22-25 POOL WET LEISURE:Layout 1 8/2/08 17:05 Page 5
POOL & WET-LEISURE FOCUS
Grayshott celebrates
Jumeirah Carlton Tower in
double award London. Annually, Condé Nast
Grayshott Spa was a double Johansens reward properties that
winner the Condé Nast represent the finest standards.
Johansens Awards celebrating The awards are based on
success in 2008. responses from guest nominations,
The spa won the Most surveys and regional inspectors’
Excellent Spa and proprietor, reports who visit hundreds of
Simon Lowe, received The Knight properties to help narrow the final
Frank Award for Outstanding selection down to the best
Excellence & Innovation at the selection of accommodation for
awards which took place at the independent travellers.
Why are costs rising?
A special team has been set up at Oxford City Council to get to the
Women urged to turn to
bottom of why its troubled swimming pool is costing so much. The
authority looks set to overspend by nearly £1m this year - and nearly
swimming for fitness
one third is down to leisure and cultural services. Now Council Chief The Women’s Sport and Fitness Executive, said: “There has been
Executive Peter Sloman has taken direct control of the issue and will Foundation has revealed almost no change in the level of
oversee a special fortnightly leisure board. women’s fitness levels are women’s physical activity in the
Finance chiefs are predicting a £306,000 loss in leisure activities. The deteriorating and has urged more UK for the past 20 years and the
problems have been blamed on the delays in closing Peers Sports women to turn to swimming. forecasts show that the situation
Centre in Littlemore and an overspend on staffing. Last month, some The research – sponsored by is getting worse.
swimming pools had to be closed early because of staff sickness. Scottish Widows – shows that Barriers to women being
more than 80% of women are active are primarily concerned
Ethnic groups miss
not doing enough exercise to with body image, with one
benefit their health; women aged quarter of those interviewed
16–24 are half as active as men saying they ‘hate the way they
out says Ofsted
of the same age group and that look’ when they exercise or play
low income and black and sport, and 90% saying they are
An Ofsted report now claims that “However, more needs to be minority ethnic women take the under pressure to be thin, with
while most 11-year-olds in the done to address the barriers that least exercise. almost half of 25–34 year olds
UK now reach the national prevent all pupils participating in The WSFF speculates that if feeling under greater pressure to
curriculum target of being able swimming activities in order to build these trends continue there will be be thin than healthy.
to swim 25 metres, ethnic self-esteem, keep fit and healthy one and a quarter million fewer The government will now use
minorities are getting little and to meet swimming standards.” women exercising by 2017, the findings to develop its first
experience of swimming. The schools in 17 “school sport putting in jeopardy the national strategy to raise women’s
Even among schools which partnerships”, were given additional government’s target of participation in sport and
had received extra money to funding under a special initiative to encouraging two million more exercise. It has chosen swimming
boost swimming, in one in six boost the quality and effectiveness people to be active by 2012. as the best all year around ideal
was “inadequate”. In these of swimming provision. Sue Tibballs, WSFF Chief for of exercise and training.
schools, the key factor was lack Most teaching was good, with
of time devoted to the subject. teachers often being qualified
Complete Spas
magazine. During November,
In a quarter of the 12 local swimming instructors. Club4Climate is asking people to
authorities visited, the way that But it added: “Evidence from help increase switch to an energy supplier’s
swimming facilities had been this small sample of schools
centralised meant pupils spent suggested that pupils from some
awareness
green energy service.
Peter Grinnall, of Complete
more than twice as long black minority ethnic groups often Worcestershire company Complete Spas, said the parties get the
travelling to the pool as they started with less experience of Spas is to supply hot tubs in the message across in a fun way.
spent in the water. swimming than other groups and West End of London for a He said: “We have even
Ofsted’s Director of Education, made the least progress. campaign to increase climate managed to get Lauren Rhodes
Miriam Rosen, said pupils Gifted and talented swimmers change awareness. Club4climate is in one of our hot tubs. Lauren is
recognised that swimming would were often not well catered for, the aiming to raise £100,000 over 12 running for MP for South
help them to enjoy life, be report said. And the tracking of the months to combat climate change Kensington as the leader of the
healthy and stay safe, particularly individual progress made by all by supporting emissions reduction Glamour Party. “As you might
in cases of emergency. pupils was generally not well done. projects around the world. guess we here at Complete
“Their views on the swimming Teaching was often less effective Club4climate arranges parties Spas are right behind her.”
programmes have been with pupils with behavioural, which have been attended by For more information visit
overwhelmingly positive. emotional and social difficulties.” celebrities and featured in OK www.completespas.co.uk
www.ukleisurenews.co.uk January / February 2008 UK LEISURE NEWS 25
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