E R E H W Y R E EV Spring 2022
OUR NET-ZERO TARGETS Take a look at the changes we’re making to reach net-zero carbon emissions
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SUSTAINABILITY Hear from our senior team on the sustainable choices we offer customers and our environmental targets for this year
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FITNESS INNOVATION Check out the latest fitness innovation available at our centres in 2022
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A LOOK TO THE FUTURE YOUR SOURCE FOR THE LATEST NEWS FROM EVERYONE ACTIVE
A WORD FROM OUR REGIONAL DIRECTORS
We speak to Paul Dowling, Duncan Jefford and Jon Senior, with a focus on business strategy and exciting developments for the year ahead
Paul Dowling Regional Director (East) “The past two years have been challenging for the industry, but we’re pleased to be in a position where we’ve now re-established our fantastic activity plans, coaching courses and tuition to people across the country. “As we enter 2022, we want to continue working with our brilliant colleagues to ensure we provide the best offering for local communities. This will include investing in and supporting our colleagues, whether through training programmes or Everyone Active
Duncan Jefford Regional Director (South East)
Jon Senior Regional Director (West) “Supporting communities with their health and wellbeing remains a core focus for us. We will work closely with our local authority partners to ensure we provide best practice and engage target groups across the country. “We will also help support the great work by industry bodies such as Sport England and their Uniting the Movement strategy, to help to reconnect and inspire people to get active.” Rebecca Phillips, Area Active Communities Manager, is part of the team leading our health and wellbeing programmes and shared further insights here:
“We’re excited to be taking positive steps towards a more sustainable business, by working on our internal operations and supporting our partners in reducing carbon emissions. “This combined effort will go a long way to ensure we’re reducing our environmental impact over the next five to 10 years.” CLICK HERE TO WATCH
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EVERYONE ACTIVE’S NET-ZERO STRATEGY Our net-zero strategy will make us a cleaner, greener business for everyone GROUP DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, BEN BEEVERS, DISCUSSES THE STEPS WE’RE TAKING AS A BUSINESS: We know the world is changing – and not necessarily for the better. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive net-zero strategy to help us, as a company, and support our local authority partners to become operationally net-zero carbon emitting from 2030. We all have a responsibility to make the planet a better place to live for one another and businesses such as ours are no exception. Leisure centres consume large amounts of energy and are significant carbon emitters. Therefore, we have an opportunity to put in place a strategy to tackle this and other issues to help make the company’s carbon emissions net-zero. In order to achieve this, the net-zero strategy we have formulated encompasses every facet of our business. This will begin with step one, making our central Support Hub operationally net-zero by 2025, which will be achieved through several changes, including removing gas as a heating fuel. This will be followed by step two, working to make the rest of our corporate operations net-zero by 2030. The steps we will take in order to achieve this will include making all company-owned and leased vehicles plug-in electric, installing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure at all our facilities, developing an offset strategy to deal with residual emissions and much more.
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HAS A PART TO PLAY
WHAT IS EVERYONE ACTIVE’S NET-ZERO STRATEGY? Everyone Active’s net-zero strategy comprises three main work streams. The company will start with more immediate changes before moving on to larger, more ambitious projects – both alone as a company and alongside our local authority partners, with the ultimate aim of the whole company, including the buildings in which we operate, eventually becoming net-zero.
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THE STEPS TOWARDS NET-ZERO MAKING OUR SUPPORT HUB NET-ZERO BY 2025 We’ll begin by taking steps to make our Support Hub operationally net-zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2025. This is, in fact, the only building throughout the 200+ sites we operate across the country we own ourselves and therefore it’s the place where we have the most control over what can be changed. With that in mind, Everyone Active has committed to implementing a number of changes by 2025 to ensure this target can be met. These changes include the following:
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Switching to a 100% REGO-backed energy tariff (Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin)
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Optimising the building’s operations through ‘smart building technology’
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The implementation of on-site renewable energy
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The removal of natural gas as a heating fuel
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Improving the building’s energy efficiency through better insulation
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
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NET-ZERO CORPORATE OPERATIONS BY 2030 Secondly, we will be working hard to alter the way the whole company works and will revamp the entire corporate culture to embrace the concept of net-zero. This is a slightly longer-term process than the first element of the net-zero strategy and so we have determined to have these changes in place by 2030. Among the alterations we will make to our corporate operations to make sure this is successful will be the following:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
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Changing all company-owned and leased vehicles to plug-in electric by 2025
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Installing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure at all our sites and changing company policies to encourage employees to decarbonise their commuting
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Working with suppliers to dramatically reduce carbon emissions and waste
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Up-skilling and engaging with Support Hub users and Everyone Active colleagues from sites across the country
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Developing a strong offset strategy to deal with residual emissions
OUR FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. The UK Government estimates there are more than 150million tonnes of plastic in the world’s oceans and that 100,000 sea mammals and one million birds die from eating or becoming tangled in plastic waste each year. As one of the country’s largest leisure operators, we are committed to tackling the plastic waste problem by taking responsibility for our impact on the environment. Our group food and beverage manager, Andy Coupe, discusses our sustainable processes and the ambitious targets we’re aiming to achieve by 2025.
