Tag: Edinburgh Leisure

Coaching Academy set to give young people skills for life

During UK National Coaching Week (29 April – 5 May), Edinburgh Leisure, the leading sport and leisure provider in Edinburgh is on the hunt for young people to gain valuable coaching qualifications and gain new skills for the job market.

The Coaching Academy 2024 is targeted at young people aged 16-24 years and fully funded through Edinburgh Leisure’s Sports Development and Active Communities.   It will provide nationally recognised qualifications that enable successful learners to lead safe, purposeful, and enjoyable sport/physical activity within our programmes.

Gary Hocknull, Sports Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure explained:  “The Coaching Academy will assist young people to learn new skills for the job market, using the capacity of sport coaching to help transform their lives, increase motivation, encourage learning and support their personal development.”

The course is limited to 16 candidates with learning focussed on studying for a sport leadership qualification and sports specific coaching course qualifications.

Candidates will gain the SCQF Sports Leaders Level 5 qualification starting Monday 1 – Friday, 5 July at Meadowbank Sports Centre delivered by Edinburgh Leisure staff.

The Sports Leaders sessions uses sport to deliver fun and engaging physical activities with other attendees. Candidates will plan, lead, and evaluate sports/physical activity sessions over several tutored hours and then demonstrate their leadership skills as part of an assessment.

In Week 2, Monday 8th – Thursday 11th July, candidates will include National Governing Body Coach Education qualifications in Badminton, Netball, Athletics and Football. All dates must be attended.

After the end of the course, participants will be signposted to volunteering opportunities within sports venues and holiday programme provision, where they will be immersed in all aspects of the sport and leisure coaching environment and potentially future employment opportunities within Edinburgh Leisure, with all course candidates offered the opportunity of interview.

Registration is now open and interested candidates should apply by using the online registration form by 31st May 2024 at 5 pm.   Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the recruitment session on Friday, 14th June, with successful candidates confirmed bon Monday, 17th June 2024.

National Coaching Week (29 April – 5 May) celebrates the vital role coaches play in helping to inspire, support and develop athletes and runners of all abilities, age groups and backgrounds to fulfil their potential.

To apply:  https://rb.gy/kdejt7

Edinburgh Leisure supporting talented athletes

Demand for access to Edinburgh Leisure top-class sporting facilities from talented athletes is growing year on year, as participants look to get to their peak fitness in the hope of representing their county or country at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games.

The Edinburgh Talented Athlete Support Scheme (E TASS) is a City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure funded programme that represents a strong and unique partnership between talented athletes, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB’s) and the Scottish Institute of Sport Network (SISN).

E TASS aims to provide free access to Edinburgh Leisure’s gym, swimming pool and track venues, to support talented athletes to achieve more, develop to their full potential and accomplish world class performance levels.

Gary Hocknull, Sports Development Manager at Ediburgh Leisure explains: “Being able to deliver the E TASS programme supports Edinburgh Leisure’s values of providing opportunities and support to athletes to participate, progress and achieve in sport and makes a clear statement that we invest in athletes and sport at all levels.

“All athletes accepted onto E TASS enjoy free access to Edinburgh Leisure gyms, swimming pools, and athletics tracks for recovery, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and endurance training.

“Access is made available for athletes’ own individual training requirements and does not apply to club or National Governing Body squad training. Competition is tough with demand growing year on year. For 2024/2025, we received applications from 158 new, and 108 from existing athletes.”

With only 150 spaces available on ETASS, Edinburgh Leisure works closely with NGB’s and sportscotland to ensure our support reaches the right athletes.

Consideration is given to applicants in postcode areas identified through the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SMID). The performance levels of these athletes range from those beginning their elite sporting journey to those that have achieved success at international events.

Scottish number one at target shooting, Seonaid McIntosh, is supported by the E-TASS scheme and is hoping to medal in Paris. Seonaid said:  “Having the support of the ETASS scheme has been fundamental to my success in shooting as it complements my rifle training and improves my fitness with the ability to use Edinburgh Leisure’s fantastic sporting facilities across the city.” 

