Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

            To provide members with the annual update for 2023 on community engagement and underrepresented group focused promotional activity.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       Members are requested:

 

            To consider and record receipt of the information provide below and at Appendices 1 and 2 attached.  CNS officers will be in attendance to respond to any queries raised by members.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Background

 

3.1       Under the terms of the leisure contract between BCC and GLL, GLL is required to provide an annual report on community engagement initiatives for the preceding year.  This annual service reports will be presented through the People and Communities committee.

 

            GLL is a leading social enterprise. One of GLL’s core priorities is to ensure full access for all members of the community and to encourage more people to be more active, more often.  CNS works closely with GLL to encourage community outreach and regular participation amongst traditionally underrepresented target groups.

 

            GLL employ a Regional Business Manager (RBM), whose key focus is to drive participation and usage, ensuring more people from every background are regularly and meaningfully engaged and taking part in sport and physical activity. 

 

            In support of this the RBM manages a team of three Community Sport Officers, a team of ten Health Officers and one Group Exercise Coordinator.  All members of the team have work programmes designed to deliver on strategic objectives with a focus to increase participation in both the mainstream and underrepresented groups.

 

            GLL is committed to support community access offering varied opportunities delivered in centres that are accessible, affordable, and non-inhibiting.

 

            GLL re-invests through the GLL Sport Foundation that provides and sustains support for talented individuals.

 

            53% of Belfast GLL members benefit from concessionary charges thereby helping to remove affordability as a barrier to participation.

 

3.2       Outcomes and proposals

 

            Sport National Governing Body (NGB) and Club Programmes

 

            GLL continue to support a number of Sport NGBs in the delivery of their holiday programmes, grassroots events and performance programmes.  Holiday camps were delivered by the Irish FA and Ulster Badminton.  In addition to this GLL worked with Peace Players International. British Fencing and Ulster Boxing in the delivery of coaching workshops throughout the summer months.

 

            All Ireland water polo league events are hosted regularly at Lisnasharragh LC and the venue has also hosted a number of Ulster Swimming Galas.  Ulster Boxing competitions are regularly welcomed to centres including Girdwood CH, Ballysillan LC, Brook LC and Whiterock LC.  Shankill LC hosts the Northern Ireland Futsal Federation league for both males and females and in the Autumn, began hosting Northern Ireland Fencing competitions.  NGBs regularly deliver coach education courses at BCC leisure centres.

 

            BCC leisure centres, programmed by GLL, host over 200 local sports clubs and performance squads.  Leisure centres in Belfast are utilised for club and performance training and service a variety of local and regional competitions.  Gaelic games, boxing, fencing, football, futsal, rugby, tennis, table tennis, cricket, basketball, baseball, netball, softball, dodgeball, swimming, water polo and martial arts are amongst the sports allocated essential training facilities for programme delivery.

 

            School & Youth programmes

 

            GLL works with local Primary and Post Primary schools to provide facilities to support physical education delivery.  Over 80 schools accessed school swimming lessons accounting for an allocation of over 5,000 programmed pool lane hours in 2023.

 

            Centres facilitated a number of primary and secondary school end of term celebrations in June.  Schools were able to access a variety of junior products and swimming pools across the city to celebrate the conclusion of their academic year.

 

            GLL have expanded their Holiday Scheme programme to now deliver in Easter, Summer and Halloween.  In total 80 supervisors and instructors were recruited to deliver the programme during the three holiday periods.  Twelve centres in total delivered the programme over the three holiday periods.  Programmes varied from a traditional holiday activity scheme model and others delivering sports specific models.  Football, Gaelic games, gymnastics, basketball, swimming and tennis were offered as sports specific schemes.  GLL worked in partnership with Ulster GAA, Ulster Badminton, Northern Ireland Fencing, Ulster Boxing and Peace Players International to support coaching sessions throughout the holiday scheme programme.  In total the GLL Holiday Scheme catered for 2,766 children which represented 81% of the spaces offered.  Additional detail is provided in Appendix 1.

 

            GLL delivers a lessons and courses programme currently focused on swimming, gymnastics, tennis and climbing.  Throughout 2023 over 5,500 children have been enrolled on swimming lessons, 40 in diving lessons, 220 in tennis lessons, 160 in gymnastics sessions and 50 in climbing lessons.  In the coming year (2024) GLL plan to expand the swimming programme to cater for 6,500 children weekly, 65 in diving, over 250 in tennis, over 250 in gymnastics and 65 in climbing.

 

            Brook LC has engaged with a number of Special Needs schools to offer the Air Venture product to support with Physical Education delivery.  This combined with the sensory pool has resulted in 30% of all Brook Leisure Centre programming being an inclusive offering.

 

            Community outreach

 

            In 2022 GLL established community engagement leads in each centre to drive local engagement projects but also support citywide initiatives.  In December twelve centres supported the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.  Over 700 gifts were donated with an estimated value of £10,000.

 

            GLL continue to partner with ‘Menshed’ by offering space at Girdwood CH, Brook LC and Whiterock LC where the focus is on improving mental health for men.

 

            GLL have supported a number of mental health charities and initiatives in the form of awareness and fund raising.

 

            The Colin Autism Support Group uses Brook LC for parents of children with autism and other learning disabilities.

 

            Avoniel and Andersonstown hosted open days for community organisations to promote their work to customers within the centres.

 

            The Belfast Community Sport team delivered an outreach event to Ulster University Sports Studies students in October at Girdwood CH.  This event saw over 80 students participate in a variety of sports and activities.  GLL also presented employment opportunities within Belfast highlighting student placement opportunities and their trainee manager scheme.

