Media Release
Free Everybody Gym Membership Improves Alsager School Student’s Overall Wellbeing
L-R: Lianne Jardine, Assistant Headteacher at Alsager School alongside Alex Challis General Manager at Alsager Leisure Centre
Everybody Health & Leisure [Everybody], partner with Alsager School to support selected students on a progress plan with the aim to improve behaviours, engagement and attendance. The initiative ran between the school year 2023/24 and saw 20 students from year 10 and 11 get involved.
Alsager School felt the students selected would benefit from a gym membership and the physical health and mental wellbeing associated with exercise. The main aim was to improve behaviour and attitude and/or engagement with learning and/or attendance using a free gym membership as the incentive.
Lianne Jardine, Assistant Headteacher at Alsager School shared:
“Alsager School is proud to be part of this new Everybody Health and Leisure initiative. The offer of gym membership was gratefully received by Year 10 and 11 pupils and witnessing them achieve their personal goals this year has been truly heart warming and inspiring. We look forward to seeing the long-term benefits of living a healthier lifestyle, including self-regulation and improved mental and physical health, in the year ahead.”
Alex Challis, General Manager at Alsager Leisure Centre shared:
“It is great Everybody Health & Leisure can support the local community, in this circumstance, Alsager School to enhance the overall wellbeing. This initiative included offering selected school students on free school meals, the chance to improve their activity levels by joining our gym and giving them the space to develop their health and fitness through a free membership. It’s been a positive experience and we can’t wait to welcome the next cohort.”
There were some real success stories amongst the cohort:
- 40% of the cohort had school attendance of above 90%
- We saw improvements in behaviour of at least ¼ of the cohort
- The biggest impact was on mental health and physical well-being
- One pupil lost three stone in weight
- Another used the gym as respite from quite challenging circumstances
- A parent recognised how going regularly to the gym helped her child manage exam related stress.
A minority of students didn’t see an immediate improvement in their attendance/behaviour however Lianne was reluctant to withdraw their membership because they clearly benefitted with their mental and physical health. It is likely the improvements take place over a longer term than just this year.
To find out more about Everybody Health & Leisure visit www.everybody.org.uk/
Ends.
Notes to Editor
Everybody Health & Leisure are a registered charity which aims to provide ‘leisure for life’ by improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. The charity operates 16 leisure facilities including 9 swimming pools and 7 Taste for Life cafes across the Cheshire East region, and delivers a range of targeted health, sports and disability and inclusion programmes. For more information please visit: www.everybody.org.uk or follow on Facebook @EverybodyHealthLeisure and Instagram @ebleisure
Media Contact
Name: Matt Shannon
Organisation: Everybody Health & Leisure
Email: [email protected]