a council scrutiny committee meeting in April 2025, when councillors were told that a total of 4,300 people were signed up to GLL, or Better Leisure's, swim school membership in March 2025 compared with 4,641 in March 2024. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for education, Cllr Sarah Merry (Image: South Wales Echo ) There was an increase in the number of people signed up to swim school membership between March, 2019 (4,387) and March, 2024. However, one scrutiny committee member, Cllr Margaret Lewis said this was not a good improvement over a six-year period. When asked about the figures, Head of Service at GLL Cardiff, Lee Jones, said: "It [swimming] is a key life skill. It [the data] is disappointing to see. It is one of our major objectives... is to get that number up." Mr Jones said Better was also trying to encourage parents to take their children to the swimming pool from the ages of 0-5 by offering concessionary prices. Cardiff Swim School was delivered by the Council's Cardiff Commitment Curriculum Team in partnership with Swim Wales, Cardiff Met Sport, GLL, Legacy Leisure, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Public Health Wales. In addition to addressing a number of challenges schools face in accessing swimming lessons, new processes to collect data on those pupils who have completed school swimming lessons have been implemented. This is so partners can work with schools to identify those children who have not passed the national swim curriculum, Nofio Ysgol Gold Award, and ensure support is put in place to improve their water safety. Aquatics Development Manager for Cardiff Met Sport, Ryan David, said: "Drowning is still one of the biggest causes of accidental death in Wales, especially among young people. "Learning to swim and understanding water safety should be a basic right, not a privilege. Every child in Cardiff deserves the chance to learn these life-saving skills. "We're doing everything we can to make school swimming work for every school, and this pilot is a huge step forward. But we can't do it alone. Article continues below "We need providers, schools, families and the whole community behind us to make sure no child gets left behind." The Cardiff School Swimming pilot will be expanded in 2025/26.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sands Centre's events season cancelled over ongoing roof works
A leisure venue's autumn and pantomime season will not go ahead after work to remove unsafe concrete in the auditorium roof was slowed by storm removal of approximately 200 tonnes of concrete at the Sands Centre, in Carlisle, got under way last year, but January's Storm Éowyn hit a temporary which manages the venue on behalf of Cumberland Council, said it was working with promoters to reschedule events which were due to be staged between 1 September and 31 is asking people not to contact the box office, adding its team would be in touch with all affected ticket holders in the coming weeks with "further details about their options". The events space has been shut since 2023 following a change in government guidance over the use of Raac, a type of concrete found to have safety council initially aimed to have the work completed by late spring, but now says it hopes to have it finished this winter, with the entertainment programme restarting early next leader Mark Fryer said the contractor appointed for the job had faced "several challenges", with the storm having had "a major impact on the completion of the necessary works".Alongside the removal of the concrete, the ventilation system will be upgraded, the lighting system enhanced and customer seating replaced, while changes will also be made to the back-of-house closure of the events space does not impact on the centre's swimming pools, gym, studios or sports hall. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
ITV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Carlisle's Sands Centre reopening delayed again
The reopening of the Sands Centre auditorium has been delayed until at least 2026 as the work to remove RAAC panels from the roof continues. Cumberland Council says the delay to the work is due to storm damage from earlier this year. The council had previously stated that work would be completed by spring 2025, but the events programme at the Sands Centre is now not expected to begin again until early 2026. Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said: 'Our project team and contractor have had to face several challenges, and the storm in January had a major impact on the completion of the necessary works. The team worked tirelessly to deal with the storm damage. 'The Sands is the region's premier venue, and the investment in the new roof and the works planned for the auditorium will ensure it is the venue of choice for our residents and wider audiences." Following the temporary closure of the auditorium last year, GLL, who manage the venue on the council's behalf, moved their classical concert programme to the sports hall within the Sands. A Cumberland Council statement said: "The temporary closure of the events space to allow the works to be undertaken does not impact on the day-to-day running of the main leisure centre. "The new main Sands Centre building's leisure provision is unaffected, which includes the pools, gym, studios and sports hall."
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cash boost for revamp of ex-Gateshead Council leisure centres
Four former council-run leisure centres are said to become more family friendly and accessible, following a programme of Dunston, and Heworth leisure centres, along with Gateshead International Stadium, were recently taken over by charitable social enterprise group has now allocated £750,000 to replace health and fitness equipment in the gyms at the four centres with state-of-the-art machines. It will also be working with the council to operate six community tennis courts, which the authority is currently refurbishing. GLL said it was putting in place measures to ensure its facilities were inclusive and accessible to everyone, and there would be specially designed equipment to support those with disabilities.A multi-sensory lighting system being introduced at Dunston Leisure Centre will cater to children with sensory processing needs. The existing underused squash courts at that site will become a multi-functional space for community activities, health programmes and school holiday clubs. Scott Holmes, from GLL, said: "Our overarching aim is to improve the health and happiness of communities by investing in facilities and encouraging participation in activities."We will continue to work in partnership with Gateshead Council to introduce additional community-led programmes." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
