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Babergh District Council has called on residents to seize the opportunity and get involved in a new Charitable Trust being set up to run the area’s leisure facilities. As a first step towards the more active participation of the community in decision-making, residents and staff at the facilities are being asked to come up with ideas for the Trust’s name.
Penny Arnold, Babergh’s Leisure Trust Project Manager, explained that “the Babergh Charitable Trust is being established because such organisations offer a number of advantages to both users and the wider community. Firstly, as non-profit making bodies they can re-invest any surplus back into improving the facilities. Secondly, they can take advantage of financial savings on VAT and rates. Thirdly, such trusts allow a much greater degree of involvement by the community – including through trustees drawn from those communities!”
Previously, Babergh’s leisure facilities were run by a private company called Leisure Connection, which will continue to manage the service for the next 6 to 9 months. “We would like to thank Leisure Connection for all their contributions over the years and want to make clear that they remain a valued partner for the remainder of the contract” explained Penny Arnold.
Getting local people involved in choosing the name of the new trust is a small but significant step in delivering a service more in tune with local needs. Babergh has set up exhibitions at both the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Sudbury and the Hadleigh Swimming Pool explaining the advantages of the trust and has provided pre-paid postcards so that residents can submit nominations for the name.
The deadline for suggestions is 25th August, after which a judging panel comprising customers and staff will select a winning entry.
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