S&PA Professional Magazine Autumn 2022

Goodness shines out

erhaps more than in other years, the beginning of Autumn 2022 marks the start of a journey into the unknown. The full force of rising energy costs is yet to be recognised, we have new leaders all around at UK government (see our story on p8 ), and the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to wreak havoc among our eastern neighbours.

But there is reason still to recognise goodness and greatness in our sector. Applause to Better and GLL for opening the doors to refugees from Ukraine and the rest of the world to

maintain and build their physical and mental well-being while in crisis. Their generosity, and that of other operators who have also welcomed refugees, casts a light and a warming influence on an environment that often seems bleak and cold in these difficult times.

The investment in S&PA for Birmingham and the West Midlands from the government’s underspend for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is also a jolt of goodness and a much-needed injection of forward thinking, of which we need more.

There are lights at the end of this tunnel. We just need to do our bit to keep them burning.

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ENQUIRIES

Loughborough University, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, LE11

By DeeDee Doke

New membership figures revealed at CIMSPA’s 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September have reinforced the organisation’s continuing growth trajectory, with a boost to 22,000 over the past year.

That’s an increase of about 25% from the 18,000 membership in 2021, as CIMSPA continues to offer a value proposition of enhancing professional recognition and status, Dillon said.

While the sport & physical activity sector continues to rebound from effects of the Covid-19 global pandemic, 2022

has also been a year of building with new initiatives and partnerships, Dillon said.

Other 2022 statistics shared by Dillon included:

● 389 training provider partners

● 250 employer partners

● 93 Higher Education partners

● 7,300 members of CIMSPA’s Facebook group.

CIMSPA is receiving £5m in extended funding from Sport England to continue the revitalisation, retention and retraining of the sector’s professional workforce. Supporting those efforts is a new CIMSPA job board, where candidates looking for roles in the sector can access all vacancies from the “largest job boards” in one place, Dillon said.

Dillon also shared information about ongoing and upcoming initiatives:

In the sector-wide ‘Unlocking the potential’ coalition of key organisations such as CIMSPA, “the power of collaboration” has emerged through national sector partnerships “for the first time to call for radical reform” in government support, she said. “Previously, we lobbied as individuals.”

In the wake of sector scandals in youth football and gymnastics, a “whole system approach” of workforce governance will be developed to better protect participants from abuse.

CIMSPA has been tasked by Sport England to “define and scope a whole system approach to preventing participants from harm in sport & physical activity”, Dillon said.

The recent report on abuse of British Gymnastics athletes by some coaches “laid bare the challenges” the sector faces to, for instance, balance the need for discipline with preventing harm, she noted. The work will involve a workforce registration pilot, a project CIMSPA is developing with Sport England.

A round-up of the latest developments in the industry

LONDON 2012 LEGACY LAPSED, SAYS NAO

By DeeDee Doke

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s (DCMS) Permanent Secretary will appear in front of a Select Committee in Parliament in October to respond to a National Audit Office (NAO) report that, among other points, contends that leadership and collaboration across government to increase sport & physical activity has been “inconsistent” since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The NAO report, ‘Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity’, found that the proportion of adults participating in sport at least once a week declined in the three years following London 2012. “Government attention to legacy had waned by 2016,” the report said. DCMS published “what was to be its last legacy monitoring report” in 2016.

“The Department did not complete a promised evaluation of the long-term impact of the Games in 2020, and so does not know the full extent of any sporting legacy delivered from the £8.8bn that the government spent on the Games.”

The 13-page report also found that national participation rates increased “modestly” between 2016 and 2019, but “progress with specific less active groups was mixed despite being a strategic focus”.

Its conclusions on the value for money created by the Games legacy said DCMS had made “mixed progress towards its objectives of increasing participation, tackling inactivity and reducing inequalities in activity levels” since 2015,

before the pandemic struck. However, it also said that the pandemic had “prompted positive change” through increased collaboration between DCMS and the S&PA sector and focusing the government’s attention on the health benefits of exercise.

In its recommendations, the NAO calls on DCMS to “set out how it will lead delivery of the objectives and outcomes for [S&PA] that it shares with other departments”. It says this should include “establishing with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities how to tackle the challenges facing public sector facilities”.

The NAO report was issued in July. However, it is understood that DCMS did not make its response to the report public at that time. S&PA Professional has recently obtained its response statement.

“Hosting the world’s premier sporting events undoubtedly delivers long-lasting impact, inspiring future generations and delivering positive economic benefits for the whole country,” DCMS said in a statement.

“The NAO has rightly acknowledged the work we have done to improve participation in sport and encourage more people to be active since London 2012, but we also recognize there is more to do especially as a result of the pandemic.

“We will continue to work with Sport England to drive up participation, particularly for underrepresented groups, and will publish our revised sports strategy in the coming months.”

A date for Permanent Secretary Sarah Healey’s appearance before the Select Committee was not disclosed.

MESSAGE FROM CIMSPA CEO

I was delighted to share details of our continued progress with CIMSPA members at our recent AGM.

We have experienced significant growth over the year, with membership up by 25% from 18,000 in 2021 to 22,000 in 2022.

In addition, we have further bolstered our network of partners, without whom none of our work would be possible. These include 389 training provider partners, 250 employer partners and 93 Higher Education partners. On p13, Vince Mayne, CEO of BUCS, explores how our sector can work more closely with higher education institutes to help establish the next generation of industry-ready professionals.

The AGM was a time to share some of our achievements this year, which included #1 best non-profit company to work for and #12 best small company to work for from Best Companies, as well as of our ongoing work to support our members and partners as the sector recovers from the pandemic. We also unveiled some of the exciting initiatives coming up in the near future – watch this space for more details.

Our longest serving employee reflects on 40 years working for CIMSPA and its founding institutes (p12). It’s a real eye-opener on how working life has changed. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to driving a respected, regulated and recognised sport & physical activity sector where members and partners can thrive. It’s good to be able to show how far we have come over the last 10 years since being awarded Chartered status by the Privy Council.

TARA DILLON ON THE GROWTH OF CIMSPA MEMBERS – AND THE ACTUAL ORGANISATION

BIRMINGHAM 2022 UNDERSPEND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SPORT

The UK government will invest about £60m of underspend from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games budget to increase access to sport and culture, as well as drive inward investment and tourism, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced.

The fund will aim to enhance the Games’ legacy and boost the West Midlands’s reputation as a world-class host for major events, and DCMS will work with the West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council to “capitalise on the success of the Games and help more people engage with sport and culture in the region”, DCMS said in a statement.

“The funding will also be allocated to boost inward business investment and tourism and help drive further economic growth in the West Midlands,” the statement said.

The Commonwealth Games was backed by £778m of public funding, providing the West Midlands with a refurbished athletics stadium in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham and a brand-new aquatics centre in Smethwick. “Alongside these worldclass venues,” DCMS said, “the £60m investment will support the region’s ambition to host future major events.”

According to DCMS, the investment

will build on existing legacy programmes already being rolled out. In partnership with DCMS, Sport England will continue to boost access to sport through a Birmingham 2022 kit giveaway: 16,000 items from basketballs to bibs will be gifted to West Midlands community groups in the coming months.

Birmingham 2022 was the fastest Commonwealth Games ever, DCMS said, delivered in four-and-a-half years, rather than the seven that normally happens for a Games. It was committed to a carbon-neutral legacy.

At press time, the Birmingham City Council Cabinet was set to consider a plan to secure a lasting legacy for the renovated Alexander Stadium and surrounding parkland in Perry Barr. The full business case for the £21m of legacy developments is said to align with a wider Perry Barr 2040 masterplan.

A statement from the council said: “Access to high-quality facilities for sport and recreation is cited as an important aspect of the future vision for the area and will be realized through [the plan]” as follows:

● Extended and enhanced gym and leisure facilities within the Stadium complex

● A new visitor centre and café located in Perry Park

● New physical activity installations/ external play facilities for all ages in the park

● New pathways and cycle routes around the Park.