Seonaid McIntosh became the World Champion at the 2018 ISSF World Shooting Championships in the 50m Prone Rifle event.  In 2019 she became Britain’s most successful female rifle shooter of all time, winning five World Cup medals (including the first World Cup Gold to be won by a British Woman).

She also became the first British Woman to rank World #1 for the 50m Rifle Three Position event and became European Champion in the 300m Rifle Prone event with an equal World Record score.

Rory Brogan, a talented athlete and rugby player explained why E TASS has been crucial for his training: “The membership went really well in the way that it gave me a place to go for Strength and Conditioning. As a young person at school, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on gym memberships, so having this Athlete scheme massively helped boost that.

“Furthermore, the Edinburgh Leisure gym I went to at Meadowbank is great for athletes, as it has space for plyos, plenty of squat racks, etc. I made the Scotland U20 relay team, and we set the record when we competed down in Cardiff in August 2023. Furthermore, I got into the wider Scotland U18 rugby team.”

To qualify for E TASS athletes must be resident in Edinburgh and a member of an Edinburgh constituted sports club. The athlete must also represent their sport at any of the following standards:

  • Scottish Institute of Sport (SISN)
  • Scottish/British/European/World Championship Title Holder
  • Scottish or Great Britain Squad Member
  • Regional Development Squad

Edinburgh Leisure receives new funding for dementia programme

SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FOR MEMORIES PROGRAMME

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s leading sports and leisure provider, has received a significant grant from the Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity Fund to support their dementia programme.

Funded by Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Leisure has received £19,800 to support their Movement for Memories programme.

Sam Scott, Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure, welcomed the support saying: “We’re delighted and thankful to receive the grant.

“The funding will enable us to continue offering people with dementia in Edinburgh a range of opportunities to keep active, from 1:1 support from buddy volunteers to enjoy activities of their choice, to dementia friendly activities within our sports and leisure facilities, to our physical activity outreach service with community groups across the city.

“Edinburgh Leisure is always looking for volunteers to support people living with dementia. Our volunteers make a real difference by accompanying and supporting individuals with dementia to take part in a physical activity of their choice, like gym, golf, fitness classes, tennis, or swimming.

“Whatever the participant enjoys, your support will play a vital role in helping them enjoy their activity and improve their wellbeing. So, if you have an interest in health and physical activity, we’d love to hear from you.”

The funding will support people like 79-year-old David, who plays badminton with his buddy volunteer at Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre.

His sister and carer Julie said: “David used to play football professionally, so physical activity has always been a big part of his life. He wanted to keep active, but his dementia meant that he could no longer do it without extra support. 

“The change in him since he started playing badminton has been enormous. His short-term memory is poor, but he remembers how to play, and he hasn’t lost his competitive spirit. He comes out of the session like a new man – his spirits are lifted, he’s chattier, and often his memory seems to improve for a while. He’s almost like ‘enhanced David’ when I pick him up.”

Movement for Memories offers people at all stages of their dementia journey with a range of options to be active, from personalised one-to-one support to enjoy activities they previously enjoyed independently but need a helping hand with now, to a physical activity outreach service for local support groups to enable people to get active in familiar community settings like church halls or community centres. 

All participants referred to Movement for Memories receive an Edinburgh Leisure card providing 12-weeks free access to gym, swim, golf, tennis, and fitness classes followed by 9 months of subsidised access.

Not only does getting active help participants to maintain or improve their physical health, but it also helps them to improve their mental wellbeing, build social connections, remain integrated in their community and maintain independence for longer.

Dementia affects an estimated 8,000 people in Edinburgh and 90,000 people in Scotland, an estimated 3,000 of whom are under 65.

Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. It is an umbrella term that can be caused by a number of diseases which, over time, damage the brain, typically leading to deterioration in both brain and bodily health.

The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.

To find out more about Movement for Memories, visit: http://rb.gy/xeua2l

To find out more about being a Movement for Memories Buddy Volunteer, visit: http://rb.gy/nzsnp7

Strut Your Stuff at a Super Saturday Fitness Festival

Edinburgh Leisure is pumping up the volume with their first festival of fitness classes at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Saturday, 4th May 2024.

