Registered charity, BH Live, is celebrating another remarkable year of encouraging people of all ages and abilities to enjoy better health and wellbeing by being regularly active.
Operating twelve leisure BH Live Active leisure centres, sports facilities and attractions across Dorset and Hampshire the social enterprise provides a diverse range of activities, health and wellbeing programmes and facilities.
Communities access activities either through membership or pay-as-you-go. There are several free-to-attend open weekends and taster days held across leisure centres throughout the year. Furthermore, subsidised schemes are available to support people on low income to help reduce any barriers to participation.
As well as promoting healthier communities which in turn reduces pressures on frontline health care services, it is estimated that between April 2023 and March 2024, more than £21 million in social value has been achieved, a measure that evaluates the impact of sport and leisure facilities on the local community.
One of BH Live’s main charitable aims includes encouraging communities to become more active to improve health and wellbeing. They do this through the provision of leisure facilities and services. As a social enterprise, any surplus generated is then reinvested for public benefit.
During 2023/24, BH Live focused on expanding its facilities and activity programme. Several investments, to grow its junior activity programme were completed. Partnerships with local authorities, clubs and community groups expanded to make sport and leisure activities even more accessible for people facing economic, health and social barriers.
More than 6,700 people of all ages and abilities across Portsmouth, Bournemouth and East Dorset took part in swimming lessons – that’s a staggering 500 hours of swimming lessons delivered by Swimming Academy instructors each week.
To encourage young people to enjoy being regularly active and have fun, BH Live invested in new inflatable attractions for its sports halls and pools. In Dorset, these included AirJumpX, a giant sports hall inflatable at Sir David English, Crusher pool attraction at Littledown, and Bounce & Play at Corfe Mullen. In Portsmouth, AquaDash! at the Mountbatten Centre is a huge water park-style obstacle course that has been a huge hit with young people and families.
Thanks to this investment and growth in activities, BH Live is drawing thousands of young people and families into their local leisure centre during term times, weekends and school holidays.
In addition, more than £1.1 million has been ploughed into leisure centres to improve local facilities and the overall customer experience. This includes a major gym and studio transformation Pelhams, the remobilisation of BH Live Active, Queen’s Park closed during the pandemic, new poolside changing rooms at Stokewood and more. Additionally, in Portsmouth, a further £120K was invested at Portsmouth Tennis Centre, Mountbatten Leisure Centre and Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre to enhance community facilities.
In Hampshire, Mountbatten Centre, Pyramids (including Exploria), Charter Community Sports Centre, Tennis and Gymnastics and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre are owned by Portsmouth City Council and operated in partnership with BH Live.
In Dorset, BH Live Active, Queen’s Park and Corfe Mullen are operated by BH Live. Sir David English Sports Centre is operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth School Charitable Trust. Littledown Centre, Pelhams and Stokewood are operated by BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development, shared;
“This year, we have made a positive impact on thousands of lives across Dorset and Hampshire. It’s fantastic to see that our continued investment into leisure facilities, activity programmes, junior attractions, and local partnerships are encouraging more people in our communities to stay active – one of our main charitable aims.
“I’m incredibly proud of our BH Live Active teams, who work hard year-round to make being more active accessible for all. Through health and wellbeing programmes, concessions, and so much more, we’re transforming the lives of so many..”
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport at Portsmouth City Council added:
“We have an excellent partnership with BH Live and they have achieved a huge amount this year. We are very grateful to them for all the work they do to support our residents in adopting healthy lifestyles. The schemes they provide are varied and innovative, with specialist programmes catering to a vast range of people.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what exciting developments our partnership will bring next year.”
For more information, visit bhliveactive.org.uk.