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY CUTTING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS Our pledge is to become a single-use plastic (SUP) free provider by 2025. We will achieve this by working with our colleagues across different business operations to reduce SUPs in all areas. This process will include sharing best practice and information about plastic-free alternatives and initiatives with our partners, members, local residents and visitors. Each year, we’ll be making steps towards more sustainable operations. For example, this year our new café range of drinks will include 50% more cartons and cans, removing a further 360,000 SUP bottles from circulation. I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far to remove 25% of SUPs in our cafés since 2019, but our mission is to continue this work and achieve the targeted reductions over the next five years.
PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS FOR IMPROVING BUSINESS OPERATIONS This has been a great journey and effort so far to get to where we are as company. We would never have achieved this without our amazing site teams, suppliers and members. Everyone’s “buy in” to make this achievable shows how important it is not only for EA, but also for a bigger impact on society. We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly. We believe, to do good, you actually have to do something. With this continued effort, we will achieve our targets over the coming years.
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LEADING THE WAY WITH SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS We are working with our suppliers and partners to minimise use of single-use plastics across our operations and services. We are also taking a proactive approach to finding positive solutions for reducing unnecessary waste plastics across our business. To ensure we are reaching our sustainable targets, we also need to work closely with our partners. Our food supplier Foodbuy, have recently announced their market-leading target of being Climate Net Zero by 2030. Their climate targets are the foodservice industry’s first commitment to a climate net zero economy. We also look at ensure our practices support local suppliers across the UK regions we operate. Foodbuy have a great focus on local and seasonal ingredients and sourcing from regenerative agriculture practitioners, among other initiatives.
SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE A COMBINED BIG EFFECT We are continuously working to drive behavioural change through awareness-raising activity, this includes ensuring more takeaway cups are recycled and customers are incentivised to help our recycling efforts. As part of this, we offer customers discounts when they opt to use a reusable coffee cup for hot drinks purchases. With these changes each year, we’re confident of reaching our targets and supporting the environmental change as a business.
WHAT IS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC (SUP)? Single-use plastics are any disposable plastic item that is designed to be used only once. This includes certain plastic bags, disposable utensils, beverage containers, coffee capsules, wet wipes, razor blades, plastic drinks bottles, food wrappers, bottle tops, straws, stirrers and plastic lids.
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CENTRE INNOVATION BRAND NEW TAGACTIVE PARTNERSHIP TAGactive is a game for all ages and we are excited to kick-start this year’s partnership. It’s going be a busy start to the year, with five TAG arenas opening to the public by the end of April. TAGactive takes place in an obstacle course arena split into zones, each of which contain a large number of illuminated TAGs. Players collect points by ‘tagging’ these with a sensor on their wristband, the points value of each TAG being determined by the degree of difficulty in reaching it. A player’s score appears on an electronic scoreboard and adds the extra dimension of competition with rivals, as well as trying to post the best score of the day or even all time. While TAGactive is aimed at all ages and interests, it offers a hybrid approach to activity, gaming and technology that will encourage gamers to be more active, following a recent boom in online gaming’s popularity.