The council said it is also working with Birmingham City University and other future tenants on the offering for elite and community sports provision in the Stadium complex, including the neighbouring High Performance Centre. The university was announced as a new tenant for the revamped Stadium in 2019.

TRUSS APPOINTMENTS

OVERSEE SPORT SECTOR

Prime Minister Liz Truss’s new government has made two key appointments overseeing the sport & physical activity sector in the past month.

Michelle Donelan is the new Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport. Stuart Andrew is the new minister for Sport, Arts and Ceremonials.

A member of parliament since 2015, Donelan previously served as minister of state for Higher and Further Education from 2020 to 2022, and Secretary of State for Education for two days in July 2022.

Andrew became MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough in 2010. He has had a number of high-level appointments including his brief stint as minister of state at the Ministry of Justice between July and September 2022.

He was minister of state (minister for Housing) in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from February to July 2022.

He was previously Treasurer of HM Household (deputy chief whip) from February 2020 to February 2022.

In his new role, Andrew’s remit will include responsibility for sport –including major events, arts, libraries, museums, appointments, ceremonials, Eurovision, as well as Heritage and Civil Society and Youth in the House of Commons.

WEB 3.0 – POWER TO THE PEOPLE

WHAT IS WEB 3.0?

The internet has changed significantly over the years. Web 1.0 marked the launch of the world wide web, a read-only version of the internet. This was followed by Web 2.0, which gave us the ability to read and write/create information giving rise to e-commerce as well as a host of social networking platforms like YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. Commonly referred to as Web 3.0, the latest generation of the internet is considered revolutionary. It is primarily about the decentralisation of the internet and ownership of data,

so we can now read, write/create and own our online identity and our data.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

We’re all familiar with the social networking applications mentioned above and most of us will use at least one of them to share our thoughts, opinions and watch all those funny videos. But there is a cost to using these platforms. We have to give away our rights to privacy to a small number of companies like Google and Facebook in order to use these platforms. These organisations have free rein over our

The third generation of the internet has the potential to have the biggest impact on the way we interact and do business online yet, as Ollie Bell, commercial director at CIMSPA, explains

DEPTH

CIMSPA

personal data; we have no control over how that information is stored or to whom it is sold – think of all those targeted adverts that suddenly appear in your stream after you’ve done an online search for something. Web 3.0 is essentially about giving people ownership of their data online, so when we use apps in Web 3.0, we are not at risk of a third-party taking control of that information.

Decentralised technology or blockchain technology is what has enabled this innovation. The blockchain allows people to send, share and make transactions peer to peer, without the need for a third party or intermediary.

A good example of this in action is Bitcoin, the first ‘global, private, digital’ currency which allows people to share and transfer value peer to peer without a third party or intermediary – in this case a bank. A decentralised network is an internet where people can communicate, share and transact business without going through big companies like Google and Microsoft using our data for profit. Instead, we as users, keep control of our data and engage directly with others in our network without intermediaries.

Another major benefit of blockchain technology over existing platforms is validity. Whenever data is entered, exchanged, sent or stored it is impossible for the record to be changed and this is what we call ‘immutable’. Although records can be amended in the blockchain, the original record is stored forever.

WHAT’S THE RELEVANCE FOR THE SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SECTOR?

Web 3.0 has the potential to impact the sector at all levels. Take education as an example. Currently, sport and physical activity professionals are likely to have accrued a host of paper certificates over the years as they have developed. There

are a number of downsides to this: paper is bad for the environment, candidates have to pay a fee for certificates, they have to be replaced when lost and the system itself is open to fraud – the fraudulent qualifications market is worth over $1bn (£0.9bn) in the US alone.

With Web 3.0 and specifically NFTs (see explanation below), instead of paper qualifications, professionals can have a digital record of their qualifications which is stored in their personal digital wallet. Employers can view these qualifications as well as the respective awarding organisations. It means no more lost certificates, paying for replacements, and no one can steal them.

This is just one example of how Web 3.0 can benefit the sector, but it also has the potential to transform the way operators attract new members and how memberships are bought and sold in the future courtesy of NFTs.

WHAT ARE NFTS?

An NFT is a non-fungible token – a digital asset that can be bought, sold or traded online. NFTs are already being utilised by brands to enable new ways to engage with their customers. For example, Starbucks has integrated NFTs into its loyalty programme. Launching in the US later this year, the new Odyssey experience will offer members the ability to earn and buy digital collectible stamps (NFTs) that will unlock access to new, immersive coffee experiences.

Each digital collectable stamp will include a point value based on its rarity, and the stamps can be bought or sold among members within the marketplace, with ownership secured on a blockchain. As stamps are collected, members’ points will increase, unlocking access to unique benefits and experiences that have

never been offered before. Think virtual espresso martini-making classes, unique merchandise, exclusive events at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries or even trips to Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm in Costa Rica.

A portion of the proceeds from the

“Just as social networks changed the online world forever, huge opportunities exist for those who lean in”

sale of limited-edition stamps will be donated to support causes that matter to Starbucks partners and Starbucks Rewards members.

The key takeaway here (no pun intended) is that Starbucks customers own these digital stamps (NFTs) and based on the value of their collection, could exchange them with anyone they want to, or list them on a marketplace and sell to the highest bidder.

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO OUR SECTOR?

As a health and fitness operator, I could create an exclusive NFT membership and sell it to, say, 250 people for £1,000.

Just like the Starbucks example, this membership would give NFT holders access to exclusive events and experiences. I could then use some of the funds from the mint (this is what we call the initial sale of NFTs) and build a value proposition which gives access to premium benefits – discounts, events at the club, access to celebrity appearances, free products, NFT-only spa access etc – whatever would create value for that membership.

The more value you create, the more desirable that NFT membership becomes and consequently the more money members will be able to trade it for.

Remember, once they’ve bought the membership, they own it. As the operator, I have no say who they sell that membership to, but the NFT creator/operator (in this example) can receive up to 10% of the resale value, essentially an everlasting royalty stream. Every time that membership is sold, 10% is paid to the operator/creator.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BENEFIT FROM WEB 3.0?

Web 3.0 is still in its infancy, so there’s no need to panic. But we should all start educating ourselves about the latest evolution of the internet and its potential. It won’t be long before we start receiving pitches from companies enticing us to enter the metaverse, build an NFT or consider a blockchain solution. So you don’t leave money on the table, or equally risk money on something that’s not relevant to your brand, remember not everyone needs a Web 3.0 solution.

I knew nothing about this space a year ago and I’m not particularly technical either. The truth is you don’t need to be; anyone can learn if you have a decent guide. I was lucky to have studied the Blockchain Strategy Programme at the University of Oxford in 2021 and I’ve since spent time with some of the most talented executives, representing some of the biggest brands on the planet, who are creating Web 3.0 solutions for brands like Tiffany, Gucci, Adidas and Coca Cola.

If these companies are investing in their education, we can bet that regardless of what we feel and whether we care to understand or not, something huge is coming. Just as MP3s revolutionised the music industry and social networks changed the online world forever, huge opportunities exist for those who lean in.

For more information, please contact ollie.bell@cimspa.co.uk

I joined the Institute of Baths and Recreation Management as secretarial assistant in November 1981. It was my first job out of college and I was the youngest in our team of six. Little did I know that I would still be with the organisation 40 years later.

Most of the Institute’s members were from local authority pools and leisure centres. In those days you couldn’t become a member until you had passed the Institute’s exams – firstly as a Member, then as a Diploma Member –so supervisors, recreation assistants etc would initially join as a student. Once they had passed the exams they could move on to roles like duty manager and assistant manager. Those who passed the diploma exam became centre managers and operations managers.

One of the best things about the system was that members gave back to keep the process going – all the course tutors, exam markers and administrators were volunteers who donated their own time and expertise for the sector.

EVOLUTION OF CIMSPA

In 1993 the Institute became the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) to lead, develop and promote professionalism in the management of sport and recreation. Staff numbers grew to accommodate

the growing need for Pool Plant Operator course administration; thousands of Pool Plant courses were taken over the years, at least two or three per week.

