Freedom Leisure has been awarded the Hastings Borough Council leisure management contract following a tendering process which lasted almost a year.

In November the community leisure trust will take over the management of Hillcrest Sports Centre, Falaise Fitness Centre – where it plans to invest in new equipment – and Summerfields Leisure Centre – which will see improvements in the reception area and café.

Freedom Leisure will also help to meet the Council’s Fit and Healthy agenda by promoting usage of the leisure centres and by introducing a range of programmes which are currently running in other Freedom Leisure-managed sites. These include a gym and swim membership scheme for 14- to18-year-olds, the Oasis GP referral and cardiac rehabilitation scheme, Mums on the Run programmes for young mothers, a registered crèche and over-60s activity programmes.

“We go beyond traditional leisure facility management and truly integrate Sports and Health development within the service – not because they are specified within any contract documentation but because they are key objectives for Freedom Leisure,” said the trust’s operations director, Graham Freeborn.

Freedom Leisure was founded three years ago when the leisure services at Wealden District Council were put into trust.

The trust has managed the Crowborough, Hailsham, Heathfield, and Uckfield leisure centres since April 2002 and has invested almost £2.5m in improving the facilities. It also manages Helenswood Sports Centre in Hastings.