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Ofcom’s ‘Online Nation – 2021 report’ revealed that 62% of adults and 92% of 16 to 24-year-olds played online games on an electronic device, while smartphones were used for gaming by 39% of UK adults Where to find TAGactive? Well, we’ve already launched one arena at Lammas Leisure Centre, but February will see White Oak Leisure Centre and Stratford Leisure Centre open their fast-paced and fun spaces. Lorenzo Clark, contract manager, said: “TAGactive bridges the worlds of activity, gaming and technology, and we’re confident it will encourage new sections of the community to engage in exercise. “This is something which people of all ages and abilities can enjoy, and is sure to result in healthy competition between friends, family, colleagues or classmates.” Cllr Rachel Madden, Ashfield District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are so excited to be bringing TAGactive to Lammas Leisure Centre. As the only one of its kind in the area, it really does bring the fun factor to exercise.”
TAGACTIVE NOW AVAILABLE AT LAMMAS LEISURE CENTRE The flagship Lammas Leisure Centre, our newly refurbished building run in partnership with Ashfield District Council, opened its doors to the public in January this year. Packed to the rafters with state-of-the-art equipment and the latest fitness innovation. The site is part of an overall £22.5million investment in facilities in Ashfield. The TAGactive arena sits alongside another exciting new feature for the centre, the soft play area, in the former sports hall. The soft play area with zones for juniors and toddlers, as well as a party area, and can cater for up to 160 children at a time. Both facilities were available from the first week of January, with hundreds of attendees trialling to the new TAGactive and soft play area in the first week!
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EVERYONE ACTIVE NEWS
FREE SWIMMING LESSONS FOR LOCAL CHARITY HOME-START Our Watford Leisure Centre Woodside has teamed up with local charity Home-Start to deliver free swimming lessons to vulnerable families. The centre, managed in partnership with Watford Borough Council, launched the scheme last week with Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers. Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers is an independent charity committed to improving the welfare of families who are victims of domestic abuse, poverty and mental health in Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere. Families who are working with Home-Start are eligible for a free adult and child six-week swimming course at Watford Leisure Centre Woodside. Since the programme launched last week, we’ve already seen several families sign up. Sport and Physical Activity Development Manager, Leanne Rodriguez-Reid, said: “Here at Everyone Active, we are passionate about engaging people of all ages and backgrounds in physical activity and strive to provide fair and equal opportunities to all, so we’re proud to offer these free sessions.
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“The six week programme will go a long way in teaching vulnerable families potentially life-saving skills that they may never had chance to learn before. We are hopeful that this will also have a positive impact on the participants’ physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing.” Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, added: “Learning to swim is an essential life skill, but unfortunately, in some cases it is not accessible to everyone due to certain situations. I’m pleased that we can offer free swimming sessions to these families and provide them with the opportunity to get active and improve their health and wellbeing through this initiative.”
TRACKMARK HONOUR FOR MIDDLESBROUGH SPORTS VILLAGE Having received the top award from governing body UK Athletics, the centre is officially recognised as having well-managed, compliant facilities which are accessible to participants of all abilities. The Everyone Active - SLM centre, managed in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, boasts an eight-lane 400m track, a 10-lane 100m track and four long jump pits.
Contract Manager, Paul Ayre, said: “This is a huge boost for athletics in the local community and demonstrates to athletes, officials, coaches, parents and hirers that the venue is well managed, well maintained and accessible to everyone.” Councillor Cllr Mieka Smiles, Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor and Executive member for Culture & Communities, said: “In awarding TrackMark accreditation, UK Athletics are confirming that we have athletics facilities on a par with any across the UK. They are already treasured by the communities they serve and have everything it takes to produce the stars of the future.”
TrackMark is a quality assurance scheme for outdoor track and field facilities, which aims to raise standards of athletics provision and provide safe, enjoyable environments for athletes. Ed Hunt, England Athletics’ National Facilities and Planning Manager, said: “This is great news, not just for Middlesbrough but for the whole North East region. Middlesbrough Sports Village is a fantastic venue and the operator Everyone Active has clearly demonstrated through their TrackMark submission that the facility is well managed and maintained.”
NEW YEAR HONOURS FOR EVERYONE ACTIVE COLLEAGUE Contract Manager Tom Fletcher, 44, was awarded British Empire Medals (BEM) in the New Year Honours 2022. The area contract manager, worked with Havering Council to set up a support hub at Hornchurch Sports Centre - which has been replaced by Harrow Lodge - in March 2020 to meet the needs of the local community with the outbreak of Covid-19. With support from the council and a selection of furloughed colleagues, Tom set up a socially-distanced and Covid-secure warehouse that operated seven days a week in order to provide food and PPE packages to Havering residents in need. In total, he and his team delivered 1,640 parcels and donated 32,000 items to food banks and charities, while giving about one million items of PPE to care homes and frontline services. Tom Fletcher said: “It’s very humbling and a tremendous honour to be recognised, but I’m seeing it more as recognition for the whole team’s efforts during the pandemic.”