Then in 2011, ISRM merged with the Institute of Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) to form the Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA) – the first singular voice for the leisure, recreation, fitness, sport and physical activity industries. It marked a new chapter for the industry, which we now refer to as the sport and physical activity sector. In 2012, IMSPA

Marketing and communications co-ordinator Nicola Edson reflects on her long career with CIMSPA and its founder institutes

40 YEARS AND COUNTING

was awarded chartered status and became CIMSPA.

In 2014 the Institute went through a re-structure. I took a short break at this time but was soon back. CIMSPA and its predecessors had been my entire working life and I was lost without it.

THEN AND NOW

It’s hard to explain just how work has changed over the last 40 years. Today, most of our communication is done via email. Gone are the days of sending out thousands of letters by post. For the first 20 years of my career, I didn’t have a PC of my own; computers were something we shared. And I can still recall when we kept member contact records on index cards.

In the years before the internet, our annual conference was critical for member relationships. The highlight of the year – a three-day event – was attended by hundreds of members (mostly men) and included an intensive conference schedule, formal lunches and dinners. We even had a separate programme for the wives who had accompanied their husbands. That’s unthinkable today!

I’ve seen the Institute grow from a small cottage industry to a large and thriving organisation. And while I miss the closeness of working in a small team and my former colleagues, I’ve made some lovely new friends over the last few years.

I still love my job and really enjoy creating news stories to share on the website. I like interacting with our members and have got to know lots of people over the years through our regional events and conferences.

There have been a lot of changes over the last few years, which I believe have been for the better, and I hope to be around for a few more years yet to see CIMSPA’s continued success.

TAPPING INTO STUDENTS IN SPORT

“We are one of the best kept secrets in sport,” jokes Vince Mayne, CEO of British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS). He has a point. Who knew that HE (higher education) institutions activate almost one million people every week? Or that the sector invests so much in facilities? More than £350m was spent on sport and active wellbeing facilities over the two years from 2018-19, with a further £270m of investment committed.

These impressive statistics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the scale and reach of sport and physical activity in the HE sector.

Every year, more than 100,000 student-athletes take part in 30,000 league and knockout fixtures, 124 events, across 53 sports. There are over 5,000 teams in BUCS and more than 12,000 teams in intra-mural competitions. In terms of physical activity, 800,000 people are active in HE facilities every week.

“Without doubt, we have the largest network of fitness facilities across the UK and thanks to our Universal Gym membership, people joining many

university gyms have access to 100 other university gyms sites for free,” explains Mayne.

SPORT AND MORE

As a membership organisation with governance responsibilities for higher education sport in the UK, BUCS works with its 165 member institutions to encourage engagement for all students and staff. Why? Because evidence shows the wideranging benefits of sport and

The CEO of British Universities & Colleges Sport says the student population presents a massive, untapped market for sport and physical activity providers

physical activity, from attracting and retaining students to improving graduate attainment and employability to boosting mental and physical wellbeing.

Just over three-quarters ( 76%) of HE students are physically active. This compares to 74% of 16-24-year-olds and 67% of 25-34-year-olds nationally. The student population also has a lower proportion of inactive individuals ( 13.8%) compared to Sport England’s Active Lives data for 16-24-year-olds ( 16.5%) and 25-34-year-olds ( 21%).

More than 85% of universities offer physical activity programmes to support improvements in health and wellbeing of their students, while 80% provide wellbeing support services outside of sport.

“HE plays a critical role in supporting the population to meet the recommended levels of physical activity to help forge lifelong sport and exercise habits. This ranges from people playing a game of badminton to the intra-mural programme to BUCS sport, which includes a high-performance level for elite athletes,” says Mayne.

The HE sector is a breeding ground for sporting talent. Indeed, BUCS research shows that in the 20 years from the Barcelona Games in 1992 to Beijing in 2008, 61% of Team GB Olympic Games medallists and 65% of Team GB gold medallists had been to university. This compares to 31% of the population that have a degree. More recently, past and present athletes from BUCS achieved a total of 132 medals, including 42 golds, at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

And beyond the athletes, a significant number of support staff in the form of medics, physios and coaches, have also attended university.

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Mayne believes the student population

presents a huge opportunity for the wider sport and physical active sector.

The key, he says, is making students more accessible to the industry via ‘micro’, sector-relevant qualifications that they can study alongside their degrees, like those currently being developed at Cardiff Metropolitan University by Steve Osbourne.

“A huge number of students already volunteer in their communities, but how much more value could they deliver if we made industry qualifications more accessible to them, both in terms of time and cost? We’d have a readymade workforce,” he says.

In the same way that teaching hospitals deliver high quality clinical education for health profession students, so the sport and physical activity sector could provide equally valuable educational opportunities, he argues.

“Universities could partner with local leisure trusts to give students the experience of working in a variety of roles from front-of-house and gym manager to duty managers. Students could effectively serve their apprenticeships in gyms and leisure centres, while studying, helping to develop the next generation of sport and physical activity professionals.”

Mayne wants there to be more recognition for what students can offer the sector at all levels, from providing high quality PE coaching in schools – “we are used to doing DBS checks for students already” – to supporting local sports clubs to be more sustainable.

“Many community sports clubs, professional and amateur, rely on a workforce which can cost considerable sums. Imagine if they partnered with their local university to enable students to undertake internships in areas like marketing, digital, sport support services like strength and conditioning or HR functions, for example. Costs would come down and clubs would become more sustainable. There are already good examples of where this works well, we just need to scale it across the country.”

With so many sports clubs struggling for resource, it’s madness not to tap into the potential of the local student population, says Mayne.

“We’ve got to think more imaginatively about how the HE and sports and physical activity sectors can work together for our mutual benefit and to deliver for the communities we serve, getting more people active as well as creating more industry-ready students,” Mayne concludes.

Images: https://billybolton.com

TACKLING INEQUALITIES IN LEISURE STANDARD REPLACES INCLUSIVE FITNESS INITIATIVE

Sport England has launched a new assessment to replace the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) and support leisure operators in providing more inclusive and accessible physical activity opportunities for people from different inequality groups.

The Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard can be undertaken as a standalone assessment or as part of Quest, Sport England’s continuous improvement tool for leisure, which measures how well a facility is operating and how effective organisations are across a range of different areas.

Co-written with Activity Alliance, Tackling Inequalities will help facilities assess how they plan, communicate and serve the local community to help them become more physically active. It focuses

on five key inequality groups including people from lower socio-economic groups, people with long-term health conditions, culturally diverse communities,

disabled people and socially excluded groups.

If management chooses to go for the Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard as part of Quest

Plus, the centres will complete two modules. On day one, the Tackling Inequalities module considers evidence such as strategies based on local

Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities standard aims to support facilities with getting certain inequality groups more active

IN DEPTH

RIGHT DIRECTIONS

Communities can benefi t from local facilities undertaking the new Leisure Standard

needs and priorities, accessible activities, partnership working, reviews, training and resourcing, as well as demonstrating the impact made in tackling inequalities.

On day two, operators will complete Accessible Facilities, an assessment of the facility from a user's perspective against key inclusive focal points, including the provision of accessible changing rooms, working hearing loops and other inclusive equipment, to help facilities meet their design and operational obligations for different user groups. To achieve the Standard, operators must score Very Good in both modules. Further elements linked to Tackling Inequalities (Workforce & Venue Accessibility) are also covered in other day one modules, as well as part of the Quest Mystery Visit.

Sarah Maxwell is head of external accreditations for Right Directions, which manages the scheme on behalf of Sport England as part of Moving Communities. She explains: “IFI was focused on disability and long-term health conditions, which are now integrated into all aspects of Quest. Through the Tackling Inequalities module, we have widened the categories to include more of the local population – it’s more holistic and a lot more fit for purpose,

assessing whether a facility is set up to serve a wide ranging and diverse community.

“Do you know the demographics of your area?

