SportsNation

A number of physical activity sector organisations have signed an open letter which outlines concerns over the impact The Labour Party government’s benefits reforms could have on disabled people and activity levels across the UK. Led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the organisations – which cover the length and breadth of the sport, recreation and physical activity space – have come together to highlight the potential significant adverse impacts of the Government’s proposed changes to health and disability benefits and employment support – set out in Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support Green Paper – on disabled people and participation in sport, recreation and physical activity. According to the letter, the changes risk creating even greater barriers for disabled people to access the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle and “undermining progress made by Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy” in tackling inactivity and social isolation among disabled people. “The proposed changes to health and disability benefits and employment support – set out in Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support Green Paper – and the discourse surrounding them imposes significant adverse impacts on disabled people, creates even greater barriers for disabled people to access the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle, and continues to propagate harmful perceptions across society," the letter reads. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eXEV5Ju5 Lisa Wainwright MBE (She/Her) Activity Alliance, ParalympicsGB, British Wheelchair Basketball, England Athletics, The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA), Basketball England, British Rowing, LimbPower, British Cycling, Youth Sport Trust, British Gymnastics, Paddle UK, WheelPower/British Wheelchair Sport, England and Great Britain Hockey, UK Deaf Sport.

Swim England has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Lisa West as Financial Director. West joins the national governing body from Barratt Redrow, where she held senior finance management roles. Previously, she has held finance positions at retailer Next, utility company E.ON UK and oil company ConocoPhillips. She qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte. She will star in her new role on Monday 31 March and is the third new member to join Swim England’s senior leadership team, following the appointment of Helen Marney as Director of Community Participation and Health and Maria Papadopoulos as People Director. Andy Salmon, Swim England CEO, said West had a crucial part to play for the national governing body. “Lisa has a wealth of expertise and experience that will be so important for the organisation as we embark on our transformation programme,” Salmon said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUJJTqvT #swimming #swimmingpool #swim #pool #aquatics

Looking forward to a packed day attending the #BeInspired Conference hosted by Women in Football at Wembley Stadium. Impressive line up of speakers with one of the themes being "Challenging the System, Changing the Game, Shaping the Future". Come and say hello if you're here! (And if not, a report from today will appear in Issue 3 of SportsNation). #WomenInSport #WomenInFootball #Equality #Football

Fitness tech specialist, Myzone®, has appointed Joanna Walker as its new Head of Brand and Communications. Walker, a fitness and wellness marketing expert who has extensive experience in the software as a service (#SaaS) sector, joins the business as it prepares for a new phase of growth and expansion. During her career, Walker has held senior marketing roles at Xplor Technologies and EverCommerce and most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer at BOX12. Her expertise in building brands and driving data-driven strategies means she is well-placed to help shape Myzone’s next chapter. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezEe-dzn Tom Davies, Dave Wright, Jennie S. Craig Artley, Jay W., Vahid B. Zadeh #FitnessTech #WearableTech #Wearables #Fitness #HealthClub

One of Belfast’s largest purpose-built student accommodations, Nelson Place has benefitted from a premium flooring solution supplied by SAPCA member, Gerflor.  The prestigious, 774-bedroom city centre campus services the growing needs of Ulster University and Student Roost and includes high-quality accommodation, with ground floor amenities elevated to incorporate a mezzanine level. The building also includes a state-of-the-art, four-court sports hall, gym, fitness suite, and training facilities. Central to the success of the sports and fitness project was the specification of 2,600sq m of flooring products supplied by international interior specialists, Gerflor. The flooring solutions included PowerShock 300 rubber tiles and GTI Max Technical Tiles for the gym areas, Tarasafe Impression slip-resistant safety flooring in the main reception and walkway, Tarasafe Ultra and Tarasafe Ultra H²O slip-resistant safety vinyl flooring for the changing rooms and WC’s, alongside their world-renowned Olympic pedigree Taraflex® sports flooring for the main sports hall. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJS-7Zz2 #SportsFlooring #IndoorSports #SportsHall