LEISURE CENTRES LABELLED ‘OUTSTANDING’ AFTER QUEST ASSESSMENT Our centres were among the first facilities in the country to achieve the accolade since the national lockdown. The sites, Spelthorne Leisure Centre and Watford Leisure Centre Central, managed in partnership with Spelthorne Borough Council and Watford Borough Council, respectively, were recognised for the highquality services delivered by staff and the top-class facilities on offer to customers at the centres. In addition, the evaluation acknowledged significant efforts to engage the community and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals through fun and affordable activities. Karl Miles, Contract Manager, said: “We are really pleased to have been recognised by Quest. This is testament to the ongoing hard work and passion of our colleagues to providing a top-class service.
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“It’s great that local people can rest assured they will be getting the best service when they use our facilities.” Cllr Sandra Dunn, Chair of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee: “I know that the team have worked extremely hard to offer a first-class service despite the challenges of the last eighteen months and this has been reflected in the complimentary feedback from Quest.”
OUR FUNDRAISING FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT £100,000 FUNDRAISING TARGET ACHIEVED FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Now in our third-year of the partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, we have helped to raise more than £100,000 for the charity. The partnership launched in August 2019 and has seen Everyone Active’s colleagues and customers at more than 200 leisure centres get involved in fundraising events and challenges to raise funds and awareness for the charity. In the most recent fundraising event, a team of colleagues and customers joined forces to complete an epic 24- hour swim at Uttoxeter Leisure Centre. The challenge began at 5pm on December 19th, with Uttoxeter Town Mayor Councillor Chris Sylvester announcing the start, and individuals being split into 30-minute slots in a bid to complete as many lengths as possible. The team of swimmers achieved an overall distance of 4,691 lengths – a mammoth total of 73 miles, whilst raising more than £1,000. Everyone Active’s group development director, Ben Beevers said: “Thanks to the support of our colleagues and customers at leisure facilities across the country, we are delighted to have raised a phenomenal amount of money and to have made a real difference to those affected by cancer.”
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A MESSAGE FROM NICKI GIBSON, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP MANAGER AT MACMILLAN A huge thank you to Everyone Active and your partners for the unwavering support for Macmillan throughout 2021. During a year that was so challenging for many with the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Everyone Active raised over £30,000 – which is just fantastic! Thank you!
The Macmillan Support Line provides easily accessible, free information and support to people with cancer. With a call to just one number, our staff can answer questions about cancer types and treatments, provide practical and financial support, or just listen if someone needs to talk.
This achievement was only possible through the incredible enthusiasm and engagement of colleagues and members across Everyone Active. This year we have seen funds raised through a keepie uppie challenge, Go Green for Halloween, Festive dressup, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, family fun days, raffles and bake sales. And knowing how colleagues like to take on a challenge 2021 was no exception with funds raised for Macmillan through running 26.2 miles of the London marathon and a 100km Ultra, cycling 205miles chasing the sun and a 24-hour swim!
Macmillan is doing whatever it takes to support the 3 million people, and their families, who are living with and affected by cancer. We’re at the end of the phone. We keep pushing every day to do whatever it takes to ensure people with cancer get the support they need to live life as fully as they can, whether that’s with physical concerns, how they feel, money worries, or something different altogether. But we can’t do this without the generosity of our incredible supporters like Everyone Active.
Since our partnership officially began in August 2019, Everyone Active has raised an amazing £107,000! Which could help fund 272 hours of support from our Cancer Information and Support team on the Macmillan Support Line, helping 5,732 people who need practical and emotional support, or help to navigate cancer services.
Nicki Gibson, Macmillan’s Corporate Partnership Manager
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We are so proud of what our partnership has achieved, thank you for helping Macmillan to do whatever it takes for people living with cancer. Remember, if you need us our Support Line team can be reached daily on 0808 808 0000, 8:00am – 8:00pm
If you have any questions about this newsletter or would like to offer any ideas about how we can improve it, please email: newsletter@everyoneactive.com