Gym investment reaping benefits for local residents

A Telford resident told council how she has used the community’s recreational facilities in Wellington to improve her fitness and transform her life.

Lorna, who joined Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure’s aspiration gym in Wellington in 2018, began using the pool after suffering a stroke five years ago to regain her strength.

Within just a few months, Lorna had mastered her laps in the pool and was beginning to challenge herself with some low-impact moves at the gym. It wasn’t long before Lorna was a regular at group gym classes and is now using all three Wellington facilities to keep her health and well-being in check.

A number of investment programs launched in 2022 are being implemented by Telford & Wrekin Council at its leisure sites. ensuring they deliver an up-to-date gym experience with technology that gym members want to see and use, and provide residents with a place to prioritize their health and well-being.

The investment comes as part of the community’s broader On Your Side commitment to making the district cleaner, greener, safer and more enjoyable.

The Wellington Civic and Leisure Center was refurbished last summer to mark the 10th anniversary of the site’s first opening. The renovation included a brand new, state-of-the-art 30-station cardio fitness kit, complete with treadmills, ellipticals, steppers and Watt bikes, as well as a new stationary resistance station and the installation of new group bikes to improve the center’s cycling class offering.

Lorna told us: “I joined Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure in 2018 when I needed to focus on my health. My top priority was getting fit again and I couldn’t have picked a better environment to combine swimming, gym and group classes in the same place. For me now it’s not just about getting fit, it’s about doing something I love every day to support my mental health. The refurbishment last year brought all the gym equipment up to date which has improved my enjoyment of using the gym.”

Councilor Kelly Middleton (Labour), Cabinet Member for Leisure, Public Health and Wellbeing, Equality and Partnerships, commented: “This inspirational story is an excellent example of how our city’s leisure facilities play an important role in contributing to people’s physical and mental health well-being every day. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to invest and make our leisure facilities the best it can be for our residents – with over 15,000 customers walking through Wellington’s doors each week to enjoy the on-site gym, swim, fitness and exercise use facilities – we will continue to make sure they are great places for our residents. This is more than numbers in a spreadsheet, it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives. That is why we are investing.”

Read more about how Council is investing in its leisure facilities in Telford and Wrekin – www.telfordandwrekinleisure.co.uk/investmentnews