Armed forces get free gym membership

Cannock Chase Council’s cabinet agreed to extend the leisure concessions scheme into 2019-20 at a meeting on Thursday – two weeks ahead of Armed Forces Day on June 29.

The offer has now been running for seven years and is reconsidered on an annual basis.

Council leader George Adamson said: “We have been doing it since 2012. It is a small way of saying thank you to the people who put their lives at risk for us.

“At the moment Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (which runs the council’s leisure services) are paying the costs.”

Councillor Christine Mitchell, cabinet member for culture and sport, said: “We wanted to do something to pay back these people for the work they do for the country.

“We agreed to this scheme at no cost to the council and it has been particularly successful this year, with 45 Armed Forces members joining. together with 25 family relatives – of course that is a pay back for Wigan as family members joining do pay membership.

“We look at this each year in case the membership gets higher and higher. There is a cost to operating this scheme but Wigan are still happy to do it.”

Councillor Alan Pearson, cabinet member for corporate improvement, said: “I have asked Councillor Mitchell to look at the position for our children in care – it would allow them to use sports facilities and meet new people. I would like something similar to be put forward.”

Free membership to Rugeley and Chase leisure centres is available to eligible residents serving in the Armed Forces – including active Territorial Army (TA) reservists – and this covers use of swimming pools and fitness suites and group activities and fitness classes. Sports hall and meeting room bookings are not included however.

In the year beginning June 30 2018 there were 145 Armed Forces members taking up the offer – down from 155 on June 30 2017. Of these members 62 were registered at Rugeley Leisure Centre and 83 at Cannock’s Chase Leisure Centre.

Before the scheme was introduced 36 service people held some form of leisure centre membership.

A report to the cabinet also revealed that introducing the scheme cost £9,528 in the 36 previous paid memberships, but brought in £7,524 via the 25 relative memberships – resulting in a loss of £2,004.

The report said: “This reflects the position of the initial two years of the offer and reverses the trend observed with the surplus generation in 2015/16. It further doesn’t take into account other costs arising from operating this offer, such as free memberships for 109 new adult gym memberships (£43,055) inclusive of inductions (£11 per induction) for all members, the accelerated wear and tear of equipment, the issue and replacement of membership cards/ Technogym keys and the potential lost income opportunity.

“Non-monetary benefits should also be recognised when reviewing the scheme including increased secondary spend, rises in participation levels, the enhanced reputation of the service and a genuine social recognition of the selfless contribution Armed Forces personnel make.

“The trust does wish to continue to review the position on an annual basis. The trust has also confirmed that the impact upon the contract is likely to take effect when membership numbers reach capacity and the number of Armed Forces members prevents the trust from selling other full price or 50% concessionary memberships”