2012

Whether you participate, volunteer or simply spectate, the Olympic and Paralympic Games hope to engage the country with sport at an international level. It’s an exciting prospect for the entire nation. 2012 promises to be a catalyst for change, encouraging more people to become more active, more often.

It has recently been announced that £30 million will be available to deliver and develop sport at a grassroots level in London. This is great news, but what about the rest of the UK? Managing a diverse portfolio of facilities for elite athletes for both able bodied and disabled people we know the wealth of talent and future potential – many of whom are not based in London.

We are currently looking at our strategy across our portfolio of centres to ensure 2012 is weaved into what we do and that we can be part of the amazing legacy Lord Coe spoke about all those years ago.

Are we ready to change lives?

"Get Active weekends are a great tool in opening up our centres to community. It gives local residents the opportunity to have a taste of what public access leisure provision is like.

More recently we have welcomed Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham MP, to launch the next phase of Change4Life. The great and the good from Parliament, the leisure and sport industry and other VIPs all attended a briefing by Andy Burnham MP, as he set out the Government's vision for a fitter England. In his speech, the Health Secretary called on the NHS to make the promotion of active lifestyles "core business and not a peripheral concern". Health professionals should see improving activity rates and getting their patients moving as central to their work."

Mark Botha, Sales and Marketing Director, Leisure Connection