Tower Hamlets brings leisure services back in-house to tackle barriers

The management of seven leisure centres in Tower Hamlets has been brought in-house to the council following the expiration of a management contract with facility operator GLL.

The new service, called Be Well, will take a “holistic view of health and wellbeing”, focusing on increasing participation and access for residents with a particular emphasis on women and girls, older adults and people at risk of, or living with, long-term conditions.

At launch, Be Well will offer a range of new benefits for residents, including: • free swimming for women and girls over 16 and men over 55 • access to six leisure centres under one membership • new fitness equipment and class programmes • health and wellbeing classes and programmes • upgrades to centres.

The council is also investing £55m in a new leisure centre and housing facility that will be built on the site of St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell.

Be Well will manage the council’s six leisure centres: John Orwell Sports Centre in Wapping, Whitechapel Sports Centre, Mile End Leisure Centre, York Hall Leisure Centre in Bethnal Green, Poplar Baths Leisure Centre and Gym and the Tiller Leisure Centre on the Isle of Dogs.

The seventh, St George’s Leisure Centre, is currently closed ahead of the new facility being built.

Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “The new service prioritises creating opportunities and increasing access to leisure services for those groups who have difficulty doing so – with a focus on women and girls.

“We have a high prevalence of people living with long-term conditions, alongside a high rate of children living with excess weight. Investing in leisure is one of many steps we are taking to tackle health inequalities and improve health outcomes for residents.”