Panic!!!!!! 😱 Or not? Two days to go before the much anticipated budget. Should we be worried? I’ve jotted down some thoughts. My view? As a sector our value is undeniable, so why don’t policy makers see it? It’s just my thinking. I’m keen to hear yours. 👇 David Stalker FCIMSPA Huw Edwards Lisa Wainwright MBE (She/Her) Alison Oliver MBE Andy Taylor Andy Reed OBE Andy King Hitesh Patel Ian Leete Ben Wilkins Baz Moffat Adam Blaze David Monkhouse FCIMSPA Warren Smyth Belinda Steward Ben Beevers John Oxley Jon Keating Hayley Lever Peter Bundey Martyn Allison Hon Member of cCLOA Julie Russell John Treharne Liz Terry Graeme Hinde Lynne Briggs Tanya Hall David Monkhouse FCIMSPA Malcolm Mcphail FCIMSPA Marc Woods Megan B. Annette Wade-Clarke CIMSPA ukactive Sport England Sport Wales sportscotland Sport NI Jason Fergus John Challinor https://lnkd.in/eYjs99BH

Entries are now open for the International Olympic Committee – IOC / IAKS International Architecture Prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities. Aimed at architects and landscape architects, as well as operators of sports and leisure facilities, the coveted prize is aimed at highlighting the best in accessible, sustainable sports and leisure architecture. Prizes are awarded for innovative buildings and temporary facilities that successfully deliver in offering people of all backgrounds opportunities to practise and view sport freely and without barriers. The 2025 competition is open to newly constructed facilities as well as extensions, modernisations, refurbishments or conversions of existing buildings and facilities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCM7TG-4 #architecture #SportsArchitecture #Design #Sustainability Klaus Meinel, Silke Bardenheuer, Tom Jones, Mike Hall, Agustin Garcia Puga

Middle East-based fitness brand, GymNation, has appointed Rory McEntee, the former Brand and Marketing Director of Gymbox in London, as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With a wealth of experience in the fitness industry, McEntee has been brought in to elevate GymNation’s growth and further solidify its position as one of the leading fitness operators in the region. While at Gymbox, McEntee played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s identity, driving its marketing strategies, and overseeing campaigns that resonated with gym-goers across various markets. Known for creating the most talked about campaigns and stunts in the UK, McEntee helped elevate Gymbox’s profile in the competitive fitness sector. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ey4-7SC4 #Fitness #Gym #HealthClub #Branding Loren Holland, Ant Martland

The government has made a commitment to invest £100m in improving and upgrading local sports facilities across the UK. The funding is expected to support hundreds of new and improved sports pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights to improve access to sport and physical activity for local communities. Financial support will be targeted at deprived areas, with a focus on improving access and participation levels among under-represented people – including women and girls, ethnic minority groups and disabled players.  The funding will be invested in sites during 2025-26, with £82.3 million allocated to projects in England (including a £2 million uplift of new investment committed in the current financial year), £8.6 million in Scotland, £6.1 million in Wales and £3 million in Northern Ireland. The government will work together with the English Premier League, The Football Association and the Football Foundation in England, the Cymru Football Foundation in Wales and the Football Associations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ex4yBKYg #sport #funding

Leading UK industry bodies have revised their guidance on the use of safety technology in swimming pools. The updated edition of The UK Swimming Pool Guidance for Automated Monitoring and Detection Systems was developed with the support of CIMSPA, Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK, Swim England and ukactive. The guidance – which covers both lifeguarded and non-lifeguarded swimming pools – offers updated advice on the selection, installation, operation and training requirements associated with automated monitoring and detection systems. It outlines key performance and design criteria that pool operators should consider when selecting and managing these systems. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGQy8Dwd #Swimming #PoolSafety #Pools #Swimmingpool Tara Dillon FCIMSPA (Ch), Paul Crane IRMCert, Richard Lamburn, Lynxight, Poolview Limited, AngelEye, Poseidon (a business unit from Maytronics / MG International)