Boom in Oldham Active’s young members

Oldham Active’s Young Person’s Memberships are booming, with 27% of new members signing up each month now Young Person’s Memberships and 15% of total members aged 11 – 18.

 

Oldham Active (Oldham Community Leisure), a charitable trust operating leisure facilities in the borough, first introduced its Young Person’s Membership in October 2021.  Since launching, its popularity has grown and Oldham Active currently has 1500 young members across its five facilities in the borough.

 

Simon Blair, Head of Business Development, Oldham Active says: “We are constantly reviewing our memberships and offers to reach out to our community to make a real-life impact to the borough’s health and wellness.  So we are really proud of the significant uplift in young people using our facilities. Recent findings show that 26 per cent of Year Six children in Oldham are already obese. We want to help combat these troubling findings and are keen to establish healthier life choices in young people for the long term.  Helping young people to feel relaxed and confident in our facilities is paramount, as it will help them to navigate and seek out physical activity as they get older and have families of their own.

 

“We understand not all young people enjoy traditional competitive sport and PE lessons. Our membership allows young people to access to our pools, gyms and our fantastic range of group exercise classes, as we really want encourage young people to try something new, and something the national curriculum and schools may not be able to offer.”

 

A parent or guardian must help the young person set up their membership, including completing an application form, health questionnaire and establishing the direct debit. However, once the young person has had a complimentary full induction, including creating a bespoke fitness programme, they can use the gym and facilities independently, without an adult.

 

Blair says: “To help young people prepare to use the gym, all new members must have a mandatory induction, helping them to learn how to use the equipment safely, and how to be respectful and mindful of other members and best practices. We always have our experienced wellness team in our gyms and facilities who are available to offer help, guidance and support.”

 

Oldham Active’s monthly membership package is £16.99 a month, which gives young people access to swim sessions, group classes and the gym, with seven days advanced booking, any time, any day, to all its leisure centres.

 

Devon, aged 13, has a Young Person’s Membership and uses the gym and classes at Royton Gym and Chadderton Wellbeing Centre.  He says: “My mum has been a member of Oldham Active for as long as I can remember, so going to the gym felt very familiar to me.  We both now go, two or three times a week, and I’m really loving some of the group exercise classes, especially HIIT and Body Tone.  The classes really challenge me and I enjoy using the equipment. Other members and the instructors have been really welcoming, and since joining a few months ago I’m feeling really good and confident. I’m thinking of trying out Spinning for the first time!  I’m not really into football at school, so coming to the gym gives me the opportunity to work out without the pressure of team sports.”

 

Devon’s mum, Leanne, 45, says: “The great thing about Oldham Active is the variety of people that use the facilities. Everyone is made to feel welcome. I’ve been a member for 11 years and really enjoy the Body Pump classes.  It’s a really non-judgmental environment and I feel secure and reassured that my son can come and spend time here with or without me.  It’s great that he can access exercise on his own terms and I’ve been pleased to see him try out a variety of activities.  I find the junior membership to be extremely good value, as it includes all classes, the gym, swimming.. I can see Devon using this membership for the long-term.”