Edinburgh Leisure has unveiled their September offer, designed to help thousands of new customers to try new activities and get more active this autumn.

With recent research highlighting the dangers of inactivity, the not-for-profit company, which manages City of Edinburgh’s Council leisure services is offering new members joining in September, a free month in October.

With 30+ venues including 10 swimming pools, 15 gyms and 700+ fitness classes per week, Edinburgh Leisure is the ‘biggest club in town’ providing the widest range of fitness classes, state of the art facilities and community based programmes across the capital, creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more.

Graeme Renwick, Marketing Officer at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re passionate about providing opportunities and support for people to participate in physical activities and sport, whatever their age and stage.

“And for those joining in September, they’re going to be so busy with all the wonderful facilities that Edinburgh Leisure has on offer across the city centre that we’re urging them to keep October free, as well as giving them that month for free.”

From 25 August, new joiners will get one month free (October) when they join before the end of September. Existing members who refer a friend, who then joins, will receive £30 cash back.

With adult memberships starting from as little as £29.90, there is a range of packages, including swim, fitness, gym and climbing.

Many of Edinburgh Leisure’s gyms have had a recent refurbishment including Drumbrae, Leith Victoria and Dalry and Warrender have had new gym equipment addes.

Edinburgh Leisure gyms have the latest state of the art equipment including some of the newest cardiovascular machines; offer over 750 fitness classes per week including Les Mills Programmes; and have five modernised Victorian pools and the Royal Commonwealth Pool in their portfolio. They also launched Clip ‘n Climb at Edinburgh’s International Climbing Centre at Ratho, the first of its kind in Scotland in March 2016.

To get inspired with hundreds of ways to get active, visit www.edinburghleisure.co.uk, like Edinburgh Leisure on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

8. AW WalkingA relaxed, informal information afternoon and dementia friendly walk day for people to learn more about services for people living with dementia, is being held at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh on Monday, 28 August.

Organised by Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well project, Police Scotland, Fire Scotland, Paths for All, and other third sector agencies, the aim of the event is to showcase the services available across to the city to anyone living or affected by dementia, including carers and family. Various representatives from these organisations will be on hand to discuss exercise options, fire prevention and personal safeguarding.

A free dementia friendly walk, led by a specialist walk leader from Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well scheme and Paths For All, will take place from 1.30pm-2.15pm in the Botanic Gardens, which is free to join, with no sign-up required.

Anyone interested in joining in the walk, including carers, should arrive at the John Hope Gateway (West Gate) from 12.45pm. Light refreshments will be available in the Botanics Cottage after the walk, with the opportunity to discuss with representatives from the third sector agencies about the types of services on offer, in an informal environment.

Audrey McKinven, Ageing Well Project Officer at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Edinburgh Leisure is all about providing opportunities for anyone to get active and stay active, no matter what the individual’s ability. Walking is such an accessible way to improve health and wellbeing but for those living or affected by dementia, it can be a daunting prospect.
“We have a range of Ageing Well Health Walks to suit most people’s needs, from a 30 minute stroll to a moderate 90 minute walk. We also have two dementia friendly walks, with specially trained walk leaders, who understand the needs and requirements of these group of people. Not only is it an easy and cheap way to improve fitness, but it’s a great way to socialise too and to meet like-minded people.”
Ian Findlay, Paths for All Chief Officer said: “We are delighted to be working with Edinburgh Leisure to establish dementia friendly walking groups in the city. We know that there are lots of barriers stopping people living with dementia getting out, enjoying the outdoors, meeting people and keeping active. Joining a led walk is a really good way for people to overcome these and feel the benefits of walking. Spending time outdoors in nature can help to relieve stress, increase self-esteem, produce vitamin D, and exercises the brain, helping with memory and cognitive functioning. Even 10 to 15 minutes of daily walking outdoors can improve the overall wellbeing of people living with dementia.”
An estimated 90,000 people have dementia in Scotland, with around 3,200 of these people under the age of 65.

Edinburgh Leisure has recently been awarded a grant of £189,000 to become dementia friendly. The money, which comes from the Life Changes Trust, will be used to develop health and well-being activities for people affected by dementia across the city.

Edinburgh Leisure will develop a range of physical activities for people living with early onset and mild to moderate dementia and their carers, so that they can become – and remain – physically active.

Edinburgh Leisure’s specialist team will work with dementia communities to offer a free outreach service, providing tailored physical programmes for people living with dementia. These will be held in either Edinburgh Leisure’s own venues, in partner venues or in community settings.

