press release: GLL
GLL at 30: Proud to tackle health and social inequalities as part of the UK’s Co-operative Movement
30 Jun 2023
Tackling health inequalities helps GLL support the NHS and local authority health and social agendas / GLL
Celebrating 30 impactful years, GLL is now the UK’s largest public leisure and libraries co-operative and charitable social enterprise and has a clear mission to improve the physical, mental and social health of local communities.
In 2022, GLL’s activities raised £390m in social value in local communities, independently audited and measured across a series of indicators including health and wellbeing.
GLL runs services under the ‘Better’ brand and is demonstrably successful in getting people more physically active – with over 50m customer visits each year.
Tackling health inequalities helps GLL support the NHS and local authority health and social agendas.
GLL is also a catalyst for the local economy - providing employment and training opportunities in libraries, children’s centres and leisure centres. In libraries, business start-up support is helping budding entrepreneurs while local businesses benefit through spending in our supply chains. Some of these businesses are also Co-ops.
GLL is structured as an Industrial and Provident Society and is part of the Co-operative movement because it is a staff-owned business. GLL’s Board consists of elected workers from its Society Membership (which reached an all time high of 2150 in 2023), Independent Trustees, appointed Secretary and CEO.
Peter Bundey, CEO of GLL said: “We are proud to mark our 30th Anniversary on International Co-operative Day and during UK Co-operative Fortnight.
“Co-operatives are a force for positive societal change putting their combined might together to share their rewards and opportunities with local communities.
“Our staff-owned Co-operative has no shareholders to pay so we reinvest surpluses in our services and people.
“With new leisure facilities coming, exciting developments in our libraries offer and a new 5 Year Corporate Plan to be unveiled this summer, we look forward to being an increasingly important part of the Co-operative movement for at least another 30 years.”
More press releases and updates from GLL:
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Charitable leisure social enterprise GLL – which operate facilities in partnership with 50
local authorities under the ‘Better’ brand – has announced a sizzling summer of kids and
family activities to coincide with the school holidays.
As the world gears up for the much-anticipated Paris 2024 Summer Olympic (26 July – 11
August) and Paralympic Games (28 August – 8 September), the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF)
celebrates an impressive milestone.
GLL
Address:
Middlegate House,
The Royal Arsenal,
London,
SE18 6SX,
UK
Peter Bundey, chief executive
GLL video gallery:
Key personnel
Peter Bundey, chief executive
Key customers
Companies we work with include Annodata, Physical Company, Technogym, Change Please and Divine Chocolate.
Local Authorities and Agencies we work with include Greenwich Council, Belfast City Council, Cardiff City Council, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, LLDC, ukactive, SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, Swim England and Sport England.
Local Authorities and Agencies we work with include Greenwich Council, Belfast City Council, Cardiff City Council, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, LLDC, ukactive, SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, Swim England and Sport England.
Plans for the next 12 months
Our 2025 strategies and roadmap are already well-shaped and are based on our Five-Year Plan, which was launched last year.
With our positive performance and improved social outcomes during 2024, GLL is well placed to be at the forefront of societal, economic and environmental change.
The future will see us focusing on excellent customer service alongside our social enterprise values and growing our social impact, while effective partnerships with national health and wellbeing agencies will support individual lifestyle and wellness outcomes.
We’re delighted to see strong data indicators that show engagement with a diversity of age, demography and levels of activity across our facilities.
To foster community strength, health and mental wellbeing, we’ll balance the provision of health, fitness, team sport and social activities across a 50/50 split of male/female users, backed by an enhanced digital customer focus.
With our positive performance and improved social outcomes during 2024, GLL is well placed to be at the forefront of societal, economic and environmental change.
The future will see us focusing on excellent customer service alongside our social enterprise values and growing our social impact, while effective partnerships with national health and wellbeing agencies will support individual lifestyle and wellness outcomes.
We’re delighted to see strong data indicators that show engagement with a diversity of age, demography and levels of activity across our facilities.
To foster community strength, health and mental wellbeing, we’ll balance the provision of health, fitness, team sport and social activities across a 50/50 split of male/female users, backed by an enhanced digital customer focus.
Testimonial
“We made the decision to begin supporting the GLL Sport Foundation in 2015, and it is a pleasure to announce the renewal of our sponsorship with this incredible institution.
"Many bright and talented athletes throughout the United Kingdom are unable to chase their dreams of sporting glory due to lack of funding. We are passionate about helping GSF give equal opportunities to all young people and achieving their dreams of competing on the international stage.
"Our partnership enables both our brands to share the success of the UK’s most aspiring athletes who we are proud to have heard speak in such an inspirational way at our internal Sales Conferences and who have supported our marketing and brand development goals through representation and storytelling both in person and via social media”.
– Rod Tonna-Barthet, chief executive, Annodata
"Many bright and talented athletes throughout the United Kingdom are unable to chase their dreams of sporting glory due to lack of funding. We are passionate about helping GSF give equal opportunities to all young people and achieving their dreams of competing on the international stage.
"Our partnership enables both our brands to share the success of the UK’s most aspiring athletes who we are proud to have heard speak in such an inspirational way at our internal Sales Conferences and who have supported our marketing and brand development goals through representation and storytelling both in person and via social media”.
– Rod Tonna-Barthet, chief executive, Annodata
Testimonial
"I am so thankful for the support I have received from GLL Sport Foundation. My first individual medal ever is extremely special, and I would not be here if it wasn’t for the support, I have received from the GLL ‘family’.”
– Daryll Neita, Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze and silver medalist, GLL Athlete
– Daryll Neita, Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze and silver medalist, GLL Athlete
Testimonial
"This exciting new chapter cements the future of our six key sports venues and is part of our commitment to the many communities we serve far and wide. We have carefully structured this partnership with GLL to ensure that visitors will continue to enjoy the very best in these stellar, highly popular venues. We look forward to together creating exciting new programmes and activities that draw on the strengths of both organisations.
“These venues are part of the Lee Valley visitor experience and will continue to be so with some of the best facilities and most inspiring settings to be found anywhere. As part of the partnership Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will continue to invest to ensure that they go from strength to strength, delivering real impact for communities.”
– Shaun Dawson chief executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
“These venues are part of the Lee Valley visitor experience and will continue to be so with some of the best facilities and most inspiring settings to be found anywhere. As part of the partnership Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will continue to invest to ensure that they go from strength to strength, delivering real impact for communities.”
– Shaun Dawson chief executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
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