The Super Saturday Fitness Class Festival will be an opportunity to try over 15 different fitness classes on a Super Saturday Workout like no other.

You can work up a sweat with the crowds at popular high-octane favourites like Bodypump and Zumba or try out some new acts like Shapes. And if you prefer life in the slower lane, their relaxation stage will be offering more peaceful Yoga and Pilates sessions.

With activities starting from 9am across four different stages, there will be something for everyone. Spaces are limited so make sure to book your classes now online or on the app.

Entry is free for Edinburgh Leisure members and just £5 per class for non-members. All classes must be pre-booked.

Edinburgh Leisure offers more classes across the city than any other provider and they have recently unlocked their Fitness Class Membership to ensure customers have access to all the classes they want, wherever they’re at, in the city or in life.

Their Fitness Class Membership now offers full access to more than 750 fitness classes a week across all their venues.

And if you sign up before 31 May 2024, you can take advantage of their No Joining Fee Offer – available for a limited time only.

To join now, https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/join

To find out more about Super Saturday and to pre-book the fitness classes on offer, visit:  https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/super-saturday. 

If you’re on the Edinburgh Leisure app, click the Fitness Class Bookings or the Super Saturday Tile on the Meadowbank Sports Centre’s tile.

‘Come and Try Week’ with Edinburgh Leisure

It’s never too early to get your child active for life by starting them young – and now’s the perfect time to unlock your kid’s sporting potential with Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘Come and Try Week’ coaching taster sessions, running from 29 April – 4 May.

For 3-5 years let your child release their inner Pavel Karnejenko and Lottie Smith and help them develop motor skills, balance, and agility with the gymnastics tasters. And for those that have been inspired by the likes of Paralympian swimmer Scott Quin, who is also a swim coach at Edinburgh Leisure, there are swimming taster sessions. There will also be multi-sport, and basketball taster classes on offer too. 

For Primary 1s – 7s, there’s basketball and athletics, where kids can show their athletic prowess in running, jumping, and throwing.

Each taster session last from 30-60 minutes and booking online is essential. With multiple sports across multiple venues across the city, there is something for all the family wherever they are at or on the map.   From £3.00 a class, this is the perfect opportunity to try something new. Spaces are limited and subject to availability.

As the biggest provider of sports coaching facilities across Edinburgh, led by qualified and experienced coaches in a fun environment, Edinburgh Leisure’s coaching programme will help your child develop new skills, improve their agility, and grow confidence.

Unlocking the city to a fitter, healthier you

As the biggest provider of sport and fitness in the city, Edinburgh Leisure has launched their latest membership offer. The new membership offers more flexibility and value than ever before.

Edinburgh Leisure has unlocked fitness, swim, gym, and fitness class memberships giving customers access to all venues across the city, including 12 pools, 17 gyms and over 750 fitness classes each week. There will be a limited time no joining fee offer from 15 April – 31 May 2024.

Jill Davidson, Head of Marketing, Communications and Sales explains “We are committed to providing the best membership options that will support the health and wellbeing of Edinburgh.

“We’ve changed our offering to allow more people to be active through sport and fitness and allow our venues to thrive in their communities.”

The updated memberships include a lower price for Full Fitness and access to all venues for Gym, Swim and Fitness Class Members. Customers can now do the activities they love where they want, and when they want; choosing to train at any gym and attend a host of new fitness classes with any of their instructors.

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In addition, site only memberships continue to be available at selected School and Fitness venues. Community School Memberships include: Queensferry High School, Trinity Academy Sports Campus, Wester Hailes High School. And Community Fitness Memberships include Dalry Swim Centre, Kirkliston Leisure Centre, and Jack Kane Sports Centre.

Climb and Golf Memberships can be bought separately or as bolt-ons to any existing membership to give customers more access than ever before.

To welcome the changes to membership, Edinburgh Leisure is offering a limited time ‘no joining fee’ from 15 April – 31 May 2024, available online or in venue.

