12 months on, following a six-figure investment at a local leisure centre, BH Live is pleased to see more people are now being regularly active at BH Live Active Pelhams in Kinson, North Bournemouth.

The centre’s gym and studio facilities were completely transformed in 2023 thanks to a £600K investment from BH Live, the registered charity and social enterprise that operates the centre in partnership with BCP Council.

Since then, the team at the centre has recorded more than 190,000 visits to group classes and the gym and 66,000 swims – that’s a 59.6% increase from the previous year. Pay-as-you-go attendance has grown too and more than 600 additional BH Live Active members have joined the Pelhams community.

Pelhams is consistently evolving to inspire more visitors of all ages and abilities to participate in physical activity for improved health and wellbeing. Its Wellness Hub, complete with power-assisted machines, is helping those who need a more supported exercise programme. Additionally, several new health and wellbeing programmes have launched to target inactive people, including those with long-term health conditions or injuries. The centre’s group class programme has also expanded to include more wellness, high-energy and Les Mills™ fitness routines following customer demand.

The centre is a thriving hub of activity for local families too. Over the past 12 months, its popular Swimming Academy delivered more than 4,200 hours of lessons to pupils of all ages and abilities. This summer, BH Live also invested in a brand-new pool inflatable attraction – Raptor Run to attract older children and families into the pool. Alongside popular pool sessions such as Wet & Wacky, thousands of children have since run, jumped, played and discovered the benefits of getting active in the water. Popular for parties too, more than 100 birthday parties have been hosted in the pool, football pitches and soft play area.

Recently, the team at the centre has taken steps towards becoming more sustainable and achieving Green Mark Level 2 accreditation. This is a scheme that reviews organisations’ sustainability performances and identifies steps on how businesses can save energy, reduce waste, and become more environmentally responsible in their everyday processes.

Furthermore, an assessment earlier this year by Right Directions, Sport England’s trusted trade body, awarded a ‘Very Good’ grade to the BH Live Active team at Pelhams for its cleanliness and customer service with the assessor stating that “it was one of the best facilities I have visited this year”.

Currently underway is a further £240k BH Live investment to overhaul six of the centre’s outdoor 3G rubber crumb artificial training pitches that are used by hundreds of footballers each week. This project is due to complete later in November 2024.

On behalf of BH Live, Summer Sweatland, Centre Manager, shared;

“Pelhams is a vibrant community leisure centre – and the facilities here are just getting better and better. Over the past 12 months, there has been so much to celebrate. Major projects have completed to improve the gym and class facilities. We’ve launched new activities and attractions to inspire more people to come through our doors and get active. And we are taking steps to be more sustainable.

“Customer feedback has been brilliant, with thousands of people including clubs, community groups, and families regularly visiting us every week.

The investment BH Live is making is having an incredibly positive impact in North Bournemouth and it is a privilege to be making a difference to people’s lives.”

Pelhams is a popular leisure centre with a large gym, two swimming pools, daily classes in its three group exercise studios, outdoor tennis courts, a café, Wellness Hub, and more. There is lift access to all floors and accessible family-friendly changing rooms.

In the improved gym, high-specification cardio fitness equipment appeals to those looking to improve their overall fitness, strength, and mobility. Strength training has been powered up with new lifting platforms, plate-loaded machines, and functional equipment. There is also improved space for pre and post-workout stretching, and mobility work.

Last year, the centre’s group cycle experience was relaunched with brand-new high-spec training bikes from Technogym^TM, with interactive features, plus MyWellness and Myzone fitness tracking.

Visit bhliveactive.org.uk/pelhams for further information.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

For more information about BH Live please contact:

Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk

About BH Live

BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues; a registered charity and social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.

For more visit bhlive.org.uk.

Get social with us:
LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK
Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive

BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.

About Pelhams Park Leisure Centre

Pelhams is operated by BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.

Located in north Bournemouth, it has two swimming pools, a sauna, gym, group exercise and spin studios with a timetable of daily classes. Power-assisted exercise equipment and classes are also available in the centre’s Wellness Hub. There is also a Terrace Café, and a children’s soft play facility.

Hundreds of people are learning to swim at Pelhams with BH Live’s Swimming Academy.

Outdoors there are three outdoor tennis courts and eight floodlit 3G rubber crumb artificial training pitches running Play Football leagues. The team works closely with the local community and health groups to provide fitness and social activities for all.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us:
X – @bhliveactive
Facebook – @pelhamsparkleisurecentre