Dover Leisure Centres handed much-needed cash boost as they prepare to re-open

Photo: Dover District Leisure Centre swimming pool by DDC

Dover District Leisure Centre and Tides Leisure Centre in Deal have both received much-needed financial support from the Government’s £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund, following a successful bid by Dover District Council.

Both leisure centres will fully reopen on Monday 12 April (adhering to Covid-19 guidelines) if stage two of the Government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown goes ahead as planned.

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The fund is designed to support publicly owned leisure facilities to reopen to the public and give the sector the best chance of recovery in the medium to long term. It is administered by Sport England.

DDC has received £278k to be split between the two centres with a further sum of £1,500 being given for monitoring and evaluation.

Gyms and leisure centres play a vital role in helping people to be active and will be crucial in our nation’s recovery from coronavirus as well as offering wider health, wellbeing and community benefits.

The core objectives of the National Leisure Recovery Fund are to:

Support the reopening of public sector leisure facilities and activities
Provide the best chance of recovery to a position of sustainable operation over the medium to long term.
Sustain the delivery of activities (such as swimming) that aren’t widely accessible in the private market.
Enhance health and wellbeing and support physical activity across England – contributing to the government’s objectives around healthy lifestyles, reducing obesity and reducing inequality.

Roger Walton, DDC’s Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) said: “We are extremely pleased to receive this money to help support our leisure centres, following a successful bid. Centre staff are very much looking forward to reopening, and welcoming the district’s residents back through their doors to enjoy the fitness activities on offer when it is safe to do so”.