Edinburgh Leisure boasts 1 world class climbing centre, 6 golf courses, 3 soft play centres, 8 saunas and 4 steam rooms, 12 swimming pools, 17 state of the art gyms, and 750 fitness classes per week across 25 venues.

Memberships have been tailored to offer customers flexibility wherever you’re at, in life or in the city!

For more information visit: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/join

Edinburgh Leisure swim coach making waves as he heads to Paralympian trials

Scott Quin, a swim teacher with Edinburgh Leisure will be heading to The British Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre in early April, hoping to qualify for a place in the Paris 2024 Paralympics (28th August – 8 September 2024).

Born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, the ex-Warrender Baths-based swimmer has been swimming professionally for the last 12 years, funded by sportscotland and Scottish Swimming.  Scott has shown himself to be one of the strongest S14 swimmers in the country, having won medals at Paralympic, World and European level.

Scott Quin said: “At the age of 34 years, I’m now considered something of a veteran and realistically this will probably be my last opportunity to try for a place in the Paralympics.

“Having made my Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, marking it with a silver medal in the SB14 100m Breaststroke, it would be great to finish my competitive swimming career with one more chance to bring a medal home.

“For now, I’m busy with intense training and lots of swimming at the Royal Commonwealth and Edinburgh University pools, six to seven times a week combined with gym-based training at the Uni’s Pleasance gym and at the Commie, as well as working at my day job as a swim coach at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre.”

Now considered a ‘veteran athlete’, and with his competitive swim career coming to an end and funding from British Swimming stopping, Quin explored opportunities outside of competitive swimming. 

Edinburgh Leisure offered him the chance to join their Swim Teacher Training Programme last summer for his next career pathway, where he could progress from being a full-time athlete and move into the ‘real working world’ but where he could still combine a career which involved swimming. 

The Swim Teacher Training programme, a structured 13-week training programme, ticked a lot of boxes for Scott – as not only does he receive training but also a salary, and on completion of the programme, was offered a job.

Scott said: “Life, as you can imagine, is particularly busy just now but I’m really excited about heading to London in April for the British Swimming Championships. I’m keeping everything crossed that I make the grade to join the team representing my country.”

The British Swimming Championships are returning to the London Aquatics Centre in 2024 and for the first time, the swimming and para-swimming events will fully combine in one competition as athletes look to book their place at Paris 2024.

The 2024 championships will take place at the venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 2-7 April with the event playing a key role in the selection of the British Olympic and Paralympic swimming teams for the Games in July.

Olympic and Paralympic swimming event schedules will run concurrently in the same programme across six days of heats and finals sessions. The para-swimming events will be run with multi-classification competitions.

It’s the first time since 2015 that the national championships will be held at the Aquatics Centre although it staged the British Swimming Selection Trials ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

EICA:Ratho bouldering facility benefits from sportscotland investment

Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted from a major funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.

The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena has received £100,000 towards bouldering redevelopment which will improve opportunities to progress at all levels of the sport.

The redevelopment will ensure that Ratho becomes the only climbing centre in the UK with Olympic standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines (lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering).

This investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Welcoming the investment, Emma Ogilvie-Hall, Head of Operations at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted and very grateful to receive the sportscotland funding that means we can replace our outdated bouldering facilities at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA).

“With indoor bouldering now the most widely practised form of climbing it will ensure that the EICA can continue as a world class venue for all three climbing disciplines – lead, speed, and bouldering – while continuing to provide climbers of all ages and abilities with access to opportunities to participate in and progress through the sport. 

“It will also mean that Scotland is able to host bouldering competitions and national training camps and allow the EICA to keep our national and international profile as a world-class climbing facility.”

The EICA:Ratho is among 18 projects across Scotland to share a total of £1,506,263 from sportscotland to develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The aim of the Sports Facilities Fund is to support sustainable and inclusive projects with their ambitions of using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of their local communities. This investment would not be possible without National Lottery players who continue to raise vital funding for sport across Scotland.

“The physical and mental health benefits of sport are well documented, but equally important is the ability to create a space where everyone is welcome to participate at their own level.

“Projects like this one at the EICA not only create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity but can also provide a place for communities to come together.”

The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation, and for under-represented groups.

In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.

Edinburgh Leisure appoints new Chief Executive

Edinburgh-based physical activity charity, Edinburgh Leisure, has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Jen Holland will join Edinburgh Leisure on Monday, 18th March 2024, from Scottish Borders Council. 

Jen is currently Director of Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships having been with Scottish Borders Council since March 2019.

She takes over from CEO, June Peebles, who retired at the end of February 2024.

A qualified accountant by professional qualification, Jen Holland joins Edinburgh Leisure with a wealth of sector experience and insight, having previously worked with various public sector and charity organisations including Fife Cultural Trust, NHS Fife, Live Borders, and Scottish Borders Council.

Scott Haldane, Chair of Edinburgh Leisure’s Board said: “June’s outstanding leadership has left an indelible mark on the business, exemplifying exceptional skills and a clear vision for individual and organisational performance.

“While everyone – staff and customers alike – was sad to see June go, she has left behind an organisation that is mature and certain of its purpose. A charity dedicated to make a positive difference by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more.

“She has nurtured a committed and enthusiastic team who will continue to work with the City of Edinburgh Council and other partners, ensuring Edinburgh Leisure continues to thrive.”

Jen Holland said, “I am delighted to be joining Edinburgh Leisure as CEO and looks forward to working with colleagues, customers, partners and local communities. 

“Edinburgh Leisure has an incredible track record and commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh through a huge variety of services, programmes and projects and I am very proud to be able to lead the organisation in the continuation of this work.”

Edinburgh Leisure operate over 50 first class venues across the City and offer hundreds of activities for people to enjoy no matter what their age and stage.

From the iconic Royal Commonwealth Pool, the brand-new purpose-built Meadowbank Sports Centre, Victorian Swim Centres, Europe’s largest climbing arena, six golf courses, leisure centres and school facilities; all facilities are based in the heart of Edinburgh’s communities.

Edinburgh Leisure is committed to creating opportunities for everyone to be and stay active. This places them in the unique position to use their venues and expertise to harness the power of physical activity and sport to tackle inequalities and combat the effects of inactivity.

The Active Communities Team have a big role to play, working with partners and focusing on individuals and communities who need additional support to be active and enjoy improved wellbeing.

Active Communities support over 10,000 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities, and poverty to overcome barriers and tackle inequalities to improve their health and wellbeing.

The services Active Communities provide are at no or low-cost, and in her role as CEO June helped influence receipt of statutory funding to deliver this valuable work. Jen will take up this mantle as more and more people need support in Edinburgh.

Eden Scott worked with Edinburgh Leisure to support the recruitment process.

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk  

Spring forward!

Spring forward with a fitness pass offer

With the clocks going forward at the end of the month and spring most definitely on the horizon, take advantage of Edinburgh Leisure’s new Spring Pass to kickstart your fitness regime.

It has never been more important to look after your wellbeing so Edinburgh Leisure, a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives has launched a two-week pass for wherever you’re at this spring, so you can try before you buy.

A short-term alternative to a full-time membership, the two-week pass costs just £20 for 14 days. Available to buy online or in venue from 1st – 31st March, the Spring Pass includes unlimited access to all Edinburgh Leisure’s 17 state-of-the-art gyms, 12 swimming pools, the Turkish Baths at Portobello Swim Centre, all steam rooms and saunas, over 750+ fitness classes per week, and Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho, and represents excellent value for money.

The pass isn’t restricted to one pass per person either – if you wish to buy a second pass after your first pass expires, it’ll mean you’re doubly on the way to reaching those fitness goals.

And everyone who purchases a pass is automatically entered into a prize draw to win a year’s free membership with Edinburgh Leisure.

Edinburgh Leisure’s facilities are second to none and offer choice and great value, across various city locations. Their gyms feature some of the latest fitness equipment and you will be assured a warm welcome, with helpful staff ready to help you reach your fitness goals.

So, embrace the longer days and lighter evenings and gift yourself a wellness present.

For further information about Edinburgh Leisure venues and services and the Spring Pass, visit: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/spring-pass