Get active with Edinburgh Leisure
Over the past few weeks and months, there’s been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to bring Edinburgh Leisure’s 14 venues back to life including six golf courses, gyms, tennis courts, sports halls and pitches, Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho, five Victorian pools and of course, the very popular Royal Commonwealth Pool.
And despite all the changes we have had to deal with and continue to deal with – whether that is the changes to facility guidance or changes to what activities we can and cannot open (our group fitness classes and adult group activities are not able to take place under the current Level 3 restrictions), we have progressed with our re-opening plans. Feedback has been so positive with Edinburgh Leisure being one of the businesses singled out for making customers feel safest since reopening with all the measures we have put in place, and an "overall crowd-pleaser".
Customers have been dusting off their clubs and heading to Edinburgh Leisure’s golf courses. Customer visits are up 43% on last year and continue to perform exceptionally well, despite the autumn weather and ever reducing day light and playing hours.
The sale of Edinburgh Leisure’s Winter Golf membership, from £22.50 per month with unlimited play at six golf courses across the city until 31 March, adds to the impressive sales, up four times compared to that in 2019.
Sporting facilities in 22 of the council’s high schools, which Edinburgh Leisure manage on behalf of the council, and Clip ‘n Climb family sessions at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, are open, albeit on a reduced basis.
The popular coaching programme for children’s swim and dive lessons, tennis, gymnastics and climbing, has restarted. The swim coaching programme at Queensferry High School has also restarted. Over 7,000 children and young people have returned to coaching - a reduction on what was available pre-lockdown, but complies with guidelines to keep people safe.
Edinburgh Leisure has introduced Family Swim Sessions into their pool timetables, where families of up to five people can swim in a pre-booked pool "pod", with prices starting from £9.60 per family group. Groups must adhere to the existing adult:child ratio as well as the Covid-19 restrictions, and must arrive swim ready. In some of the venues, deep-end
pods are available for families with confident swimmers.
Active Communities helps people affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities, and disabilities. Programmes include 1-1 gym sessions for participants on the Healthy Active Minds project; the #YouCan project, supporting care-experienced young people to get active, with virtual one to ones, outdoor and group outreach programmes.
Edinburgh Leisure remains as committed as ever to supporting citizens to be active and healthy. We’ve had to introduce
a number of changes to comply with the Covid-19 safety guidance. Things are somewhat different, with smaller numbers taking part in activities at any one time, the mandatory wearing of face coverings when moving around our venues, enhanced cleaning and physical distancing measures, but it’s all in place to ensure our customers are safe when visiting our venues.
Never has the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health been so important – please remember we’re here to help and support you to be active.