Our chief executive is welcoming support from customers and our partner, Fife Council, following doors re-opening on facilities.
Emma Walker, leader of charitable trust Fife Sports and Leisure Trust met with Convener of Fife Council's Community and Housing Services sub-committee, Judy Hamilton, to see customer reaction now getting active indoors is possible thanks to the easing of COVID restrictions for the sports and leisure sector.
The move comes as Fife Council has committed to underwrite our operating risk for the year ahead while we work to recover from the significant impact of two national lockdowns and the associated loss of income.
Over the first weeks of re-opening, over 49, 500 attendances have been recorded by locals who used our online booking system to secure slots at our sites across Fife making use of swimming pools and gyms. In addition, over 6,000 youngsters are set to resume swimming lessons with our Learn to Swim programme with group fitness sessions commencing Monday, May 17.
Emma Walker, chief executive for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to people across Fife who have waited patiently for our facilities to re-open. Our staff have been very keen to get back to our centres and welcome customers back to the facilities and programmes we know they love. In the first week, we have recorded consistently high customer satisfaction scores for our health and safety measures and users have told us that they find the online booking and accessing our centres easy.
“Inevitably, the loss of income due to the lockdowns has had a huge impact on the trust, and, as a charitable trust with commitments to the health and wellbeing of local communities, it is vital we secure the long-term sustainability of the organisation. The move by Fife Council to offer additional funding to support the trust through these challenging times is crucial and very welcome.
“I’d encourage people who value their community leisure facilities to visit one of the trust’s COVID-secure sites and make use of the fantastic services on offer.”
Convener of Fife Council's Community and Housing Services sub-committee Cllr Judy Hamilton commented: "It is really exciting to see leisure and fitness begin to open again. I was delighted to visit Michael Woods Sports Centre with Emma, and it was such a joy to see families with young children being able to enjoy splashing about again.
"Thank you to the trust for their keen attention to detail, opening our facilities in a safe way, and welcoming Fifers, delivering on our priorities for health and wellbeing.
"We look forward to the further relaxation of restrictions next week and hope to be able to welcome groups and see people enjoying classes and groups together."
