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2014 has been a fantastic year for Everybody Leisure, with our new Trust forming, new members of staff joining us and of course a year filled with sporting activities, events and inspirational achievements. Lets all take a trip down memory lane and look back on a great year with our 30 best moments…
1. new everybody trust launched
After months of hard work by the Everybody Team and Cheshire East Council, we were very pleased to announce the launch of your new leisure trust and our brand new website. We established our main aims to deliver ‘Leisure for Life’ for our customers across Cheshire East.
2. Congleton Queens Baton Relay
THOUSANDS of cheering families welcomed the Queen’s Commonwealth Baton Relay to Congleton.
They flocked to enjoy a community event marking a milestone in the town’s history as the only non-city in England selected to host the baton on its epic journey to Glasgow.
Everybody Leisure staff staged a wide range of sport-related activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle with families enjoying taster sessions at Congleton Leisure Centre and fun sport in the park.
3. Crewe Pool 100 mile Cycle Challenge –
A team from Crewe Pool took part in the 100 mile challenge to raise money for cancer. The challenge included climbing snowdon (8miles), biking back to crewe (90miles) and swimming 108 lengths (2 miles) – all in one day.
Thanks to everyone’s generosity they managed to raise £3,011.90!
4. National Table Tennis Tournament
The Special Olympics GB 2014 National Table Tennis Tournament returned to its regular home at Sir William Stanier Leisure Centre in Crewe on 10– 11 May. The annual event, organised by the South Cheshire Special Needs Table Tennis Club for the last twenty years, saw players from all over Britain take part with the Crewe-based club winning over thirty of the medals available.
5. 100 Days of the Trust Celebrations
Our centres celebrated 100 days of our new trust by launching open days, family fun days, free sessions and releasing over 100 balloons filled with guest passes for residents to find and win!
6. Summer Holiday Programme
Every year our centres create a fun-filled programme of activities for families during the summer holidays. This year the leisure development team included a day long street sports tournament at the Cumberland Arena which saw 7 a-side teams compete to be ‘Street Sports Champions’ for 2014 with ages ranging from 8 to 16 years and 16 to 25 years.
The programme also included Sandbach Leisure Centre supporting the National Play Day in the town park hosting sports themed activities for both children and adults including the step challenge and football goal challenge.
7. Volunteers trip to Commonwealth Games
17 volunteers took a trip to the commonwealth games to share with skills and knowledge of sports with workshops in Glasgow, whilst also being able to see the netball and athletics tournaments.
8. Triathlon Season
Everybody saw some fantastic triathlon and duathlon events during 2014 in Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Nantwich Outdoor Pool and Poynton. Our very own Hamish Shaw even managed to win the South Manchester Sprint Tri 2014 in Wilmslow!
9. Congleton Born survivor
The Congleton based military fitness class lead by fitness instructor Darren Royle took part in the tough challenge of Born Survivor in September. They braved the elements of wind, rain and mud to complete a difficult assault course. Their team work shone through with all all participated clearing the finish line.
10. Heart Safe Gym of The Year Shortlist
In the last 12 months we have trained over 250 of our staff from lifeguards to managers ensuring they are all trained to use the AED’s (defibrillators) during opening hours. Due to this we were nominated for Heart Safe Gym of the Year and made it to the shortlist.
11. Leisure Industry Week
Leisure facility staff and the marketing team visited the annual Leisure Industry Week exhibition at the NEC Birmingham to review and purchase the latest fitness and leisure products and services currently on the market. With innovative technology and groundbreaking education the week long event allows leisure professionals to improve their current offer and stay up to date with national trends.
12. UK Volunteer of the Year Winner
Daniel Masser’s story of bravery, dedication and determination was rewarded with the North West Winner and Volunteer’s Volunteer Award, as voted for by fellow volunteers from all around the country, at The Co-operative Street Games Young Volunteers awards.
13. Lifeguard Triathlon Winner
A record number of lifeguards took part in the 9th annual CIMSPA& IQL UK lifeguard triathlon. 981 lifeguards from 58 pools across the UK competed and our very own Adam Frost was crowned overall winner with a perfect 100% score!
14. Wilmslow gets new spin bikes
Wilmslow now have a suite of new spin bikes (Matrix ic3) in the fitness suite with two of them hooked up to the Matrix myride. This enables you to do a virtual instructor led or custom made session without an instructor!
15. Everybody Awards
On 20th November 2014 the Everybody Awards were held at Cranage Hall, Cheshire where inspiring volunteers, sporting clubs, and individuals from the region gathered to be recognised for their achievements and helping change lives through healthy recreation.
The prestigious awards night welcomed over 160 guests including nominees and was hosted by BBC Radio Manchester presenter Mike Shaft.
16. Everybody Challenge Launch
It only takes 30 minutes of exercise five times per week to change your life…so why not take on the Everybody Challenge just like 100’s of our customers and sporting stars did in 2014? You could even be in with a chance of winning a lifetime membership!
