Free annual sports centre memberships to be given to carers

Moberly Sports Centre and Paddington Recreation Ground, operated by Everyone Active in partnership with Westminster City Council, are giving away free annual memberships in recognition of the selfless work of carers associated with Carers Network.

Over 1,000 carers in Westminster are being invited to enter a prize draw for a free annual membership for sites in Westminster. The goodwill gesture has been funded by local leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with Westminster City Council’s ActiveWestminster - North Network. ActiveWestminster work closely with hundreds of public, private and voluntary sector organisations to encourage people across Westminster to get and stay active through physical activity, leisure and sport at any level.

Ten memberships will be given away for each leisure centre, with memberships commencing this week. Those successful in the prize draw will be granted access to all centre facilities, including complimentary fitness classes. If the initiative is well received, Everyone Active plan to expand the giveaway with additional memberships to Carers Network in the future.

Carers Network is an independent charity that supports unpaid carers living in three London boroughs; the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Whether it’s caring for a partner, relative, friend or neighbour, Carers Network’s mission is to ensure unpaid carers living in these areas can lead healthy, fulfilling lives with control over their caring role. Carers Network’s mission is made possible through funding provided by the borough councils, as well as external funding for specific projects from the Big Lottery Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation and The Henry Smith Charity.

Cllr Paul Swaddle, Westminster City Cabinet Member for Community Services and Digital said: “The ActiveWestminster Networks identify local needs and ways to encourage people across Westminster to get and stay active through physical activity, leisure and sport, and the Carers Network is a fantastic charity supporting unpaid carers who are very much the unsung heroes of our community. This collaboration and free membership prize draw will hopefully go some way to showing our appreciation for their efforts. We hope that this initiative will help these carers use Physical Activity as a way to look after their mental and physical wellbeing and to shine a light on the invaluable work that they do.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the unpaid carers we support in Westminster, and we are incredibly grateful to Everyone Active for making it possible” says Carers Network Fundraising and Communications Manager, Annwen Bates. “An annual Everyone Active membership will make a real difference to carers’ physical and mental health and wellbeing”.

“Exercise is a good way to destress and improve my emotional wellbeing and mental health” says a Westminster carer helped by Carers Network. “The membership will allow me to switch off from my caring role for a short while and do something for myself that will help me to stay physically and mentally healthy. Also, it will be a good way to meet new people”.

“Carers Network do such a fantastic job and make being a carer possible for people who could not manage otherwise”, says Everyone Active General Manager, Chris Yearley. “Having to care for a loved one with no form of income must be incredibly difficult, so we’re so pleased to be able to welcome the carers into our gyms as a sign of our appreciation for all their selfless hard work”.

To find out more about Carers Network, visit https://carers-network.org.uk/