press release: GLL
GLL scores in ukactive Awards
30 Oct 2023
The Sands Leisure Centre, Carlisle won the New Build or Design of the Year award / UK Active / GLL
Finishing ahead of a roll-call of high street name fitness and leisure operators, sports bodies and charities in the Regional Club/Centre of the Year and New Build/Design of the Year categories, GLL’s nominations spanned state-of-the-art newbuild facilities to well-loved local centres and their staff that are often at the centre of local communities – alongside innovative health partnerships and educational initiatives.
Hundreds of nominations were received for the prestigious awards which showcase excellence and best practice across the leisure sector - with some categories decided by a public vote from the customers that use them each week.
GLL’s multiple nominations (14 were shortlisted by the judges) reflect its important role at the heart of local community health and wellbeing.
GLL’s winners were:
Regional Club/Centre of the Year (London) – Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre
New Build or Design of the Year – The Sands Leisure Centre, Carlisle
The event on 26 October at Leeds Armouries was attended by GLL’s staff from across the staff-owned co-op’s 250 leisure centres and swimming pools. GLL's CEO Peter Bundey, commented: “These important ukactive awards are very much about GLL’s purpose as an organisation – to improve health and wellbeing in local communities.
“Congratulations to all the winners – they are proof that GLL as part of the wider UK Physical Activity Sector is doing an essential job in tackling health inequality, working in partnership with local authorities and other partners to empower local communities to get moving and reap the health and social benefits.”
“Coming as GLL marks our 30th Year, the awards are the perfect celebration of our values, our journey, our customers and our colleagues.”
Shortlisted centres undergo a rigorous independent assessment of their facilities - including mystery shopping.
Full list of GLL’s shortlisted nominations by category:
Regional & National Club/Centre of the Year:
Wales & Northern Ireland:
GLL – Brook Leisure Centre
GLL – Eastern Leisure Centre
GLL – Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre
North:
GLL - Moss Side Leisure Centre
London:
GLL – Britannia Leisure Centre
GLL – Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre
South:
GLL - Rainbow Leisure Centre and Spa
New Build or Design of the Year:
GLL – The Sands Centre, Cumbria
Healthy Communities Award:
GLL & University Hospital Morecambe Bay Trust
Education Provider of the Year:
GLL – supporting apprenticeships
Physical Activity Hero Award:
GLL - Jonathan Michael
GLL - Karen Edmond
GLL - Sue Robinson
Outstanding Leadership Award:
GLL - Mark Sesnan, OBE
More press releases and updates from GLL:
After an incredibly competitive season, the London Youth Games Finals Festival took place at
the end of last month at GLL's Copper Box Arena in London.
New research highlights the importance of children’s swimming lessons as more primary schools
reduce mandatory lessons.
More than 500 visitors took part in a host of sports and leisure activities on Sunday 16th
June as part of London Pride’s inaugural 2024 Out for Sport Festival at the iconic Crystal
Palace National Sports Centre.
Better’s Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom has maintained its ‘Excellent’ status from QUEST –
the Quality Scheme for Sport and Leisure.This follows a mystery visit from the organisation
in April plus a planned audit in May.
Great news for GLL’s successful association with the UK’s Professional Netball scene came
this week with the announcement that England Netball and Netball Superleague (NSL) stars
London Pulse – who are based at Copper Box Arena (CBA) - will be one of eight clubs
participating in the relaunched League from 2025.
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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