Alwyn Rowlands
Canolfan Hamdden Beaumaris Leisure Centre
Sport, Leisure, Health & Wellbeing
Wales
Back in Autumn of 2011 the then Anglesey County Council decided that the Leisure Centre in Beaumaris would close. This was because it was costing too much to run. The Centre was the Main Leisure Centre for this South East corner of the Island, and all other leisure centres on the island remained untouched. Following an investigation, it was found that all the Leisure Centres were losing money so we thought that this closure could not be so readily accepted. Therefore we formed an action group and after months of negotiations with the County Council, and after a Public Meeting in November 2012 a social enterprise was set up to run the Centre under a 30 year lease with the County Council. That Lease has recently been increased to 99 years. Council Staff (2) were TUPE'd over to us. 12 directors were elected and 35 volunteers were recruited.
Articles of association and a business plan had been drawn up with the excellent assistance of the Wales Coop in Bangor. We very quickly knew that we would not survive based on Sport and Leisure alone. So we looked at enhancing our National GP Referral Scheme to work more closely with the Local Health Centres, introduced weekend working to accommodate children's' parties and some entertainment events.
More promotion for Junior Gymnastics and Trampolining. Establishing ourselves as a Certificated Dementia Friendly Centre with its own Committee and also launching a Cooperative Care Project that would work with the local Carers through the Community Hubs. As a result of all that we acquired a Community Minibus and recruited Volunteer Drivers. We also gave birth to the first Beaumaris Food Festival which has grown to one of the biggest in Wales. There are more projects on the cards once we are out of Lockdown.