In Touch Summer 2021

a community

more often

more active

in TOUCH oldham ACTIVE newsletter

Summer date: ‘21

Your New Staff Newsletter Filled with information for upcoming events, competitions, news and staff comments

SAVE THE DATE Save the date Sunday 10th October 2021. Staff awards night, at Smokies Park Hotel, Ashton Road Oldham. Speak to our Contact team to book your tickets now for £15 (£25 for guests).

For more information go to page 3.

Welcome to the first edition of ‘In Touchʼ.

In our most recent staff welfare questionnaire and occasionally on exit interviews “more communication” is a regular theme, so this newsletter is hopefully part of an improvement in that area. The aim of the newsletter is to keep you up to speed with how the company is performing, what changes are in the pipeline, and a whole host of other bits and pieces you will hopefully find of interest. This first edition is filled with information along with competitions. If you have other ideas for useful or interesting content, please donʼt hesitate to let us know via email (Paige.

Brierley@ocll.co.uk).

Stuart Lockwood, Cheif Executive.

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MY REFLECTIONS ON COVID AND HOW IT WILL CHANGE HOW WE WORK GOING FORWARD Stu ar t L o c k wo o d C heif Exe c ut ive

Despite the recent lifting of restrictions, somehow it doesnʼt yet feel like weʼve arrived back at “normality”.

We are nearing the second half of holiday season, yet no oneʼs really sure where we can go and how things will be when we get there. There always seems to be ominous warnings related to the virus in the news each morning whether that be about new variants or the prospect of further lockdowns after the summer. Even if you have been lucky enough not to be tragically rocked by the loss of a loved one, the pandemic has affected us all. It has revealed the best and worst from members of society.

Many have made financial sacrifices and all of us have missed the social interactions we took for granted and didnʼt really realise how important they were until they were taken away in an attempt to control infections. I have my own long list of things Iʼve missed, as will each and every one of you, but Iʼd like to reflect instead on what has pleased me most.

Cooking meals for the homeless, working as part of the foodbank, door-step engagement to help fight Covid, delivering groceries to the elderly, stepping forward to help deliver testing and vaccines, and closer to home with delivering indoor classes outdoors are just some of the examples that will live long in the memory for me.

But as Iʼve said many times before, “change is the only constant.” This newsletter will help serve as a window into what things are being planned now for implementation in the future.

At the moment, weʼre focussed very much on maximising income and doing our best to meet unmet demand, particularly in fitness The support OCL has provided to the Council and other and swimming lessons. This means a renewed key stakeholders during lockdown has strengthened our focus on what customers should expect when relationship, which in turn has given them confidence to they come to us to sign up to a membership. agree our 5 year contract extension. On the down-side, that was conditional on us making savings of £250k going Once these changes are finalised, we will be rolling out training so that all staff are on forward, which has proved a tough ask and weʼve been board and are equipped to deliver a consistent forced to restructure our teams and adapt our ways of working to achieve these efficiencies. But individually and approach. We are finalising a transfer of collectively, the sacrifices you have all made have directly ownership of GloGym and will be recycling all the excellent fitness equipment back into contributed to securing the contract and so the future OCL at Chadderton and Failsworth, as well as of the company going forward. Other trusts in a similar developing bespoke Spin Studios at both these position have fallen; both Wigan and Stockport are no longer operating as a Leisure Trust and across the UK that sites. And the final thing to flag in this edition is the plan to transfer both the School Swimming position is sadly not uncommon. service and the Sports Development team from the Council across into OCL in the next couple The real highlight for me though, is not how well you have coped with whatʼs been thrown your way, but how a of months. As I said, change is ongoing …but great number of you have stepped up and gone the extra thatʼs what keeps things interesting! mile.

2021

Staff Awards This October 10th 2021

Weʼre looking forward to finally coming together with our fantastic teams. The Staff Awards are going ahead this October at Smokies Park Hotel, and we are looking forward to seeing you all there. Make sure you buy your ticket for the night to see who the winners are. This years shortlisted employees are as follow.

SHORTLISTED NOMINEES...

