Commencing April 2025
Fair Pay Deal for our workforce
We are fully committed to making sure that our valued Everybody staff are paid fairly, and in line with the current living wage. This has been made all the more challenging by the Government’s decision to increase the National Insurance Contribution (2%+) for businesses. Despite these challenges we have recently implemented a pay award increase for all staff across the business, increasing salaries in line with the National Living Wage (6.7%). We also continue to invest in our staff, maintaining our position as an award-winning employer and accredited Investor in People.
We are a proud National Living Wage payer, and we do not differentiate on age pay. Our young members of staff take on the same roles and responsibilities as older staff members, so we do not pay them less.
Our Outcomes & Promises
Everybody Health & Leisure is, at the core, a charity dedicated to helping the residents of Cheshire East improve their health and wellbeing. As such, any profit that we make is reinvested back into the local communities that we serve. The money that you pay for your membership or lessons has allowed us to support thousands of people with long term health conditions to improve their health and their quality of life. It has also supported the Sport for Everybody Programme, which has supported 22,774 attendances at sessions like disability cycling, para-netball, ability for all sessions, walking football and walking netball.
Local Authority financial challenges
Cheshire East Council is facing some difficult financial challenges. They are working hard to maintain public services in the face of a large financial deficit, and to support them we are contributing more than ever to public health initiatives and services that support our aging population, and those with complex health conditions. This support can help to take some pressure off the NHS by improving health and mobility, decreasing the risk of falls and accidents and preventing the need for medical intervention.
Swimming pools remain at threat across the country because of their high running costs. We will keep championing swimming as a crucial life skill and are committed to keeping our pools open. Last year we delivered savings to Cheshire East Council and increased income through a swimming surcharge. We will continue to apply a reduced surcharge in 2025 on all swimming activities to support the Council and help ensure our facilities and services remain accessible for all.
Sustainability
We are committed to improving our sustainability, and part of this means that we are investing in improving our processes and technologies to make long term cost savings and drive operational efficiency. We have been working with the public decarbonisation scheme to install technologies like solar panels and air source heat pumps. We have also piloted a new air destratification model at Nantwich which has resulted in a dramatic decrease in gas usage. As such we are looking for other suitable venues where we can utilize this technology.
Options concessionary discount
Following on from the Strategic Leisure Review in March 2024, and as part of a raft of cost saving measures, the local authority has a requirement to reduce their contribution to our Options concessionary membership from 20% to 15%. However, we agreed with the Council that given the required price increase level, our charity will offset this and for 2025/26 we will only reduce the discount by 2.5%, therefore, making the discount 17.5%.
This membership will continue to be available for eligible residents in Cheshire East in 2025/2026. To access the support scheme and receive the concessionary discount, you’ll need to provide your proof of eligibility to the team over the coming weeks.
Upgrades to sites and facilities
We have committed to upgrading the facilities and public spaces at several of our sites over the coming year. This includes, redevelopment of the Cumberland Arena, refurbishing the gym changing rooms at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, refurbishing the swim changing rooms at Knutsford Leisure Centre, building Padel Courts at Wilmslow, Holmes Chapel and Nantwich, and investing in Macclesfield Central, a boutique facility, convenient for residents or those who work in Macclesfield Town Centre.
Top Line Technology
As part of our commitment to providing the best experience for our members we will continue to refresh and improve our fitness equipment including body composition scanners, across the estate.
Digital Investment
We hope that you have downloaded and are enjoying using the new Everybody App. This investment has streamlined our booking process and made timetable much easier to access. We are also investing in our website to make your experience better. For parents and swimmers, we are upgrading our LTSS booking system. Features of this upgrade include the ability to manage your own profile, join waiting lists, set up payments and book new classes including crash courses. This puts more control in the hands of members and gives parents and swimmers greater oversight of their swim journey.