Do you know the profile of your current customer base and staff members? Is there a synergy between your area and your users? And, if not, what can you do with your products, programmes, services, stakeholder engagement, staff training and communications to make them more inclusive to the community you are supposed to serve? For instance, programming that’s not all focused on fat burning: how about Tai Chi for older people, Mums and Tots classes and even offering a carer card to enable easier access to activity for people and their carers?”

The new Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard will complement the ongoing work of Activity

Alliance in its aim to improve the way organisations think and act upon disabled people’s experiences, and to support facilities to include more disabled people in sport and activity.

Ray Ashley, director of partnerships at Activity Alliance, says: “The new Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard sees inclusion fully embedded in Quest, which will crucially enable leisure centres to think about inclusion in a more holistic way. By offering our experience, learning and resources through the new modules,

we can continue in supporting the sector to break down barriers to being active, which have existed for far too long.”

To support the new Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard, Activity Alliance has created a helpful new resource for leisure operators. The new factsheets provide clear and simple guidance, useful resources and top tips on how the leisure workforce can embed better inclusive practices within facilities and programmes. This includes leisure centre and gym managers, facility management teams, marketing specialists and many others. View Activity Alliance’s new leisure factsheets here: https://bit.ly/3Cj7oA1. To find out more about the Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard as part of Quest or as a standalone assessment, contact Sarah Maxwell at quest@ rightdirections.co.uk or call 01582 840098.

Leisure centres will be able to think about inclusion in a more holistic way

AGENDA

DETECTION SYSTEMS

By Sue Weekes

BENEATH THE SURFACE

An extra eye in the swimming pool can give lifeguards an additional layer of safety, so why is there a reluctance in adopting the technology?

Swimming pool operators are no strangers to the use of technology to enhance safety with the first detection and surveillance systems appearing some 20 years ago. In the years that have followed, such systems have matured and are now maximising the use of powerful tools like artificial intelligence (AI).

The technological evolution is likely to resurface some initial fears around these systems – that have perhaps never gone away in some quarters –which is that they aim to replace the human lifeguard. And while we don’t know what might be possible in the future in this respect, such a notion is far from the truth today and in the medium term.

Aside from the need to at times get into the pool and rescue an individual – something which no computer can do – there has never been an intention from providers or others involved in the sector for these systems to be anything other than an additional layer of safety. And what AI now enables us to do is further strengthen this layer with more intelligence.

“Just as software has developed everywhere, in every sector, then opportunities now exist for this to develop in the swimming pool environment,” says Andy Read, industry mentor and influencer and an experienced leisure manager with specific expertise in safety management.

And there is broad agreement from industry bodies that the sector should embrace the next phase of evolution. As the national governing body for swimming, Swim England, says it is continuously reviewing innovation and technologies that can make pools safer to swim in, improve the consumer experience and, in some cases, reduce operational costs. “AI/smart detection technologies do have the capacity to

assist in improving the consumer experience and assist in making the environment safer for people to swim in and partake in aquatic exercise,” says Richard Lamburn, head of facilities, Swim England.

Jo Talbot, commercial director of the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), says there was a fear in the industry that the society would be against such systems, but she stresses the RLSS UK “100%” supports the use of technology to assist lifeguards in pools and provides guidance to operators on its website. “We know technology is evolving and we have to grasp it because it’s the future,” she says. “What we tell operators is to make sure you do your research, look at different systems and make sure it’s right for your pool and the lifeguards.”

This all said, there is also support for new guidelines that will provide a comprehensive standard for smart

detection systems, especially as the technology becomes more sophisticated. “The ISO standard was proven to be not fit for purpose for the systems we operate in the UK, therefore, a new UK standard developed in partnership between operators, manufacturers and professional bodies would be welcomed by Swim England,” says Lamburn.

H&S GUIDELINES

Read has been spearheading the campaign to create and publish a new

set of guidelines, which are currently at draft stage. Swim England, RLSS and ukactive are among those feeding into them and Read hopes that, when agreed, they will be linked to the Health & Safety Executive’s ‘Health & Safety in Swimming Pools’ document (HSG179). “It is very important we have one voice on this,” he says.

Read is well placed to lead the push having been involved in implementing early camera-based systems when he worked at companies such as DC Leisure and Places Leisure and has observed the evolution of the technology ever since.

This guidance is intended for owners, operators, architects and designers of swimming pools in the UK and is not intended to cover the local operational aspects of detection and surveillance systems. Rather it aims to guide the performance and design elements that should be considered

“We know technology is evolving and we have to grasp it because it’s the future”

when installing and operating such a system.

The draft guidelines cover many areas, including the principles of “blended lifeguarding”, the term used to describe the partnership between the lifeguard and a detection and surveillance system. This combines the traditional methods of pool supervision, safety and rescue, and aspires to be a working practice that “harmonises the best capabilities of technology and humans to produce a safer swimming environment”.

It defines the main terms used in the sector and stresses that the lifeguard must be able to maintain a view of the whole of their zone (above and below the water surface) – “the full body of the water, down to the bottom of the pool tank and across the top of the pool surface” – as set out in the HSG 179 guidelines.

There is also a section dedicated to design and retrofitting, which stresses that architects and designers become familiar with detection and surveillance systems by engaging at the earliest opportunity with clients and operators when designing a pool to understand the requirements and how technology can be integrated.

EARLY INTERVENTION

Historically, the label “drowning detection” has been given to pool surveillance systems – however, Read would like to see the next era of technology also usher in a shift in thinking that reflects the reality that many safety incidents in UK pools are caused by a health issue that has nothing to do with swimming. “If ill-health is not spotted quickly enough, then inevitably, the cause of death may be due to drowning, which leads to some incidents being incorrectly reported,” he says.

“We need to shift the discussion to talking about intervention on a

The lifeguard must be able to maintain a view of the whole of their zone... down to the bottom of the pool tank

AGENDA

DETECTION SYSTEMS

health condition that happens to have occurred while somebody is swimming. And I believe AI could help here by, for example, picking up on something in a person’s behaviour directly before the event.”

The internationally recognised practice known as the 10:20 system requires lifeguards to be able to scan their supervision zone in 10 seconds and to be close enough to get to an incident within 20 seconds. Even with this regime in place though, an unexpected health incident can make it difficult for a problem to be detected. Read cities an example of when an individual was doing a normal breaststroke and their legs were working perfectly but when they pushed off from the side of the pool they headed downwards towards the bottom.

“If I’d been watching that as a lifeguard, there was nothing to tell me, there was a problem. But then instead of the person coming back up towards the surface, they carried on down towards the bottom as they had experienced a health episode,” he explains. “A trained AI system could have detected

something was wrong because the behaviour wasn’t consistent and put a red box around the swimmer and given an audible alarm to instantly alert the lifeguard.”

Read admits that the level of false alarms with some systems is still an issue, and there are other challenges that need to be tackled by the guidance such as how to describe the use of detection to address blind spots that may have been created by the design of the pool or obstruction to view by an object. He says another issue is whether such systems should also make use of a handheld device as well as a monitor, which would vibrate if there were a problem.

Robin McGloughlin, business director of Poolview, said its systems have

utilised AI since 2018. AI, he says, is now emerging into mainstream from “the underground”. Poolview advocates a blended lifeguarding approach. “Many out there think it is an ‘either-or’ situation, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” he says, adding that AI can also cover the mundane and repetitive bits of a lifeguard’s role.

The intention is that the guidelines will be updated annually to keep pace with technology. Lamburn says Swim England will continue to support research projects into such technologies.

“The decision to build them in to future swimming pools is one to be taken by the client/owner, our role is to provide as much information and education on such technologies in order for them to make an informed decision on the inclusion,” he says. “We will therefore continue to be at the forefront of research and information gathering on such technologies to further educate and assist the industry in the future.

“The way in which we supervise our swimming pools in England is exemplary, our training practices and professionals trained by the RLSS

“If money was no object, we might see this technology in every single pool within two years”

provide a safe environment. The addition of such technology aids and improves that provision but is not compulsory, therefore, the barrier is the additional cost it carries in construction or retrofit.”