 

            Older Participant Programmes

 

            At the end of 2023 30% of all Belfast pay and play and prepaid members were aged 60+.  Council continues to provide free of charge access for over 60’s before 11.00am Monday to Friday.

 

            GLL delivers a daily programme of activities targeted at and suitable for older people. The programme expanded month on month throughout 2023.  Belfast benefits from a citywide pool programme that ensures there is always Swim for Fitness (lane swimming) and Swim for All (family casual swim) options available every day across the city.  GLL continue to deliver an introductory physical activity programme suitable for members looking for a lower intensity/low impact workout.

 

            GLL deliver a number of active ageing mornings across the city which include activities such as Danderball, Pickleball, Table Tennis, Boccia and Water Polo.  These are being delivered at Avoniel LC, Falls LC, Girdwood CH, Grove WC, Lisnasharragh LC, Olympia LC Ozone, and Shankill LC.  GLL have plans in place to expand the programme in 2024.

 

            On Friday 29th September Girdwood CH hosted the Better Club Games.  Six centres were represented and a total of 50 participants took part in seven sports/activities throughout the day which included Pickleball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Bowls, Boccia and a selection of physical challenges.  Additional information is provided in Appendix 2.

 

            GLL deliver chronic conditions (Cancer & Cardiac) rehabilitation programmes, whilst also supporting and hosting Diabetes and Strength & Balance programmes. Many of the referrals for these interventions are older people.   

 

            Strategic partnerships and working groups (attended by CNS and GLL) are well established around chronic conditions pathways to ensure collaboration with key organisations such as Public Health Agency, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and charitable partners.

 

            Girdwood CH partners with Chest, Heart and Stroke Association in offering weekly low intensity exercise along with arts and crafts.

 

            People with disabilities

 

            GLL supports the NOW group (Social Enterprise) in the delivery of a ‘Lets Get Fit Now’ programme in Falls LC.  This programme offers participants with a learning disability the opportunity to participate in tailored fitness classes and gym inductions.

 

            Belvoir Activity Centre in partnership with Disability Sport NI provides a dedicated disability sports hub catering for a range of wheelchair-based sports and activities including Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia and New Age Curling.  Ballysillan LC also supported the Northern Ireland Powerchair team in their World Cup preparations as well as providing training space for the Trailblazers club.

 

            Whiterock LC supports disability groups in Upper Springfield by offering sports and fun fitness sessions twice per week.

 

            The GLL Sport Foundation in Belfast currently supports 2 disabled and Paralympic athletes.  Athletes benefit from financial awards of up to £1,250 which will contribute to their individual coaching, travel, competition, and equipment costs.

 

            Brook LC has a swimming pool specifically designed to cater for those with sensory needs and those with wide range of disabilities.  The centre runs six weekly ‘quiet swims’ currently attracting approximately 20 to 30 participants in each session.  GLL engage with Swimming Buddies, an organisation that specialises in Autism friendly swimming lessons.  Currently sessions are being offered throughout the week at both Brook LC and Templemore Baths.  Brook LC also supports the delivery of Air Venture inclusive sessions which are designed to meet the sensory requirements of participants.

 

            Women and Girls

 

            47% of all current Belfast members are female (16,719).

 

            In partnership with Irish FA, GLL provide female only football sessions at five centres across the city through the IFA Shooting Stars Programme.

 

            GLL have supported Netball NI in the delivery of their social netball programme and are also in discussion about the potential for Lisnasharragh LC to become a regular training base for the senior international squad.

 

            GLL supports 64 female athletes through the GSF programme (51.2%) to enable them to compete at national and international level in their respective sports.

 

            GLL works in partnership with WISPA in the delivery of female only classes (aqua aerobics, yoga, Pilates and circuits) at Avoniel LC, Belvoir AC, Brook LC, Olympia LC, Shankill LC and Whiterock LC

 

            Brook LC delivered an after schools multisport and fitness programme for girls and also works in partnership with local GAA clubs to deliver a ‘Gaelic for mothers’ programme.

 

            Family programming

 

            GLL have created a balanced programme of activities across all centres allowing families to participate.  For example, a ‘basic group exercise offering’ which permits junior members to exercise with older family members.

 

            Junior group exercise classes have been introduced into the group exercise timetable and GLL plan to expand this programme in 2024 subject to the availability of qualified staff.

            Adult and Child gym sessions have been added across the city which permits children as young at 9 to attend the gym as long as they are accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian.

 

            Junior and family products such as water slides, Surf Belfast and the Aqua Play at Andersonstown LC, Air Venture at Brook LC and Aqua Splash at Lisnasharragh LC are all meeting the demands of families, particularly over the weekend and holiday periods.

 

            Birthday parties are offered at all centres and represent good value for money.  Provision includes bouncy castles, climbing wall, sports (indoor and outdoor) along with the new products mentioned above.

 

            Wet centres provide family fun pool sessions, with floats and inflatables, as part of their weekly programme.

 

            Brook LC offers weekly pool parties and family aqua aerobics sessions.

 

            GLL continue to provide a citywide family membership which was first launched in August 2021.  At the end of December 2023 there was over 400 family memberships across Belfast which equates to 1,982 members. 

 

            Summary

 

3.3       To consider and record receipt of the information provide above and at Appendices 1 and 2 attached.  CNS officers will be in attendance to respond to any queries raised by members.

 

            Communications and Public Relations

 

3.4       None.

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

3.5       None.

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

3.6       None.”

 

            Several Members welcomed the update and during discussion a Member highlighted the need for officers to continue to liaise with Elected Members and GLL to enhance and strengthen the leisure provision offered throughout the city to those people with additional needs.

 

            The Committee noted the GLL Holiday Scheme Programme Report 2023 available here and Better Club Games Report 2023 available here.