17. Stuart loses 9 Stone
Stuart has been coming to Nantwich Pool for a couple of years and when he first started to lose weight he was 24 stone 8lbs. He recently set himself a target to lose as much weight as he could in 6 months. By taking on the Everybody Challenge he has been able to lose an incredible 9 stone.
18. Ed an inspiration to MS sufferers
Ed Weenski from Wilmslow has been a true inspiration not only to other MS sufferers but to anyone who has given all the excuses they could think of to avoid exercising,
Ed is in a wheelchair because he has primary progressive multiple sclerosis, primary progressive meaning in gets worse as he gets older affecting his lower body more than anything else. Going to the gym at Wilmslow Leisure Centre has turned his life around, helping him battle depression, get fit and keep his body strong.
19. Andrew Aspire Challenge
When Andrew was just a young boy he ran out in front of a car to fetch his football. Andrew suffered severe spinal cord injury’s and has been in a wheelchair ever since.
He took on the Aspire Channel Swim Challenge at Wilmslow Leisure Centre to raise funds for people with spinal cord injury. That’s swimming 22 miles in 12 weeks at his local leisure centre pool!
20. Julian Tame returns back to work
Julian Tame, last year suffered a heart attack which meant he could no longer work. He desperately needed to get himself fit and healthy so he decided to take on the Everybody Challenge at Wilmslow Leisure Centre by joining the Active Hearts rehab group.
One year later and Julian is now not only back to work but cycling there too in all weather conditions!
21. Bill Johnson Walks Again
In 2009 Bill had an accident, where a tree fell on his legs, taking two inches out of the top of his left leg; resulting in a major soft tissue injury to upper left leg and DVT to lower left leg, plus a damaged sciatic nerve to the right leg.
He came in to Macclesfield Leisure Centre on two sticks and bent double, he could hardly walk. The fitness staff took the time to help Bill get fit and now in October 2014 he can walk without sticks, he can climb stairs and has lost 4 stone in weight!
22. Patricia can now have a family life
Joining Macclesfield Lesiure Centre has opened up a new lease of life for Patricia, radio presenter at Canalside Radio. She always wanted to join the gym and used to peer through the doors, she had a fear of joining the gym.
After an illness she suffered a lot of problems and needed to do something to kick start back up again. She is now able to play with her 8 year old granddaughter which was her main goal!
23. New Alsager Gym Opening
Alsager has been refitted with a brand new fitness suite, comprising of top of the range equipment. The suite now comprises of brand new Matrix CV and Resistance Training equipment including the sought after Ellipitical trained that works the whole body! Official opening will be announced in January with special guests!
24. Everybody Healthy Pilot Launched
Everybody in partnership with Cheshire East Council Health Improvement Team is piloting a new lifestyle programme in Crewe and Nantwich targetting those who are overweight, who smoke, are inactive or have mental health issues. Health Trainers work on a one-to-one basis providing specialist fitness, nutrition and lifestyle advice.
25. Sport Relief
Two sport relief mile events were held in Crewe and Macclesfield in 2014 which raised an incredible £7,842.56! This year was a record-breaking year for Sport Relief who announced a total of £71.8 million raised and we are proud of those who helped achieve this target.
26. Given over 40 people new careers in Leisure
Since the launch of the Trust in May, Everybody has been able to recruit over 40 new roles in leisure from cleaners, receptionist, lifeguards and managers. The recruitment drive is continuing in 2015 as the trust aims to create more permanent roles in the leisure industry.
27. Festive Fun Run Winner
A ‘Festive Fun Run’ took place at Queens Park, Crewe with 3km, 5km runs and a snowman stroll. Our very own Robert Douglas, fitness instructor at Crewe Swimming Pool dresses as an Elf and beat a Christmas Tree to the post winning the 5km run!
28. Employee of the Year
Hilary Pemberton was awarded Employee of the Year after making an exceptional contribution to the new organisation at Macclesfield Leisure Centre consistently going above and beyond in her role as Duty Manager. She was voted for by customers, colleagues and her manager.
29. Increased Christmas Opening
Due to customer feedback Everybody made the decision to increase opening hours of the leisure centres during the Christmas Holiday Season. Wilmslow Leisure Centre even opened on Boxing Day welcoming customer who wanted to burn off their turkey dinners in the gym and pool!
30. Everybody Theatre’s first sell out Pantomime
For one night only Alsager Leisure Centre transformed the Sports Hall into a theatre and hosted it’s first ever pantomime Cinderella. Oh no you didn’t, oh yes we did!
The night was a resounding success with over 200 tickets sold to families of all ages. We would love to hear more ideas of how our sports halls can be transformed!
And that’s it for this year! See you all in 2015 for bigger and better goals to achieving leisure for life!
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