The project, called Movement for Memories, will support people living with dementia and their carers to access physical activities, such as swimming, gym sessions, golf and tennis, as well as attend sessions which are specifically designed to be dementia friendly. These will include group walks, dancing, gardening, and walking football.

Projects like Movement for Memories are part of Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities Programme that use the power of physical activity and sport to change and improve the lives of over 5,200 people each year who are affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities and disabilities.

_MG_0975Edinburgh Leisure is offering non-members the opportunity to try out their facilities with a free 7 Day Pass.

The offer runs from Friday, 18 August and runs until 10 September 2017.

During this time customers can pick up a pass online via the Edinburgh Leisure website or in participating venues, giving them seven days unlimited consecutive free access to gyms, swimming pools (including their saunas and Turkish baths) and classes, subject to class space*.

With 30+ venues including 10 swimming pools, 15 gyms and 700+ fitness classes per week, Edinburgh Leisure is the ‘biggest club in town’ providing the widest range of fitness classes, state of the art facilities and community based programmes across the capital, creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more.

IMG_2547Edinburgh Leisure is hosting a series of FREE under 5’s open days on Saturday 5th August at:

  • Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre Tennis (afternoon)
  • The Meadows Tennis (morning)
  • Royal Commonwealth Pool Gym nippers, swimming, dance, Jump & Dive (morning), magician, balloon modelling, tattoos, hook a duck
  • Tumbles at Portobello Gym nippers (morning)

Experts agree the best way to help kids enjoy healthy, active lives is to start as you mean to go on. And at Edinburgh Leisure there’s lots of activities that wee ones, and their parents, can enjoy starting from birth through to 5 years old.

There’ll be 25-minute taster sessions to try out in swimming, gym nippers, jump and dive, tots tennis and dance for the toddlers. It’s possible to try just one or a variety but booking in advance is recommended.

Click here to see the full programme list and time slots available.

To book your space, contact the relevant centres;

_ABP4583_HDRWith Edinburgh’s numerous festivals about to begin, festival goers and workers can keep up their energy levels and enjoy their fittest summer ever.

Edinburgh Leisure has launched its ‘Summer Pass’, with everything you need for a sport filled summer, with something for everyone to keep active and healthy throughout the heady days of the festivals.

The ‘Summer Pass’, which goes on sale on Friday, 30 June, offers unlimited access to the city’s 15 gyms, 10 swimming pools, over 700 Fitness Classes, saunas, steam rooms, Turkish Baths and climbing at the EICA for £59 only, plus 25% off lots of other activities including golf and racquet sports. The pass lasts six weeks from the date of purchase, with the last day a customer can purchase a pass being 31 August 2017.

A ‘Junior Summer Pass’ is also available and costs £39 for Under 18’s and juniors get access to racquet sports and golf for this price, on a turn up and play basis before 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Booking in advance is not possible. The Junior Pass will expire on 20 August 2017. (The price will be pro-rata after 30 June).

James Stockton, Sales Manager at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Anyone lucky enough to be in Edinburgh for the summer with its various festivals knows it is always a fantastic atmosphere, and it takes energy to take in so many shows and party into the small hours.

“We’re inviting festival-goers and workers, visitors to the city and juniors to be inspired and keep their energy levels high by keeping fit and active throughout the summer.

“Classes like Zumba or Sh’bam are brilliant fun and a great way to get you in the mood to party, while a workout at the gym will boost your energy for the night ahead. We’ve also got some quick hit X-press gym classes, which used high intensity training (HIT) methods with explosive bursts of speed and activity to achieve a total workout in a short period of time, as 30 minutes. And if you have really overdone it, you can spend the morning chilling out with a swim and sauna, or even the Turkish Baths at Portobello.”

For further information simply pop into any Edinburgh Leisure venue across the city or visit www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Edinburgh Leisure is inviting people to sign up to their first ever public fundraising event – the ‘Jump In Swim Challenge’, which begins on September 1.

Swimmers who take up the challenge will stroke, crawl and paddle for 30 days whilst raising vital funds to give local nursery school pupils affected by poverty the chance to learn to swim, an opportunity that many of these children do not have.

The ‘Jump In Swim Challenge’, which is open to anyone to take part, invites people to swim a total distance of 5km or 10km in September. For those looking to be a little bit more adventurous, they can take in the 10×10 Challenge and swim their 10km across Edinburgh Leisure’s 10 pools over the course of September.