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Talbot also highlights cost as a current barrier and describes take-up of technology as a “slow burn” over the last 10 years but believes we will see adoption increase. “If money was no object, I think we might see this technology in every single pool within the next two years,” she adds.

Of course, most pools and buildings are not built with the necessary duct work and other features required for a modern technological infrastructure. And we all know that technology retrofitting brings cost and practical challenges for every sector but going forward this will hopefully change.

“Personally, I would like to see these technologies incorporated in the design and build of our centres going forward,” says CIMSPA CEO Tara Dillon, and she adds: “We shouldn’t be scared

to embrace innovation. Instead, we must adopt new technologies and ideas aimed at improving pool safety to ensure a safer future for all pool users.

“New innovations in detection and prevention technologies can be employed to help operators work smarter and more effectively to support, but not replace, their lifeguarding staff.”

All too often, technology is accused of removing the human touch and replacing it with something robotic and without nuance. If its potential –and limitations – are well understood, though, and it is implemented correctly with careful thought, technology can enhance the human interaction and make it all the more meaningful and powerful.

The UK is lucky in having a lifeguarding system with an excellent track record and the intention with all the discussions around detection and surveillance technology is to build on this to create something even better.

Editor’s note: S&PA will report on the progress of the new guidelines in a future issue.

Useful links

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s current guidance, ‘Technology in Swimming Pools’, can be found here. Included is a link to the aforementioned Health and Safety Executive publication Health and Safety in Swimming Pools https://www.rlss.org.uk/ technology-in-swimming-pools

Also check out its #Istartedasalifeguard section, which features several of those people quoted in this article https:// www.rlss.org.uk/ istartedasalifeguard

To find out more about the work of Swim England, go to https://www.swimming.org

L ove them or loathe them, uniforms matter. They project an image. They help us identify individuals and their roles. They can even sometimes make us feel pretty special when we put them on. A successful gym knows this. It’s aware of the importance of a professional-looking, modern and fit-for-purpose uniform for its staff.

Healthclub chain PureGym, a CIMSPA partner, also knew this, but what’s surprising is that it decided to rebrand and revamp its uniforms – after a six-year period with the same design – at a time when most gyms were cash-strapped and fighting for their very survival during a global pandemic.

“Yes, it was a tough time,” admits Martyn Wheeler, operating model manager for PureGym, “but we felt it was also a really good time coming out of the pandemic to give our staff a bit of a boost. I think we

Having

investigates how

certainly did that with the new uniform. It buoyed up everyone after having been off work for so long and has proven to be very successful.”

Wheeler also admits it was long overdue. “The old uniforms were starting to look quite outdated. The design was probably about six years old,” he says. “The feel and look were quite heavy and baggy. We needed to upgrade and get a bit more ‘with it’. To be honest, I think uniforms probably need updating every three years as fashions change.”

In another surprise – and perhaps indicative of how seriously PureGym took the rebrand – it approached corporate uniform provider Jermyn Street Design (jSD) to go to work on its distinctive, teal-coloured uniforms. Former clients include Eurostar, Gucci,

Center Parcs, Hampton Court Palace and Pizza Hut.

S&PA Professional asked Nihal Selimi, designer at jSD, how she approached tackling what was then a new area of activity for the firm. “The first thing I tried to do was put myself in the wearer’s shoes and understand exactly who would be using the uniform, whether it would be a mixture of male and females, young and old, and what exactly they would be doing. For example, walking around, teaching classes or sitting behind a reception desk.

“It’s a matter of understanding the different job roles involved and then considering suitable fabrics – do they stretch or are they breathable? Each wearer might need different options. Some might prefer to wear shorts and

some tracksuit bottoms. Do they want pockets to carry anything, such notepads or iPads?”

Selimi says the brief from PureGym was very clear, in that it wanted the new uniforms to be durable, functional and modern, with consistency across the fit and sizing. Traditionally, PureGym staff had been wearing the likes of polo shirts or baggy tracksuit bottoms, but it decided to freshen things up by incorporating v-necked t-shirts, sweat-tops, leggings, shorts, vests and even gilets into its apparel.

A central requirement of the uniform (and of any uniform really) is that members of staff are instantly recognisable. PureGym’s bright, teal-coloured branding helps with that. However, the uniforms of the

The uniforms of the PTs, who are not employed directly but work under the PureGym umbrella, are black to make them easier to identify

personal trainers who are not employed directly but work under the umbrella of PureGym were also changed to black, so they are again easier to identify.

“Everyone was in teal before, so it was difficult to distinguish who was a direct member of staff,” says Wheeler. “The black uniforms are very smart and have gone down very well.”

All the gym staff naturally received the new uniforms, but for the first time all the central support teams also got sweat-tops, fleeces and t-shirts as well. “Now when they are out and about visiting clubs, they’re all geared up in the correct uniform too,” adds Wheeler.

In fact, everyone from upper management down seems to have had some input into the designs. “Yes, we got all our gym teams involved,” adds

Wheeler. “We had sample groups at different levels, including cluster managers, gym managers and assistant gym managers. They were all involved in trialling the uniform and the photoshoots. It was important to get their buy-in.”

As a rule, although it varies

CASE STUDY

depending on job role and how many hours worked, everyone gets a fleece top, a couple of t-shirts and bottoms, meaning shorts, tracksuit bottoms or leggings. They each have an annual allocation, so every year they can reorder the same allocation again if they like. Obviously, this means they’re

Designing a new uniform during the pandemic

Ordering clothes online can be a hit-and-miss affair for all of us at times. Nothing quite beats going into a shop and touching the material and trying things on. So how did PureGym and Jermyn Street Design (jSD) go about designing a range of different styles during a pandemic with everybody sequestered in their little bubbles?

“We usually present our designs in person, so the client gets to touch and feel the fabric, and examine all the little details physically,” says Nihal Selimi (pictured left), designer at jSD. “In

this case, we had to do it all virtually. But there’s only so much you can show and convey onscreen.”

The next best thing was for jSD to present its designs using avatars, with nobody touching a garment until the end of the design phase and the first samples were made. “We’ve presented designs virtually before, but this was the first time we used avatars, where everyone could fully explore the designs in a virtual environment,” explains David Humphries, account manager at jSD.

“We could make instant

changes to the fabric, colours, shape and fit on the spot,” he adds. “It enabled us to discuss what worked and what didn’t and move on to the next stage very quickly, and without wasting time or resources on several design samples.”

This way of working worked really well for PureGym. It also filmed a series of sample fit sessions that were then shared with its wider team, meaning those working from home at the time and generally a wider range of employees could be involved in the designs.

Generally, everyone gets a couple of t-shirts and bottoms, and a fl eece top, and have an annual allocation that they can reorder every year

their selection from their allowance. The delivery process is excellent, and they receive orders within three to four days, where it used to take up to four weeks.”

Management and distribution are also handled by jSD. “Creating a new uniform doesn’t end with the design stage,” says David Humphries, account manager at jSD. “If a member of staff is without a uniform for any reason, then the uniform has failed. It is important for us to accurately forecast requirements in a cost-effective way.

“There is a balance to be achieved between not holding too much stock, while at the same time avoiding shortages. We also manage any returns back into stock and maintain accurate allowance data.”

“This was the first time we had used our in-house design studio in London for filming and it worked really well, enabling us to engage with a wider audience in a more dynamic and direct way,” explains Humphries.

As for jSD, it has revolutionised the way it works and shares its designs with clients. “We’ve invested in 3D design software, which is how we presented the first designs to PureGym,” says Selimi. “We’ve now operated this way with many other clients. To be honest, it was something we were looking into before the pandemic, but Covid-19 gave us the push we needed.”

Rigorous testing ensures all fabrics are colourfast, important when staff are frequently washing their uniforms

topping up on the stuff they’ve already got, but they’re guaranteed to have a new set every year as well.

As for sourcing the new apparel, whereas previously there were multiple suppliers involved in the ordering and production side of things, which created a lot of inefficiency, this time PureGym wanted a partner that could streamline the entire process.

Therefore, as well as designing the new range, jSD also developed a bespoke online ordering system for PureGym staff to access their new uniforms. The website includes automatic allocation and budget control. As Wheeler explains: “It’s very user-friendly. Every individual has a set allocation and staff can log in and make

On a final note, is there anything designer Selimi can think of that often gets forgotten when an organisation is designing new uniforms? “What sometimes gets lost is thinking about how all the different components will come together in the end,” she explains.

“For example, teal is the colour of PureGym’s brand, so everything is dyed to match that colour. However, there are so many different components that might take the dye differently, such as zip pulls. The reality is that these colours can come up quite differently, which often gets forgotten when doing the initial designs onscreen.”

Thankfully, jSD also checks all its fabrics to ensure they are colourfast. “We go through vigorous testing to ensure a colour doesn't bleed on to other garments, and that it keeps its vibrancy and colour – especially in a physical activity context where staff are washing them frequently.”

Great news for PureGym then – the distinctive, bright teal of its newly designed uniforms will go on welcoming customers into its gyms for some time to come.

There has been an outpouring of help for Ukrainians fleeing their country in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February this year. In May, the social enterprise Better, which has over 250 public sport and leisure centres across the UK, decided it wanted to do something to help Ukrainian refugees who had come to the UK. So, it set up a new scheme that enabled Ukrainian refugees to access three months’ free

membership at any of its centres across the UK. Within 48 hours, the scheme was up and running and within a week, roughly 1,000 refugees had registered.

“It’s been amazing – we hadn’t anticipated such a huge demand,” says Joseph Rham, customer experience director at Better. Rham has been the driving force behind the scheme, which was initially called the Ukrainian Refugee Scheme. He says the sudden influx of refugees from Ukraine into the

UK prompted Better to consider how it could support the refugee community. Rham thinks leisure providers are well placed to help refugees settle into their new environment and meet new people, while at the same time taking care of their physical, mental and emotional health.

“As an organisation our purpose is to improve communities and health for local people. The Ukraine crisis was the impetus for us to look at how

The influx of Ukrainian refugees into the UK was the impetus for schemes across the country to offer free access to gyms and sporting activities to those whose lives had been so sadly disrupted

REFUGEE

we support refugees. These people have potentially lost everything and are starting again in a new country, so we wanted to help them integrate into their new community and

interact with other people. It’s important for people to feel that they belong in the community, that they are part of something.”

For example, in the early days of the

scheme, a customer at the Better facility in Greenwich in London, contacted the centre to say they were a host to a Ukrainian refugee who loved Zumba but didn’t know how to join a class.

GYM SCHEMES

Better helped the refugee enroll on a weekly Friday class that they have been attending ever since. “When your whole life has been disrupted, it really helps to be able to do something that was part of your routine before,” says Rham.

The Ukrainian Refugee Scheme has been so successful that Better decided to make it permanent and to extend the provision. The free membership now lasts for six months and has been extended to include refugees from anywhere in the world. As well as Ukrainian refugees, it is now being accessed by refugees from places such as Syria, with membership increasing to 5,750 people. It has also been re-named the Refugee Support Scheme, to reflect the global focus.

Better is not the only organisation reaching out to the refugee community. Other leisure providers and educational facilities are also running schemes. Tmactive, for example, is providing free and discounted leisure opportunities to refugees living in and around the borough of Tonbridge and Malling. Rugby College is working in partnership with the organisation Community Welcome to give refugees free access to its gym and fitness facilities. For many refugees, taking part in physical activity at Rugby College gives them a rare and much-needed opportunity to leave their hotel room and be in a communal space while they wait for their visas to come through. And in Manchester, the Football Freedom Project is bringing up to 100 refugees in the area together

each week to play football. This initiative has been co-created by the local charities Football for Humanity, and Refugee and Asylum Participatory Action Research. Alimamy Bangura, a refugee from Sierra Leone, helps run the weekly sessions. Talking to the Greater Manchester Moving movement, Bangura said: “It relieves our mental stress. We are like a family. It’s helping everyone get physically fit but also

helps with their mental health. It makes me happy, relieves my anxiety and depression, makes me feel I am helping others, and they help me.”

Under the Better initiative, refugees, young and old, have access to all the core facilities provided by a centre. According to Rham, the gym, swimming and exercise classes have proved to be particularly popular. One refugee that has been making good

Taking part in physical activity gives them a rare and much-needed opportunity to leave their hotel room

Joseph Rham, customer experience director at Better, said they hadn’t anticipated such a huge demand for the scheme

GYM SCHEMES

use of the scheme is Anastasia Bielkovska, an 18-year-old Ukrainian refugee who has been in the UK since early May. She and her 16-year-old brother have become regulars at the gym at their local Better facility in Bath, going at least every other day. Anastasia says going to the gym, meeting people there and talking to the Better staff have really helped them to feel more at home in the city. “It has helped me feel settled here. I’m a talkative person, and it’s hard for me to be without communication with people, so it’s good to meet people. I meet English and Ukrainian people. And it’s such a friendly team there. Going to the gym is good for my wellbeing and for my mental health.”

Before taking up the free membership, Anastasia had never been to the gym. Now she finds it a good way to relax, particularly if she has had a stressful shift at the restaurant she works in. She has just enrolled on a business studies course at her local college, but fully intends to keep up with her gym activity.

For others, the free membership has enabled them to resume sporting pastimes that they were involved in before they became refugees. At a neighbouring facility in Swindon, The Link Leisure Centre, two young Ukrainian refugees are pursuing their passion for ice-skating. Tetiana ( 7) and Anna ( 6) Riasna are competitive figure skaters, but their training was interrupted when they left Kyiv.

Through the Better scheme, they are skating again and have even acquired two world-class coaches – British Pairs Skating Champions Christopher Boyadji and Zoe Jones. The girls attend lessons twice a day, five days a week and recently competed in a national competition in Sheffield. Their mother, Natalia Riasna, says the scheme has made all the difference to the family.

“For Tetiana and Anna, sport is not just a hobby, it is their way of life. They are committed to working hard and wake up early every day to go and practise before school. Now they have the perfect coaches – they’re so excited. They have their sights set on reaching international stardom.”

Better’s Parkside Pools and Leisure

Refugee Support Scheme

Better’s Refugee Support Scheme is available to people who have been granted refugee status in the UK in the last 12 months. It’s available to adults and children, and lasts six months. Refugees must provide a Residence Permit with Refugee Settlement status as proof of eligibility. A host family, Better’s in-centre staff and participating refugee charities such as the Red Cross, the Refugee Council or RESET, can also apply on behalf of a refugee.

Anastasia Bielkovska says going to the gym and meeting people has helped her feel more at home

Centre in Cambridge has 162 refugees signed up to the scheme. Steven Rayment, general manager at the centre, says he is delighted with how well the scheme has been received. “It’s been amazing,” he says. “We are doing this to support people who have landed in this country, through no fault of their own, looking to find a safe haven. We are supporting them to keep fit and healthy. There are multiple rewards for them – not just their physical health, but also their mental health.”

The feedback from refugees has been hugely positive, with people enjoying the opportunity to engage in sporting activity and spend time in a community space. Swimming has been particularly popular, especially the flumes with children. And one of the refugees, a 25-year-old woman who was formerly a national swimmer in Ukraine, now has a job at the centre. “She was interested in a part-time job as a lifeguard,” says Rayment. “She passed her National Pool Lifeguard Qualification with us and now works two days a week as a lifeguard.”

The UN Refugee Agency has long recognised the important role that sport and games can play in helping displaced people. It says: “For people uprooted by conflict and persecution, sport is much more than a leisure activity. It’s an opportunity to be included and protected – a chance to heal, develop and grow. Sport can also be a catalyst for positive change, empowering refugee communities, strengthening social ties, telling positive stories and providing opportunities to achieve dreams.”

By offering refugees free or discounted membership, Better and other leisure providers hope to help UK refugees to heal, develop and grow. And to re-build their lives and lay down roots in their new community.

