 |
Community Leisure UK responds to the phased reopening of cultural services and facilities
06 Jul 2020
This weekend saw the welcome reopening of many museums, galleries and libraries across England with people queuing in some areas to return to these much loved facilities. Across Scotland, preparations are well underway to reopen similar venues next week, with Welsh libraries already operating a click and collect, contactless service and preparations for reopening outdoor visitor attractions from today. Through the immediate need for alternative models of delivery during lockdown, members unleashed their creativity and imagination for new ways to engage with their communities, from summer reading challenges and signposting families to activities and information for children [1], to crafting activities and challenges [2].
The prolonged period of lockdown when cultural venues had to close their doors to their communities has highlighted the impact of their absence across the lives of local people. These are community assets that have a crucial role in supporting wellbeing by having accessible cultural activities [3], offering valuable social interaction and a safe place for a cuppa, as well as specific arts and cultural programmes that target people’s health and wellbeing.
These include: theatres, which provide professional productions through to community productions; libraries [4], which are community hubs where dementia groups meet, and offer internet access for those who need it; museums and galleries [5], where local and national heritage is celebrated and transformational cultural experiences occur, which will be critical in future as we make sense as a nation of the post covid-19 world.
Like most other sectors across the UK, the arts and culture sector has been seriously impacted by covid-19, with a long and difficult recovery ahead. However, the announcement from the UK Government of £1.57bn of support for museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues is incredibly welcome. This includes £188 million for the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland (£33 million), Scotland (£97 million) and Wales (£59 million).
We look forward to seeing the details of this funding in due course, and hope it will provide the vital lifeline so urgently required by the sector. However, the scope of this funding does not encompass libraries, which although statutory, are also facing significant financial pressures with the breadth of their services at risk for the future. In addition, if library sites are unable to reopen, or face a delayed reopening, communities will be impacted in terms of the accessibility of their local library, which at a time of rising inequalities across society will only risk further detriment and division.
Notably, the key will be in the timeline for this to be available in the bank accounts of organisations desperately in need as we are already witnessing theatres closing and staff being made redundant. It is essential that this support is fast tracked to prevent further losses and that clarity is provided around the eligibility criteria. Public cultural services are at the heart of their local places, often delivered through charitable trusts (60% of members in Scotland deliver public culture; 48% of members in England; and 50% of members in Wales). It is essential that these charitable trusts are able to access this funding in order for them to be protected, valued and supported to survive and thrive for the future generations of our country.
Theatres and performance venues are perhaps those at highest risk in terms of viability and are unlikely to reopen this year. This latest funding, along with a £10m lifeline fund announced by the Scottish Government, will hopefully ensure their survival, as a loss of theatre would have significant and long-lasting impacts on communities and their wellbeing.
There has been a perception that many culture and heritage institutions have benefitted from unprecedented financial support through the pandemic. However, this is clearly not true. In the case of our members, charitable trusts delivering public arts and culture, they have fallen through the gaps in most funding support available, resulting in cultural services being delivered through this model missing out on support and facing increased financial challenges.
Furthermore, since their establishment, charitable trusts have been encouraged to become increasingly self-sufficient against a backdrop of increasing local authority financial pressures and ever decreasing budgets. The result of this is that charitable trusts are now victims of their own success, with a far greater reliance on income through trading, which has now entirely stopped since the closure of facilities. The resulting gap between income and expenditure is therefore increased, exacerbating the financial pressures felt as a result of the current pandemic.
There is an urgent need for care and ownership of cultural services and facilities at a political level, both nationally and locally, with an understanding of the value and impact of culture and the arts and a commitment to protect and support these services regardless of the delivery model.
Yet the role of public arts and culture extends far beyond venues and services. Cultural trusts offer multiple opportunities for artists and creative practitioners, from staff working in theatres or arts centres, delivering workshops, as well as commissions for individual artists and specialist advice and support for artists, arts organisations and community groups in local areas. Cultural trusts also work in partnership with national bodies to open up opportunities for artists and communities in their areas.
As we begin to see reopening across the cultural world, we will benefit from some innovation and reimagining in the delivery and accessibility of services. During lockdown, most members sought alternative ways to engage with their communities, through digital offerings (including expanded ebook availability, online music tuition [6], virtual tours of museums and galleries, online community festivals [7]), and also sought to support those who may not have access to technology, for example, ‘Get creative inside’ activity packs for children [8], and the ‘Stronger together’ programme supporting the mental health and wellbeing of older people, encouraging them to be more creative, take up a new activity or share an existing interest with others in the same situation [9].
Trusts continue to be bold and ambitious in re-imagining these services for the future and have their ability and innovation in being able to pivot and deliver services and opportunities in a new way in an incredibly short time-frame. This demonstrates their desire to be accessible to communities, their recognition of their role as community assets and their agility to transform, completely debunking the myth of culture being out of touch with the modern world and communities.
Examples as mentioned in the statement
1: East Renfrewshire Leisure and Culture Resources for Children
2: Lincs Inspire Craft Challenge
3: Swing in the Park at the Grade-I listed Pitville Pump Room managed by Cheltenham Trust
4: Redbridge’s Libraries ‘Lucky Dip Bags’ with pre-selected children books organised by Vision-Redbridge Culture and Leisure
5: “Our Stories” brings Falkirk area heritage to life by Falkirk Community Trust
6: Online Music Tuition by Highlife Highland
7: Online Community Festival by Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure & Culture
8: Get Creative Inside! Activity packs by Link4Life
9: Stronger Together programme by Awen Cultural Trust in collaboration with Bridgend Council
back
|
| Latest member news |
 |
|
Edinburgh Leisure Appoints New Chief Executive
Edinburgh-based physical activity charity, Edinburgh Leisure, has announced the
appointment of a new Chief Executive.
read more...
