What can legacy Councils and shadow authorities start doing now? LGR Article 4 Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to reimagine how leisure and active wellbeing support communities. Over the last three articles, we have explored the strategic choices, practical challenges and transformation opportunities that new unitaries face.…
LGR article 3 – Opportunities and challenges SLC’s Dom Hudson, Principal Consultant, has written this report as the latest instalment in a series on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), following on from two earlier articles: LGR – a once in a generation opportunity? LGR – strategic decisions facing local authorities The report explores…
For years, the question of whether local authorities should charge VAT on leisure services has been a point of contention with HMRC. HMRC’s longstanding view was straightforward: leisure centres and sports facilities were business activities, so income was subject to VAT. Local authorities disagreed, arguing that they were providing leisure…
My journey with SLC began during a week-long work experience placement in July 2024, a year into my A-levels. After carefully researching SLC, I wrote an introductory letter to its Managing Director Duncan Wood-Allum to explore the opportunity. I was delighted that Duncan came back to me, and he clearly…
Is this the end of public leisure services as we know it? Yes – but active wellbeing is our collective future Duncan Wood-Allum, Managing Director of SLC, recently produced an article for Health Club Management outlining the reasons why he believes the investment in place-based working hasn’t realised its full…
LGR article 2 The landscape of local government is shifting. As local authorities move through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the choices made today will set the tone for public services for the next generation. At the heart of these changes lies a crucial question for our sector: how can leisure,…
LGR article 1 Together with our public sector clients, we are exploring the implications of local government reorganisation (LGR) for leisure and active wellbeing services. Dom Hudson and SLC colleagues have been examining the potential threats, hurdles and opportunities that may lie ahead through our work with local authorities and…
It’s hard to believe that this month marks my first year at SLC! Over the course of the past year, I’ve grown from being an industry newbie to playing a key role in several major public leisure and active wellbeing projects. This includes the development of an active wellbeing operating and…
My time at SLC began with a month-long internship in September. I had just come back from the Olympics where I was the reserve goalkeeper for the Great Britain Men’s Hockey squad. I was also finishing my Masters in Sport Management, Politics and International Development at Loughborough University. My Masters…
The sport, leisure and active wellbeing sector loves a strategy. Typically, local authorities use them to set out their policy position, direction, priority outcomes and plans. Active Partnerships use them to highlight and articulate their purpose and work as a systems leader across their locality. Huge amounts of time and…