Twelve new realities

In some local authorities, leisure services have been off the corporate radar due to them operating at a surplus and not presenting any significant problems or budget decisions. COVID-19 has resulted in those authorities having to provide financial support for the first time in years. SLC is working hard with its local authority clients and strategic partners to respond positively to the challenges being faced. We have developed our take on what we are calling the ‘Twelve new realities’ in what is a constantly evolving environment.

Sport England National Leisure Recovery Fund

Sport England opened the National Leisure Recovery Fund in December 2020, with the aim of supporting the reopening and recovery of public sector leisure facilities. A total of £100M has been distributed to 266 local authorities across England, funded by the Government and administered by Sport England.
SLC is proud to have supported a significant number of our clients in receiving £ millions of funding support.

Report – Virtual Think Tank 06 August: Managing the Recovery of Local Government Leisure Services

The Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy (SLC) facilitated an online Think Tank – ‘Managing the Recovery of Local Government Leisure Services’ for local authority clients and Sport England colleagues only on 06 August 2020 from 3pm-4.30pm. Facilitation was provided by Duncan-Wood Allum, SLC Managing Director, supported by Judith Schrenk, SLC Research Consultant.

SLC’s Recovery Planning Support strengthened through partnership with 4global

SLC, in close collaboration with leisure insight experts and developers of the DataHub 4global, have developed a Local Authority Benchmarking Tool to support local authority clients and their leisure operating partners through the phases of recovery. This enables local authorities to track actual live financial and throughput performance of sites linked to all the core income areas of a leisure operation and to maintain ‘real-time’ visibility on how the wider market is responding – something which will be hugely valuable during such a period of uncertainty.

Report – Virtual Think Tank 25 June: Recovery Planning: Remobilising Leisure Services – the next challenge

The Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy (SLC) facilitated an online Think Tank – Recovery Planning: Remobilising Leisure Services – the next challenge’ for Local Authority Clients, Sector Stakeholders and Public Sector Leisure Operating Partners on 25 June 2020. Facilitation was provided by Toby Kingsbury, Director at SLC, supported by Judith Schrenk, SLC Research Consultant.

Report – Virtual Think Tank 11 June: Recovery Planning – Key Considerations for Public Leisure Services’ exploring affordability – key challenges and opportunities

The Sport, Leisure and Culture Consultancy (SLC) facilitated an online Think Tank – Recovery Planning – Key Considerations for Public Leisure Services’ exploring affordability – key challenges and opportunities for Local Authority Clients, Sector Stakeholders and Public Sector Leisure Operating Partners. Facilitation was provided by Duncan Wood-Allum, Founder and Managing Director at SLC, supported by Judith Schrenk, SLC Research Consultant.