NEW STARTER *Simon Blair *Casie May Davis-Rice *Katie Lodge INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR

RAISING THE BAR *Paul Harrison *Jo Parry *Louise Walton

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2020

Tickets are £15 (£25 for guests). Speak to our contact team about tickets LEADER OF THE YEAR *Janet Appleyard *Stuart Lockwood *Jo Smallwood

TEAM OF THE YEAR *Covid-19 Site Working Team *Chadderton Wellbeing Centre

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

*Sarah Matthews *Jo Parry *Neil Wise

*Lesley Clegg *Jamie Smith *Kelly Tattersall

2021 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR *Lesley Blyth and Brenda Edwards *Kate Foster *Phil Kelly

CUSTOMER SERVICE *Karron Ballentine *Ellice Mills *Kelly Tattersall

Dan Welsh

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Day In The Life Andrea Tudor

Customer Contact Team Representative My role as a Customer Contact Team representative is to deliver a high quality level of customer service as the first point of contact and promote our products and services on a day to day basis.

Our centre is open 8am-8pm weekdays and 8am-4.30pm weekends and no two days are the same. A typical day working in the contact centre consists of dealing with customer enquiries via incoming telephone calls, emails, live chat and social

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media platforms and responding within given timescales.

This can include membership enquiries, booking classes, processing payments and refunds, checking availability, prices and timetables, processing membership freeze requests, topping up and changing children’s swimming lessons on Learn2 and liaising with both DFC regarding customers direct debits and other colleagues across OCL, to name a few, so a high level of product knowledge is required.

Staff Profile Of The Month Katie Lodge

Assistant Manager Saddleworth Pool and Leisure Centre

A bit about me:

I have a pug so I enjoy walking in my spare time

Favourite food Curry

Favourite film Pretty Woman

Dream job

My dream job when I was younger was to be in the ambulance service or a crime scene investigator.

3 words to describe me

Outgoing, trustworthy, loud

I also deal with the booking, invoicing and payment processes involved with the block bookings at Failsworth Leisure centre.

These last 12 months have been a very busy and challenging time on everyone, and the Contact Centre was often a hub of NONSTOP calls and emails, but working together within a fantastic, albeit sometimes crazy team, along with the support of colleagues and management got us all through it, although maybe with a few extra grey hairs !

I started with OCL just as the country went into lockdown so it was a bit of a strange start for me, I helped out with the Oldham foodbank and worked throughout all of the lockdowns helping out with the General Manager. I felt like this was good for me as it meant I had the experience of all of the centres and I got to meet all of the General Manager and work closely with them.

Now we have just re-opened fully I am able to experience Saddleworth to its full potential, it is great to be able to see the site busy.

I have over 8 yearsʼ experience within leisure.

D

evelopments

Saddleworth Pool

By Glenn Tolan

June 2021 – Chadderton Wellbeing Centre – during June the Conditioning Suite was converted in to a ‘fit for purpose’ Spin Studio, including a new music system, staging, lighting system and brand graphics.

May & June 2021 – Radclyffe Athletics Centre – during May and June the track at Radclyffe was totally resurfaced giving the facility a major face lift. This will ensure an outstanding athletics track provision will be in place in Oldham for the next 8 – 10 years.

March – June 2021 – Saddleworth Pool & Leisure Centre – From March until June the pool had a full refurb including new tiling and associated pipework and cosmetic work September 2021 – Failsworth Leisure Centre – In September the current ‘Kickin Fit’ facility FINANCE & NUMBERS will become a dual use space

By Steven Holden to include a Spin Studio • Financial performance to June 2021. and an upgraded • This will be a challenging year and only likely young person’s financially viable through this year Council support with circa £0.8m available as customer income is gym provision with much reduced from prior levels. updated cardio• Positively we have only needed to use £22.5k of vascular equipment. this support so far.

• • • •

•

Income for the first quarter is under budget, but is offset by expenditure savings in the same period leaving a net positive position against budget.

Membership and swim lesson income at around 63% of pre-Covid best at reopening.

Memberships improved to 67% and Swim lessons improved to 76% by June and both are improving in July.

Continuing improvement in income attainment across the board is needed as the budgets assume moving much closer to pre-Covid levels towards the end of the financial year.

Savings including at Senior Management level (with a full year £250k) are being made to ensure continuing financial security this year and beyond this year and with a contract extension in the process of being agreed for a further 5 years from March 2023 to 2028.