Edinburgh Leisure Chief Executive June Peebles said: “every child should learn to swim; it’s fun and a great way to be active, as well as being a potentially life-saving skill. Swimming is also an activity that you can do throughout your life – as demonstrated by the age range of our swim customers! All money raised by Jump In challengers will enable Edinburgh Leisure to provide nursery school children the chance to learn to swim. As little as £40 will fund one child through their 8 weeks of swimming lessons, with a target of 500 children being set for the project. I encourage anyone who is interested in a new challenge to Jump In and contribute to this wonderful event.“

Since 2012, Jump In has helped 1,500 nursery school children become safer and more confident around the water. The project works with local authority nursery schools situated in areas of deprivation. Children get a free block of swimming lessons and the chance to go swimming with their family for just £1. This is followed by six months of discounted lessons, giving parents an affordable way for their child to become a more confident swimmer.

Are you interested in taking part in the challenge? You can register online at www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/jumpinswimchallenge or pop in to any Edinburgh Leisure venue for details.

LifeguardEdinburgh Leisure is supporting the Drowning Prevention Charity’s campaign, #BeaLifeguard to find the next generation of everyday heroes.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) new campaign aims to encourage as many people as possible to get involved with lifeguarding and Edinburgh Leisure is
running pool lifeguard courses throughout the summer as part of this campaign.

Edinburgh Leisure is calling all potential lifeguards in Edinburgh to enrol on one of their National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) courses.

RLSS UK’s NPLQ is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and Ireland with more than 95 per cent of all pool lifeguards qualified through RLSS UK. The RLSS UK NPLQ is also internationally recognised with over 90,000 RLSS UK pool lifeguards worldwide.

Louise Findlay, Swim Development Specialist at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Lifeguards protect people every day and are our everyday heroes. We want as many people as possible to enrol onto our courses to give people the skills to keep our customers safe in our swimming pools.

“Being a lifeguard offers a flexible career option, especially for students who can use their skills to earn extra money at to help fund their time at college or university.”

Martin Symcox, Director of IQL UK, RLSS UK’s trading subsidiary, and Water Safety Management said: “We want to make this summer the summer that people learn a new skill and get involved in lifeguarding.

“We have released a film to encourage as many people as possible to become a pool lifeguards and become an #EveryDayHero. The film highlights the varied nature of a lifeguard role.

“Becoming a pool lifeguard not only gives you the skills to save lives but also gives opportunities to work abroad, start a career in the leisure industry or a great way for students to fund their studies.”

Edinburgh Leisure run RLSS UK NPLQ courses throughout the year. To enrol on a course, contact: Chris Sneddon at Edinburgh Leisure, chrissneddon@edinburghleisure.co.uk

Join In 1In response to a recent report that highlighted that 40 per cent of children in the most deprived areas were overweight or obese in the last year, compared to 27 per cent living in more affluent areas, Edinburgh Leisure is launching a range of free and low-cost summer activities to encourage children from all backgrounds to get active.

The activities on offer are being delivered by qualified coaches from Edinburgh Leisure and a range of partners, including Edina Hibs, Craigmillar Community Sport Hub and Street Games. All ages and abilities are encouraged to come along and join in the fun.

What: Free Saturday Night Soccer – Simply Turn up as a team, or as an individual and get involved.
Dates: Every Saturday night from 24 June – 12 August 2017
Time: 6:30 – 8:00
Where: Meggatland, 3G Pitch
To Book: email communitysporthubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Cost: Free

What: Sport in the Park – Open to boys and girls aged 7-12 years – fun filled sports sessions. And it’s not just for the kids – free fitness bootcamp for parents too!
Dates: Every Wednesday, 5 July – 9 August 2017
Time: 13:00 – 15:30
Where: Cairntows Park, Duddingston Road West, EH16 4AW
To Book: email communitysporthubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Cost: Free

What: Multi-sports camp – Join us at Meggetland Sports Complex for a fun filled week of sport
Dates: Monday, 17 – Friday, 21 July 2017
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Where: Meggetland Sports Complex, Edinburgh EH14 1AS
To Book: email communitysporthubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Cost: £30 per week

What: Summer Soccer Camp, in association with Edina Hibs – open to all players, boys and girls, aged between 4 & 11 years. All abilities welcome
Dates: Monday, 24 July – Thursday, 27 July
Time: 13:00-15:00
Where: Jack Kane Sport Centre, 208 Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh EH16 4ND
To Book: visit Edina Hibs Facebook page / www.edinahibs.co.uk and complete the online page
Cost: Free

What: Fit and Fuelled Multi-sports Camps – a week of free sport and physical activity sessions for 6-12 year olds. Fun filled with different activities each day. Healthy meal provided daily
Dates; Monday, 24 July – Friday, 28 July
Time: 10:30 – 12:30
Where: Jack Kane Sport Centre, 208 Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh EH16 4ND
To Book: communitysporthubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Cost: Free

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk