For the first time ever, Edinburgh Leisure, the charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives, is running a members’ only event from Black Friday (25th November) to Cyber Monday (28th November), rewarding their direct debit customers.
The Black Friday members-only event will offer 5 activities for £5 each, allowing direct debit customers to book any of the following:
fitness classes of 45 minutes +
Tee times across all golf courses (excluding weekends)
Squash sessions for at Meadowbank and Craiglockhart Tennis Centre
Outdoor tennis Meadows and Craiglockhart Tennis Centre (evenings only)
and Soft Play at Scrambles at the EICA: Ratho.
The offer is not available to non-members, although customers can join to take advantage of the offer. The offer is only available to buy online (with the exclusion of soft play at Scrambles, which needs to be paid in venue and is only available in-venue during the Black Friday event).
Edinburgh Leisure customers who pay their membership by direct debit will be able to log into their accounts during the offer dates and book the activities for £5 each. Customers will book as normal and will have 8-days to use the activity following payment. Customers will be able to book multiple activities, multiple times.
Edinburgh Leisure is a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives. They do that by running over 30 sports and leisure facilities across the city and deliver their Active Communities programme, which helps improve the lives of people affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities, and disabilities.
A Ukrainian teenage refugee, Arsenii Opryshko, is showing his prowess on the tennis courts with support from Edinburgh Leisure.
Every day, all over the world, people leave their own countries in search of a better life. While some choose to leave for work, study or play, others feel that the threat of persecution or conflict means they have no choice but to leave.
We watched in horror earlier this year as families just like our own were forced to flee warn-torn Ukraine with nothing but a suitcase in tow. Since then, more than 9,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Scotland.
Edinburgh Leisure is a charity committed to creating opportunities for people in Edinburgh to keep active and well.
Each year our Active Communities programme uses the power of physical activity and sport to support around 10,000 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities, and poverty to improve their health and wellbeing.
A combination of our Active Communities programme, city-wide venues and dedicated staff mean that we are uniquely placed to make relocated people feel welcome in our capital city.
While physical activity is by no means a magic wand that will make their problems disappear, Edinburgh Leisure believes that getting active can have a hugely positive impact on their lives.
Improving health and mental wellbeing, incorporating some routine into their week in a period of instability, boosting confidence and self-esteem, reducing loneliness and isolation, and helping them to integrate into their new communities are just some of the benefits that being active can bring them.
Since 2016 Edinburgh Leisure has delivered our Relocated People Access programme in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council’s Migration and Refugee Team.
Through the project, we give relocated people access cards, which allows them free use of our facilities for six months while they are settling into their new city. We are now supporting around 2,000 people from countries around the world including Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria.
More recently we have also started providing children who are new to the city with free use of our facilities, places on our children’s sports coaching programmes and places on our holiday sports camps over the summer to help them enjoy the active childhood they deserve.
One such child who is benefitting from support, is a young teenage Ukrainian refugee, Arsenii Opryshko, who only arrived in Edinburgh in July 2022, but is already being recognised for his tennis skills.
Recently he has beaten other talented junior tennis players by winning the LTA Scotland Tour, Grade 5, Boys U16 event – coming first, which took place in Broughty Ferry and also came second in a similar event at Dalgety Bay on 14 October and more recently won the U16 boys event at Kelso (6 November 2022).
Arsenii Opryshko, 13 years, a displaced refugee from Kharkiv, an eastern region of Ukraine, a region that borders Russia, arrived in Scotland under the Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor scheme, along with his parents, Vadym and Olga. They are being hosted by a retired police sergeant, Mark McCool and his husband in Broomhouse, Edinburgh.
Arsenii was a pupil at Gymnasium Number 13, a secondary school in Kharkiv. He holds a national ranking in his chosen sport of tennis and as a talented tennis player undertook three hours of tennis coaching per day.
Realising his tennis talent, Mark McCool, along with the support of Mandy Fairnie, Operations Manager at Edinburgh Leisure’s Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, has managed to secure coaching from various sources, including coaches at the Edinburgh flagship tennis centre, and East of Scotland tennis clubs and through Tennis Scotland.
Arsenii is currently a member at Hatton Sports Club, which has tennis, padel tennis, squash and racketball facilities and is situated on the A71 near Kirknewton.
Caroline Newton, one of the committee members at Hatton, and a fellow Ukrainian host, secured free membership of the club, with the cooperation of her fellow committee members.
Mark McCool, host to the family said: “There’s no doubting the tennis talent of this young lad, especially in taking the overall trophy for the Under 16 Boys Singles competition, when he is only 13 years. Yet it shouldn’t be underestimated the hoops this family have had to through just to get to this stage.
“Like many of their fellow countrymen, none of them have chosen the journey they have all been on, but they are making the best of a bad situation. I’m so grateful to everyone that has supported the family so far to help progress their son’s talent.
“But then again, participating in tennis doesn’t come cheaply. And while everyone has given of their time freely until now, there are always the hidden costs associated at competing at such a level, including rackets, balls, shoes, entry costs etc.”
The family had left Ukraine to go on their first family holiday in three years to Egypt, a country they had been longing to visit for 10 years. It was a holiday that would combine rest and relaxation with a business opportunity that Vadym was developing and a business meeting with a new partner – not knowing that this would be the same week that Russia would invade Ukraine.
After the skies around their country were closed to all air traffic, the family were stranded in an Egyptian hotel with three suitcases full of summer clothes, sandals, and flip flops.
The family’s circumstance was very quickly recognised by other guests in the hotel and those guests, all of whom were on holiday, clubbed together and funded one of the German families to take Vadym, Olga and Arsenii home with them to southern Germany.
Before long Vadym, Olga and Arsenii found themselves surrounded by many Ukrainian refugee families who had themselves fled the regions worst hit by the Russian invasion.
In Germany, Vadym and Olga’s personal and professional experience was quickly recognised by the German authorities and Vadym, a fluent English speaker was recruited into a refugee support position by the Mayor’s office in the German village of Bad Schonborn, 80km from the city of Stuttgart.
Olga meanwhile found herself working in, and ultimately running, an already established kitchen that was now feeding a wave of refugees, over and above their normal duties in providing for the existing community.
As Mark McCool explained: “Despite the magnitude of the developing situation, Vadym and Olga’s main desire was to provide as normal a life as possible for their teenage son, which was made possible by the German community who quickly offered Arsenii a place in a school and who they also enrolled in a local tennis programme.”
Unfortunately for the family though, their time in Germany was short-lived.
As Vadym’s family had come to Germany from Egypt, a country seen by the German Government as a safe country, they refused to identify Vadym’s family as a refugee family. The German Government assessed Vadym’s family position as that of a non-EU family entering their country as tourists on a tourist visa which only gave the family a limited period of stay.
Their visa application was therefore rejected, and the family were given until 31st May 2022 to leave Germany, although an extension was granted until November, as they had not secured anywhere to go by the initial date. During this time Vadym discovered the Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor scheme and arrived in Scotland on 15th July after Mark McCool and his partner agreed to sponsor the family’s application to come to Edinburgh.
Vadym Opryshko, father to Arsenii said: “As a family, we couldn’t have asked for a more supportive welcome from so many different people in Edinburgh.
“Like any parents, we just want the best for our child and for Arsenii, it’s to continue developing his natural tennis ability, despite the challenges we have experienced since leaving our homeland.”
Concluding, Mark McCool said: “My partner and I, along with so many other members of the local and tennis community have welcomed this displaced family into our hearts.
“Arsenii is one talented individual when it comes to playing tennis, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievements over the weekend.
“We just hope we can continue to find support to nurture his talent while he is a guest in Scotland.”
The new Meadowbank Sports Centre was officially opened at a special ceremony yesterday (Friday 4 November).
The new £47m centre is a state-of-the-art community sports facility built on the site of the original Meadowbank, which closed in December 2017.
The new Meadowbank opened its doors to the public in July this year and features a wide range of enhanced facilities and will support physical activity, sport, health and well-being in Edinburgh for generations to come.
The new venue supports accessible participation and has improved indoor facilities with two multi-sport halls with seating, a gym and three large fitness studios.
In recognising the legacy and heritage of the old Meadowbank and its 50+ years of sporting history a Wall of Honour has been unveiled in the atrium featuring over 45 names.
The wall honours people who have made significant contributions to Meadowbank’s past and its legacy as a sport and community venue. The honourees have been nominated by the public in four categories: Competitive Achievements, Community Service, Professional Service and Special Contribution.
Inductees include sport heroes Chris Hoy, Lynsey Sharp, Allan Wells and Jake Wightman and sport coaches such as gymnastic coach Maggie Bissett and athletics coach Bill Walker.
Cllr Day was joined by Scott Haldane from Edinburgh Leisure and Mel Young from sportscotland to welcome partners, elected members and representatives from sport governing bodies and sports clubs and Wall of Honour inductees.
To coincide with the official opening, Edinburgh Leisure will be celebrating with an open weekend at the centre with free activities available from Friday 4 until Sunday 6 November 2022.
Over the weekend, there will be children’s coaching, gym, fitness classes, racquet sports, and the running track and athletics area will be available for everyone to come and try for free.
Council Leader, Cammy Day, said: I’m delighted that with our partners we have been able to provide this fantastic facility which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport.
“We are committed to encouraging and enabling everyone to become more physically active and enjoy the associated benefits. It’s important for sport to be as accessible as possible for our residents and our investment in fit-for-purpose sports facilities is helping to ensure that as many people as possible can get involved in sport throughout the year.
“The Wall of Honour has been a great way for our citizens to pay a lasting tribute to the Meadowbank legacy and to some outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on sport in the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh.
“More names will be added to the wall in the future as we continue to honour those who inspire and deserve to be recognised and celebrated for years to come.”
June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said: “The team at Meadowbank has enjoyed welcoming customers, old and new to this amazing new facility since we opened our doors on 19 July and the reaction from customers has been very positive.
“The centre has a large variety of activities on offer, and we have been developing the activity programme in response to demand and customer feedback, ensuring the new Meadowbank Sports Centre establishes itself with a new generation.
“And to coincide with the City of Edinburgh Council’s official opening on 4 November, we are celebrating the occasion by opening the whole venue for free from Friday, 4 to Sunday, 6 November.
“There will be children’s coaching (football and multi-activity), gym, fitness glasses, racquet sports and the running track and athletics area will be available for everyone to come and find out first hand for themselves what all the fuss is about.
“I would encourage everyone to pay us a visit and join in the fun!”
Mel Young, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Meadowbank has long been at the heart of sport and physical activity in the City of Edinburgh and it’s fantastic to see that tradition continuing with the opening of this magnificent new centre.
“At sportscotland we work closely with partners like City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure to ensure that the facilities that we invest in are in the right place and will really meet the long term needs of the community, whether that’s an introduction to sport and physical activity, or supporting the aspirations of some of Scotland’s best athletes.
“This new, inclusive Meadowbank Sports Centre really delivers on that ambition which is why we were delighted to invest £5million of National Lottery funding through our Sports Facilities Fund to support this important project.”
Following the success of Aquadash and Aquadash Extreme, the inflatable playground on water, which launched at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in February 2018, Edinburgh Leisure is introducing Aquadash Adventure to its Ainslie Park Leisure Centre.
Suitable for ages 6 years and upwards, while it’s slightly smaller than its more extreme counterpart at the Commie, Aquadash Adventure at Ainslie Park is still an exhilarating workout for all family members. There are fewer people per session with a maximum number of 30 participants taking part at any one time
Tickets went on sale on 31st October, with the first sessions taking place on the weekend of Saturday, 12th November and Sunday, 13th November.
Sessions last 1 hour each and cost £8.50 for both adults and children. Unlike at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, your booking does not entitle you to access the pool for a swim afterwards.
Initially, sessions will be available to book up to 8 weeks in advance, with sessions bookable until 7th and 8th January 2023. Aquadash Adventure sessions will run at weekends only and will take over the whole of the Ainslie Park pool meaning that no public swimming or coaching will be available at these times. However, the sauna and steam room will be available for use.
Debbie O’Hara, Manager at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre said: “The new Aquadash Adventure is going to bring hours of fun to all the family in the north of the city.
“While not as extreme as the original Aquadash at the Commie, we like to think of it as the ‘younger sibling’ to the original one at the Royal Commonwealth Pool. It will suit younger members of the family, from 6 years upwards or more cautious children. Parents and siblings are of course also welcome to join in the adventure too.
“It’s a great way for kids to work off that excess energy and they’ll be able to slide, climb and bounce their way around various thrilling challenges, giving not only a physical but a mental challenge too. And when booking opens, sessions will be available to book right through until January 2023, meaning that you can keep the children entertained in the run up to and during the Christmas break.”
With 30+ venues including 12 swimming pools, 14 gyms, 6 golf courses, 141 sports pitches, 32 tennis courts, 1 climbing arena, 3 soft play centres and 750+ 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.
Although Meadowbank Sports Centre opened its doors to the public on 19 July, The City of Edinburgh Council will be holding its official opening on Friday, 4 November.
To coincide with this opening, Edinburgh Leisure will be celebrating the occasion by opening the whole of Meadowbank Sports Centre for free from Friday, 4th until Sunday, 6th November 2022.
Over the weekend, there will be kids’ coaching, gym, fitness classes, racquet sports, and the running track and athletics area available for everyone to come and try for free and to find out first-hand what all the fuss is about.
Donald Goldsmith, Manager at Meadowbank Sports Centre said: “My team and I have been enjoying welcoming customers old and new to these state-of-the-art facilities but there are still lots of people across the city who haven’t had the opportunity to see this fantastic new facility for Edinburgh.