Chadderton Spin Studio

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RUN FOR CHARITY D onn a Z acy Boo Anderson Donna Anderson a Leisure Attendant and Swim Teacher at Royton Leisure Centre is looking for support. Donna is raising money by running and walking a planned 100miles for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Childrenʼs Charity and any contributions from her colleagues will make a great impact, whether you donate £5 or £500. Every little bit helps!

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Every day brings new challenges at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Every day, 619 children and young people from across the UK arrive for life-changing treatments. Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrenʼs Charity raises money to enable the hospital to provide world class care and to pioneer new treatments and cures for childhood illnesses. The hospital needs all the help it can get and through fundraising through challenges like Donna is completing allows the Hospital complete some fantastic work.

If you want to donate to support Donna please head to her Facebook donation page https://www.facebook.com/ donate/633910320900155/ OR @Donna Zacy Boo Anderson

TEAM ENGAGEMENT

Team engagment are meetings held every month by a representative from every key area and site in the company. These meetings are a chance for everyone to get updates on the company perfomance along with policy reviews. Itʼs also a chance for people to bring up any issues or challenges they may have within their area of work or site.

The Team Engagement meetings follow a set agenda which includes policy reviews, key updates, operational, financial and health and safety updates. The agenda and papers for every meeting are circulated via Staffmis and the minutes of the meeting are circulated in the same way after every meeting so everybody is aware of the content and has the opportunity to input into each meeting.

HAVE YOUR SAY! HAVE YOUR SAY HAVE YOUR SAY

BANK HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR Bank Holidays 2021

Get your holidays in!

These are the times we are open during the festive holidays

Aug Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

Dec Xmas December 25th Boxing day 26th December Monday 28th December Friday 1st January

Oldham Failsworth Chadd Royton Sadd 7.30am2.30pm

7.30am2.30pm

closed

Oldham Failsworth Chadd

7.30am- 7.30am2.30pm 2.30pm

Royton Sadd

Radclyffe

closed

Radclyffe

closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed

closed closed closed closed

7.30pm- 7.30am2.30pm 2.30pm

closed

closed closed

closed closed closed closed

7.30am- 7.30am2.30pm 2.30pm

closed

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PRODUCT RELAUNCH Oldham Active

Gymnastics As the Covid pademic hit us back early in 2020 we had to suspend our Gymnastic offer. During lockdown we have been working on developing a new and improved offer.

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The old Beth Tweddle Gymnastic provision has gone, and we have recruited a new lead coach, Jade Dunthorn, who with the team, has developed a new Gymnastic programme which will be launched this summer. The new programme will cater for toddlers through to 5-7 year classes in a recreational, fun capacity.

The programme will be available across 3 sites, Failsworth, Oldham and Radclyffe. With the main programme being opporated at Failsworth and Radclyffe where the bigger apperatus will be based. Oldham ,and in the future, Saddleworth will cater for the little ones where we focus on Mobility, Movement, Co-ordination play and fun is the aim and these sessons will use mats, small aids and foam equipment.

Trampolining will also continue at Failsworth and will sync alongside the Gymnastic programme. We know this offer is hugely exciting and are certain it will be successful and become a key part of our offer at Oldham Active.

Meet Our New Lead Coach Jade Dunthorn How I got into gymnastics: My Dad took me to gymnastics lessons when I was 6Years old because all I wanted to do was climb door frames, swing on anything possible and jump of everything in the house I participated in my local club till I had to make the decision to stop due to a back injury outside of

gymnastics.

When I started coaching: Gymnastics has always been my passion and in 2016 I was offered a coaching opportunity working for Beth Tweddle Gymnastics and Iʼve never looked back since.

Ive coached in Local schools, competitions, leisure centres/venues and in 2019 I was offered a Head Coach position at Beth Tweddleʼs Centre this gave me an opportunity to be a part of the start up of Beth Tweddleʼs first Purpose-built centre helping me to understand what is needed from the bottom to the top getting a New centre started and being able to input my ideas and creativity.

My coaching Qualifications: Activity Instructor Gymnastics for all level 2, UKCC Level 1, working towards UKCC Womenʼs Level 2, Safeguarding, First Aid, Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity and Risk Assessment for Clubs.