Tetiana and Anna Riasna are competitive fi gure skaters from Kyiv, who have started skating again thanks to the Better scheme

HEALTHCARE FIT

Climbing back to fitness

BY SUE WEEKES

Getting the nation active –anywhere

STAIRCLIMBER PUT THROUGH ITS PACES

Peloton Commercial has added the new Precor StairClimber to its premium fitness equipment portfolio. The StairClimber has been three years in development and was reportedly put through its paces with testing beyond industry standards, negotiating 30 different assessments and more than 10,000 hours of lab and field trials ahead of launch. The StairClimber is designed to cater for exercisers of all shapes, sizes and fitness with its Dynamic Step Control, which creates a consistent step for each exerciser’s size and speed. It also protects both the machine and users’ personal belongings via a feature that means anything dropped through a gap in the steps falls onto the ‘lost item slide’ and is returned to the user at the foot of the StairClimber, rather than getting lost in the workings of the machine. Part of Precor’s 800 line of products, the StairClimber is available in both black pearl or storm grey colourways to match the company’s other cardio and strength equipment.

Price to come www.precor.com

The charity Active Nation has launched its first ever mobile app. Active Nation Anywhere will deliver a varied library of workouts and classes via Apple or an Android mobile device. It will be promoted to Active Nation’s membership and user community but is also available to everyone via a download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It provides a mix of regularly updated, self-produced content performed by the Active Nation in-house instructor team but also offers a huge library of content from some of the world’s best known fitness brands, giving subscribers the flexibility to work out in a style they enjoy, wherever they choose. The white label app has been produced in partnership with fitness technology specialist Wexer. The Wexer white label app also enables the developer to send those who opt in automated push notifications so the app can collect behavioural data that can be used to create targeted groups, so users receive only information of relevance to them.

https://activenation.org.uk/

CREATING FITNESS TECH ECOSYSTEMS

Global fitness technology provider EGYM has announced an integration with Fisikal software. The combined offering is targeted at enterprise customers running multi-site operations. It will enable advanced flexible class and personal trainer bookings and payment support via seamless integration with the EGYM Branded Member App and future projects between the two companies are already in the pipeline. EGYM provides fitness and health facilities with intelligent workout solutions built on connected gym equipment and software and supports members’ fitness journeys, providing data-based guidance to help them stay motivated and achieve their goals. Fisikal, meanwhile, provides operators visibility and control over their entire business and performance can be monitored in real-time at a club, cluster, or enterprise level. Its open API means it can easily connect with other digital solutions providers and enable operators to create a modular digital ecosystem that caters to their needs. https://egym.com/uk https://www.fi sikal.com/

SPORTING BI-FOCALS – OFF-THE-SHELF

British start-up GB Viz has developed a pair of off-the-shelf bi-focal sports glasses for athletes, riders and runners who struggle to see their cycle computer, sports tracker, or activity band. At launch, VIGO sports glasses are available in +1, +1.5, +2, +2.5 and +3.0 dioptre versions, covering the common bases for most long-sighted users (typically people who would use low power reading glasses). The lens design incorporates a wide field of vision, long (55mm) frontal drop so there is less need to tilt your head down to see devices. The glasses also feature anti-fog vents at the top. They block 100% UV-A and UV-B radiation, and pass ISO 179 standard for impact resistance. The VIGO’s polycarbonate frame material was chosen for its low weight (the glasses weigh in at 38g), flexibility and robustness. Price: £79.95 https://gbviz.com/

FITBIT’S AUTUMN LINE-UP

Fitbit has revealed its line-up of devices for autumn, which includes the fun tracker Inspire 3, the fitness-focused Versa 4 and, what it describes as its most advanced health-focused watch yet, the Sense 2. Versa 4 offers more than 40 exercise modes, real-time stats, built-in GPS and Active Zone Minutes. Sense 2 enables its wearers to manage stress and track their heart health with sensors that can detect signs of atrial fibrillation through Fitbit’s ECG app and

photoplethysmography (an optical method of monitoring heart rate) algorithm, heart rate variability, skin temperature and more. It also includes the new Body Response sensor for all-day stress management. Fitbit Premium features are included with all new device purchases for six months and offer additions such as Daily Readiness Score and Sleep Profile to provide a deeper dive into stats and progress, and more than 1,000 workout and mindfulness sessions. www.fi tbit.com

TO REGULATE OR NOT TO REGULATE… THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

Increasingly people from all sorts of organisations, but particularly governing bodies of sport, are asking for our thoughts on whether training should be regulated. Most people are asking for all the right reasons, often as part of their own due diligence or evaluation of cost benefit or risk analysis.

I should start by explaining what I mean, and what I think they mean by ‘regulation’: whether a piece of training should be developed and approved into a qualification via an approved regulator (eg. OFQUAL, SQA or Qualification Wales or CCEA) and an awarding organisation resulting in a formally

regulated qualification with certification and quality assurance provided by the awarding organisation.

My simple answer to the frequently asked question is, in most cases, yes, we can prove that regulation has increased standards, provided standardisation and improved the quality of the experience for people taking training in most cases.

But of course, in the interest of balance there are exceptions…

The history of regulation in our sector is interesting. In sport, the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) endorsement scheme ran from 2004 to 2019; this endorsement scheme was for sport’s governing bodies providing training for sports coaches.

As part of the endorsement criteria, it was mandatory that the training must be formally regulated and certificated by a regulated awarding organisation or university. A blanket approach to regulation of training for sports coaches which saw the numbers of qualifications awarded by awarding organisations such as, 1st4sport, BCU, ASQ and BHS increase significantly.

When the UKCC endorsement scheme was reviewed in 2018 by Manchester Metropolitan University, no conclusions were drawn on whether regulation had increased the quality of coaches’ training, but it said the cost of becoming a coach had increased and some coaches

Colin Huffen, head of regulation and standards at CIMSPA, offers a view on regulating training

and sport’s governing bodies were finding that a barrier for people to become coaches.

Later research by UK Coaching in 2020 showed that 54% of coaches did not hold a coaching qualification.

In the fitness industry we saw the emergence of the register for exercise professionals (REPS) in 2004, covering fitness instructors, personal trainers, group exercise instructors and expanding into GP referral specialists and people who can work with people with medical conditions, such as cancer, cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions and falls prevention.

Entry to the register also required people to have a formally regulated qualification, and within six to eight years that became the norm for the fitness industry.

REPS took a mixed approach to regulation; for an occupation (job role) you needed a regulated qualification as your starting point, but from there non-regulated training was acceptable to show the enhancement of your skills and expertise.

For example, for a personal trainer to enter the register they would need to first complete a Level 2 qualification in fitness instructing as a prerequisite to then progress onto or at the same time a Level 3 PT qualification. The qualifications were awarded by multiple awarding organisations, such as Active IQ, YMCA Awards or Innovate Awarding.

Once those qualifications had been achieved, growing your knowledge base into specialist areas – technical elements like strength and conditioning, indoor cycling or previously mentioned medical conditions training – was not required to be a regulated qualification but delivered, assessed and certificated by specialist training providers.

The decision of whether training should or shouldn’t be regulated can’t be made without awarding organisations.

They must work within specific conditions outlined by their regulator; in England, OFQUAL calls this the ‘conditions of recognition’.

Within those conditions there may be times when a formal regulated qualification is not the right option – for example, where there will be very low numbers of certifications, or it’s a very specialist qualification and the expertise isn’t available to develop it, or where the business case just doesn’t stack up.

A lot goes into designing and developing a qualification to meet the regulators’ requirements. At CIMSPA, we have tried to learn from the last 20 years our sector has worked in and outside regulation, and have been given the responsibility for endorsement across the whole of the sector, with both UKCC and REPS endorsement being CIMSPA’s responsibility.

We’ve tried, I would say successfully, to take a pragmatic approach to the endorsement of training and the role of regulation, with one and a half eyes on how we can do this better in future.