“So, whether it’s for nostalgic reasons or with a view to signing up for membership, please do take the opportunity to pay us a visit. I know you’ll be impressed. We have a fantastic joining offer of just 1p across the weekend too – our Penny Campaign, which is only available until 6th November, so don’t miss out on this fantastic offer to kick start your fitness and wellbeing routine.”
The new Meadowbank is supporting physical activity, sport, health, and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come, while also recognising the legacy and heritage of the old Meadowbank and over 50 years of sporting history at the venue.
Edinburgh Leisure has different memberships that are flexible and affordable. Customers can choose a Gym, Swim or Fitness Class package at Meadowbank or their local venue or sign up for Edinburgh Leisure’s most popular Full Fitness membership giving individuals unlimited access to all their venues across the city.
18-24 year olds can enjoy unlimited access to gyms, pools, classes and climbing for just £25 a month with their Young Adult Membership.
There are additional member benefits like priority bookings, free gym introduction and discounts on a range of activities. There is no contract – and customers can freeze or cancel their membership at any time.
Picture – Chris Watt Photography
07887554193
info@chriswatt.com
www.chriswatt.com
The new Meadowbank has much to offer the local community and communities throughout Edinburgh and includes the following facilities:
Outdoor eight-lane athletics track with a 499-seat stand and outdoor throwing and jumps area
A 60m six-lane indoor athletics track and jumps space
Two multi-sport halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating
A hall for trampolining and dance
Two fitness studios (capacity – 30 each), which include world-renowned Les Mills programme of classes, smart tech bars and weights
The fitness class timetable will open with 92 classes
A Cycle Studio (capacity – 30) with Life Fitness IC7 bikes and ICG myride and Les Mills RPM classes
A gym with Life Fitness equipment, dumbbells up to 50kg, Watt bikes, SkiErg, row and Cybex SPARC machines (capacity – 90)
Combined bumped plates weighs in the gym – 2927.5kg
Combined dumbbell weight in the gym – 1,918kg
40+ pieces of resistance and free weights equipment
Two squash courts
A combat studio for martial arts
A boxing gym
Two 3G (synthetic) pitches, including one with a 499-seat stand
A hospitality Suite and event-hosting facilities
Cafe and meeting rooms
To find out how to book for the various free sessions during the Meadowbank Open Weekend (Friday, 4th – Sunday, 6th November 2022), visit:
With the rising cost of living, Edinburgh Leisure is running their ‘penny campaign’ reducing their joining fee to just a penny on their fitness, gym, class, swim and climb memberships, helping you to lose the pounds in time for Christmas and helping you find that wellbeing factor, now the dark autumn nights are drawing in.
The offer is available from today – Monday, 24th October until Sunday, 6th November 2022 and is available to buy online only.
As everyone is different and needs to find their own way to a healthy and active life, Edinburgh Leisure offers a range of different membership options to suit everyone including swim, gym and fitness classes only to full monthly memberships.
By offering different types of membership, people can match their activity preferences to their pocket.
And as part of the promotion, Edinburgh Leisure is running their Free Friend Friday whereby existing members are able to bring a friend for free this Friday, 28th October.
With 30+ venues including 1 climbing centre, 12 swimming pools, 14 gyms, and 750+ 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.
We are hosting a coaching recruitment open day at Meggetland Sports Complex this Monday 24th October between 9am – 5pm and are looking for enthusiastic people to join our swimming and gymnastics teams.
Unlimited monthly winter golf for just £27.50 per month
Wrap up warm, fill up your thermos and grab your clubs. Winter golf at the largest club in town returns on 1st October. And with the unpredictable Scottish weather, you won’t have to rely on one course.
For die hard golf fans who want to keep in the swing of it, even during the winter months, Edinburgh Leisure’s golf membership can be bought online for just £27.50 per month. With minimal use of winter greens and no mats, it’s the ideal opportunity to keep your golf on par until the summer returns.
Winter membership prices stretch from 1st October 2022 to 31st March 2023 and allow access to Edinburgh Leisure’s six golf courses. Edinburgh Leisure’s 18-hole courses include Braid Hills, Carrick Knowe, Craigentinny, and Silverknowes. If you’re after a shorter then you can play our 9-hole courses at Portobello and the Wee Braids.
Payable monthly by direct debit, different membership options are available including access to all the courses, seven days a week; and a five-day membership, costing £22.50, with access to all courses Monday to Friday.
The membership also gives 20% off other Edinburgh Leisure activities including the gym, swimming, racquet sports and climbing, at the various Edinburgh Leisure venues across the city.