I believe learning is a continuous process there is always something new to learn and I will continue to do so for aslong as I am coaching.

Why I Coach?

Being a coach brings me so much pride and feeling of achievement, Im able to still be apart of the sport that I love and help others to achieve above and beyond their own expectations. Seeing gymnasts happy and leaving each session with smiles on their faces is a reward like no other.

My favourite saying is: Nothing is impossible just have fun and do YOUR best!

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Minute Home Cardio Workouts

Rocket jumps: 2 sets of 15 to 24 repetitions (reps): For rocket jumps, stand with your feet hip-width apart, legs bent and hands on your thighs.

Jump up, driving your hands straight above your head and extending your entire body. Land softly, reposition your feet and repeat.

For more of a challenge, start in a lower squat position and hold a weight or a bottle of water in both hands at the centre of your chest.

Star jumps or squats: 2 sets of 15 to 24 reps: To do a star jump, stand tall with your arms by your side and knees slightly bent.

Jump up, extending your arms and legs out into a star shape in the air.

Land softly, with your knees together and hands by your side.

Keep your abs tight and back straight during the exercise.

Squats:

As a less energetic alternative, do some squats. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands down by your sides or stretched out in front for extra balance.

Lower yourself by bending your knees until theyʼre nearly at a right angle, with your thighs parallel to the floor.

Keep your back straight and donʼt let your knees extend over your toes.

Tap backs: 2 sets of 15 to 24 reps:

To start tap backs, step your right leg back and swing both arms forward, then repeat with the opposite leg in a continuous rhythmic movement.

Look forward and keep your hips and shoulders facing forward. Donʼt let your front knee extend over your toes as you step back.

For more of a challenge, switch legs by (also known as spotty dog), Burpees: 2 sets of 15 to 24 jumping remembering to keep the knees soft as you land. Your back heel needs to be off the reps: floor at all times.

To do a burpee from a standing position (1), drop into a squat with your hands on the ground (2).

Kick your feet back into a push-up position (3). Jump your feet back into a squat (4) and jump up with your arms extending overhead (5).

For an easier burpee, donʼt kick out into the push-up position and stand up instead of jumping.

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N

Lockdown Babies

ew Arrivals

Simon Blair Jenson Oswald Blair Born 14th November 2020 9 Lb 8oz

Gemma Mcdaid Born 9th March 2021

Mat Longden Max Longden Born 20th August 2020 8lb 1oz

Zoe Carter Harley Olivia Carter Born 18th May 2021 9lb 6oz

Elsie-Mae Walsh

Who is this little chap that could sell snow to an eskimo

BABY 2

BABY 1

BABY 3

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This cheeky chick has a sister in the company, and shares her name with royalty

A Simpsons youngest shares the same name as this red heads youngest Y PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PL

AYPLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY

HOW TO PLAY AND ENTER: Above are 3 baby photos of staff members from all around OCL. You must guess each staff member you think the baby picture belongs to and email your answers to: Paige.Brierley@ocll.co.uk

AY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLA

m

Guess that staff member by their baby photo

PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PL

s

COMPETITION

If you have any information or stories you would like to include in future staff newsletters then get in touch with your concepts and ideas.

Also let us know which parts were your favourite and which you didn’t like, we want your feedback! Email, Paige.Brierley@ocll.co.uk

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Job Opportunities the recent And Training Have Olympic golds Current job opportunities available with Oldham Active: • Aquatics Team Leader • Gym Instructor

• Parent and Baby Swim Teacher • Leisure Attendant

• Casual Fitness Instructor • Swim Teachers

If you are interested, please email hr@ocll.co.uk or head to www.oclactive.co.uk/vacancies for more information about these opportunities.

inspired you to teach future generations of olympic swimmers?

Free training Flexible hours Earn while you learn Career progression

We are offering free courses for people to train to become a swimming teacher. If you are interested email hr@ocll.co.uk or go to www.oclactive.co.uk/

Did You Know???

FACT 1 > There’s currently a nationwide shortage of swimming teachers which could see 600,000 children miss out on lessons.

FACT 2 > In the UK one child drowns every 20 hours.

w w w. o c l a c t i v e . c o . u k