We have adopted a similar approach to REPS where we have a mixed approach to whether the training should be regulated. Some things are quite clear – for example, to enter CIMSPA practitioner membership the training needs to be endorsed by us and be awarded by either a regulated AO, University or IFATE, SDS or QW in the case of apprenticeships.

Once people have met that minimum requirement, they must keep themselves current and competent, we incentivise compliance through CPD points.

CPD does not have to be a regulated qualification; it can be training developed, delivered and assessed by a training provider. Training that enables people to develop their career, gaining greater skills in working with new populations and environments, carries a greater weight of CPD points and is

given greater support by CIMSPA colleagues.

Most organisations follow the guidance in our endorsement policy, but we never operate a ‘no-can-do’ attitude; when there is a clear rationale not to regulate, then that doesn’t mean it can’t be endorsed.

We can discuss the appropriateness of not regulating with our Professional Development Committees (PDCs). These are the employer-led groups that oversee CIMSPA’s work and sign off our endorsements.

It’s important we have the right and proportionate approach to regulation in our sector. Getting it wrong, deregulating areas where there is a high risk of harm, would be catastrophic. With that in mind we’ve spent lots of time looking at where we can learn from good (and bad) practice in other sectors.

That has informed the development of a new policy and guidance on minimum standards for deployment. This gives us a clear evidence-based rationale to make decisions about whether not only we should be providing a regulated or non-regulated approach to enter the industry but also whether and how often we should be checking competence.

As many of you have heard me say before, technically I’m a basketball coach. I have a certificate from 1998 but please don’t ask me to run a session; I’m not currently competent.

In the coming months we’ll be working with the PDCs to bring this new policy to life with the end game being a clearer set of guidance on whether a formally regulated qualification is needed, and who should be providing the training and assessment. We’ll also look at how we monitor compliance (if necessary).

Here at CIMSPA we are talking about this to people every day and can support you to make the right decisions for your organisation and your people.

Swimming helped so much in Lesley Rechert’s own cancer recovery that she set up free sessions for others in similar situations to her

OUTSWIMMING CANCER HELPS A COMMUNITY

Lesley Rechert has always loved swimming. She’s swum all her life and is acutely aware of how important it was in her recovery from cancer about eight years ago. So much so that when qualifying as a professional swimming instructor in 2019, she decided to try and set up free swimming sessions for those with or recovering from cancer.

The result is OutSwimming Cancer, which she spearheaded and leads at her local Queen’s Park Sports Centre in Chesterfield. It’s been going for more than two years now. It wasn’t easy getting it started, but Rechert managed to secure funding from Western Park Cancer Charity to fund the first 47 sessions for about 50 participants.

Thankfully, Derbyshire County Council saw how well received and beneficial the swimming sessions were to those that needed them and has now taken over funding the project. With attendees ranging in ages from 20 to 85, it has and continues to support people with a range of different cancer types, including bowel, lung, breast, neck, throat and prostate cancer.

“The swimming sessions are now

embedded in the cancer community,” says Rechert. “We are so amazed by the impact it has had, both on the attendees and in wider circles. It’s so special when people come into reception who are stressed and sometimes tearful – who have often suffered through Covid with little or no support – and after 10 minutes in the pool you see the weight of the world just drop off their shoulders.”

Rechert sees her role as extending beyond that of purely a swimming instructor. “I see myself as more of a facilitator,” she says. “I'm generally there to welcome the people into the centre. At the beginning, we often have a little meet and greet in reception for those who are particularly nervous. I also make sure I’m poolside to chat to people.” And, of course, she’s also there to offer swimming advice and tips for those who want to improve their technique.

Rechert is heartened by the connections and mutual support she witnesses. “There are always new and lovely friendships. It’s been amazing to see people grow in confidence and fitness over the weeks, and gain knowledge from each other and myself

of different strategies and ways to help recovery from cancer and cancer treatment.”

An inspiring example of this is Chris, who first attended a few weeks after her treatment for cancer and struggled to swim a single length. “Lesley got me working on my stroke and now I go swimming two or three times a week,” she says.

“It’s definitely increased my confidence. When I first came I was unemployed and didn’t think I’d ever get a job, but now I’ve just started in a permanent role. I only work four days a week, as I was insistent that I must come to my session once a week.”

For Chris, a major benefit of the sessions is meeting other people who know what she’s been through. “My family has been with me and held my hand through my illness, but the people here actually know what it’s like to have a cancer diagnosis and come through the other side. They know the fight you have on your hands and, although I hate hearing that word, it does feel like a battle that you are losing some days. Now I feel in control.”

Seventy-six-year-old Paddy is one such individual who understands what

Chris has been through, having had a big cancer operation almost a year ago. His wife knew Rechert, who thought the OutSwimming Cancer sessions would be good for him and encouraged him to visit. “I can’t swim particularly well,” he says, “but the exercise and the social side of it has worked very well.

“It is difficult though, especially being so thin after the illness. I’m not a swimmer and I don’t enjoy being cold. However, when you’ve had a big cancer operation you can often think it’s the end of your life, but by coming here, I’ve learned there are people a lot more unfortunate than me.”

What’s also amazing about what

Rechert has achieved with OutSwimming Cancer is that the project was started just before the pandemic came along. “We started to a great fanfare in March 2020, ran three sessions and then got locked down and the pool was closed for quite a

long time,” she recalls. “We didn’t come back until June 2021. Thankfully it’s been running steadily since then.”

In fact, OutSwimming Cancer has even been awarded a Health Impact Award by Swim England, which Rechert is very proud of and sees as recognition that the project has made a real difference to those involved. “A few people have contacted me following the award and I’ve said that if anyone else wants to set up a similar project, I’m happy to advise on what worked for us.”

Lesley Rechert spoke with Dean Gurden

“After 10 minutes in the pool you see the weight of the world just drop off their shoulders”

Lesley Rechert founded OutSwimming Cancer as a result of her own cancer journey

TUTORING TEACHERS

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

I’ve done 23 years of service in leisure now, from working at the council to working for Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT). I started as a casual lifeguard, then became a contracted one and then I got a role on reception. I got a relief duty manager role, then the activity co-ordinator role I’m in now. It has evolved – I’ve just gone for the different opportunities as they came up. It means I keep learning new skills and mindsets. I’ve always been a swimmer, but I never thought I would be tutoring swimming teachers, as I am doing now.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO IT?

There’s a national shortage of swimming teachers. The STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association) put in some funding to push the STAnd Up for Swimming campaign to get more people qualified as teachers. It’s so important to get

more teachers on board to teach swimming. Swimming is a life skill and we want to get more people involved, so they can enjoy the water. What’s better than going on holiday and going in the sea?

But so many children can’t swim. At the moment we are getting school groups that should have gone swimming during Covid but missed it because of lockdown. We are getting year 6 kids who have never been swimming in their lives. There are now more kids not having swimming lessons because of the costs – and that’s going to get worse in the next few months.

WHAT DID THE QUALIFICATION INVOLVE?

It took me from October last year to this summer to get the qualification. You have to observe a full course to get experience of what it’s like to run a course. I had four days of contact at the beginning, and I had to be assessed by an examiner at the end. There were

eight of us doing the course – online because of Covid.

HOW DID YOU FIND THE STUDYING?

It was interesting but hard. There is so much information to absorb on the course because the amount of knowledge that you must have. When you are tutoring, they are looking at you to know everything. For example, when you are delivering faults and corrections on a stroke, they are picking your brains to know everything. You need to know policies and procedures, and you need to be able to deliver and understand each stroke and break it down.

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS NEW QUALIFICATION?

I will run my first course in April next year, doing the tutoring alongside my activity co-ordinator role. I want to pass my knowledge and experience on. The more people I can teach and get qualified, the better the service we can put on.

Emma Griffin, an activity co-ordinator for the Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) in the West Midlands, spoke with Roisin Woolnough.

Emma Griffin is ready to train the next generation of swimming teachers, having recently achieved her STA Aquatics: Full Swimming Teacher Tutor status

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