Withington Baths Receives Sports England Grant to Accelerate its Carbon Footprint Reduction Efforts
Love Withington Baths, the non-profit organisation that operates Withington Baths
and co-working space Withington Works, has announced exciting plans to
significantly reduce its carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency thanks to
a £105K grant secured from Sport England under the Government’s Swimming Pool
Support Fund.
read more...
GLL Celebrate £140k Arts Council Funding
VR headsets, IT hublets and improved seating, shelving and flooring are on their
way to Lye Library, Dudley thanks to funding from the Arts Council.
read more...
Much-Loved Library to Receive Grant Funding of Nearly £400,000
One of Redbridge's most popular libraries will benefit from a significant
modernisation programme after being awarded nearly £400,000 in grant funding.
read more...
Horizon Leisure Scoops Prize at Portsmouth Business Awards
Horizon Leisure, which operates Havant leisure Centre and Waterlooville Leisure
Centre, was crowned Community Business of the Year at the Portsmouth Business
Awards earlier this year.
read more...
Portsmouth Tennis Centre celebrated for bringing tennis to all
Portsmouth Tennis Centre has been recognised by the LTA Tennis Awards for bringing
tennis to under-represented groups and communities throughout the city.
read more...
Wellness Hub Breaks Down Barriers to Tackle Health Inequalities in North East Lincolnshire
A new report on Lincs Inspire’s Wellness Hub has revealed the difference it is
making to community health.
read more...
|
|
Grant from Parkinson’s UK Gives Green Light to New Cycle Classes
Everybody Health & Leisure has launched a dedicated group cycling classes for
people living with Parkinson's Disease.
read more...
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust score partnership with Club Doncaster
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT) and Club Doncaster have agreed a
partnership that will see DCLT as an official sponsor of the Dons RLFC and sponsor
of two Belles players.
read more...
BPL Achieves Swim England’s Water Wellbeing Accreditation
AWARD winning community leisure trust BPL has achieved Swim England’s Water
Wellbeing accreditation.
read more...
Edinburgh Leisure Scale New Heights Following £100,000 Boost
Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted from a major
funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
read more...
78-year-old George’s marvellous weightlifting medicine
Almost an octogenarian, George Travis is still hammering out kettle bell classes
as an Active Tameside fitness instructor.
read more...
Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre Gets Massive Makeover
A Swansea leisure centre has been totally revamped with a £7.5 million investment.
read more...
GLL Starts 10-year Deal to Operate Newham Leisure Centres
The UK’s leading leisure and cultural charitable staff-owned trust, which runs
services under the Better brand, has begun a new 10-year partnership with Newham
Council that promises to increase physical activity levels and improve the
customer experience for residents in one of London’s fastest growing boroughs.
read more...
|
| Business partner news |
|
|
|
|
09 Apr 2024
Oxygen Consulting deep dives into padel with forthcoming report
Oxygen Consulting is about to launch its first UK Padel Report, which
investigates this fast-growing sport.
read more...
05 Apr 2024
Ronaldo crashes the app store with launch of new wellness, fitness and health app, Erakulis
Portugese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, has launched a health and wellness app that harmonises
advice on fitness, nutrition and mental wellness in one seamless experience.
read more...
04 Apr 2024
New research shows BMI fails as a measure of childhood obesity, leading to flawed policy
Waist circumference-to-height ratio is a more reliable measure of obesity in children and
adolescents than BMI according to a new study, published in Pediatric Research.
read more...
28 Mar 2024
4Global and UK Active launch private sector health club benchmarking
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A
collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the aim of the research is to provide accurate
insight into the state of UK-based private sector health clubs.
read more...
|
|
27 Mar 2024
Egym snaps up Hussle as it moves to dominate the corporate wellness market with its Wellpass product
Egym, has signalled its intention to become a dominant force in the corporate wellness sector
with the acquisition of UK-based aggregator, Hussle.
read more...
26 Mar 2024
Total Fitness turns a profit as it beats pre-COVID membership
Total Fitness has released results for its most recent financial year (to June 23), which saw a
return to pre-COVID membership levels following a year-on-year uplift in membership numbers
of 5 per cent.
read more...
25 Mar 2024
Entrepreneurs share secrets of building a fitness business at PerformX
Enjoy building your business because the journey can be as good or better than the destination
was one takeaway of the industry titans’ panel on empire building, comprised of three industry
entrepreneurs.
read more...
22 Mar 2024
Myzone removes the hardware barrier with launch of MZ-Open, making its system available on smart watches
Myzone is now available on smart watches, allowing Android and AppleWatch wearers to record
workouts without an additional device, and taking the tech company into the multi-billion dollar
smart watch market.
read more...
|
|
|
|
| General Meetings |
 |
|
CLUK General Meeting
15 May 2024: Glasgow
|
| Special Interest Groups |
|
|
Social Value
16 April 2024
|
Volunteering
24 April 2024
|
Finance
2 May 2024
|
|
For more information about Special Interest Group and regional / national members meetings, please contact [email protected]
|
|
