Horizon Leisure has been shortlisted in the ukactive Awards 2024 in the ‘Healthy Communities’ category

Horizon Leisure’s Wellbeing Hub, located in a shopping mall in Havant, has been shortlisted in the prestigious ukactive Awards for being a trailblazer for its community’s health and wellbeing.

 

Mike Lyons, CEO at Horizon Leisure, says: “We are thrilled to be named as one of the finalists by ukactive. Their prestigious awards focus on recognising and celebrating excellence and innovation across health, wellbeing and fitness in the UK. I’m delighted to see our team’s efforts being acknowledged, especially given the tough competition. The ‘Healthy Communities’ category reflects our collective achievement and recognises the significant impact our first-of-its-kind Wellbeing Hub has had on the health and wellness of the Havant community.”

 

In a groundbreaking move in June 2023, Horizon Leisure opened its pioneering Wellbeing Hub within the Meridian Shopping Centre, allowing the charitable leisure trust to directly engage with residents. Unlike other leisure hubs, this is a stand-alone facility in a non-leisure environment, which meets the community ‘where they already are,’ empowering local residents on a journey toward greater activity and wellness.

Horizon Leisure’s Wellbeing Hub offers:

• Free health checks for early detection of health conditions
• Health interventions including Horizon’s weight management programme, Flourish
• Access to the eight-week ‘Foundations’ exercise orientation programme; a gentle introduction to exercise
• Specialist group exercise classes for targeted groups
• Six-week NHS physiotherapist-led rehabilitation sessions
• NHS smoking cessation sessions
• Independent blood pressure testing with results that feed directly to GP surgeries, facilitating early detection of high blood pressure

Lyons continues: “Our innovative approach provides a relaxed, inviting environment where individuals can access guidance and exercise, supported by our expert wellness team and other key healthcare partners, who ensure a joined-up approach. Our focus is to help improve our community’s overall wellbeing and to support people to access mainstream services.

“As we celebrate the Hub’s first anniversary, we’re proud to see 33.3% of Foundation programme participants transitioning to Horizon Leisure memberships, with 86.2% feeling motivated to continue their fitness journey, reflecting the hub’s effectiveness in supporting people to enter ‘mainstream’ leisure facilities.”

The next stage of the ukactive awards will begin in August with the winners set to be announced at the awards ceremony taking place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Thursday 3 October 2024. Lyons concludes: “We would like to congratulate to all of this year’s finalists, and we look forward to celebrating all our achievements later in the year.”