NHS has revealed plans to offer thousand of patients 'prehabilitation' / shutterstock
The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has revealed that the government will present its budget on 11 March. Javid has hinted that the budget will include measures to ignite a 'decade of renewal' for Britain – and analysts predict that he will announce a string of major investment projects.
Among these could be a shake-up of the way the Treasury allocates investment in order to even up spending between the regions. Encouragingly for the leisure industry, spending measures will focus on health and the cost of living, while Javid’s investment plans could see billions being earmarked for capital projects.
“With this budget we will unleash Britain’s potential – opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal," Javid said.
Ukactive CEO Huw Edwards said the government should use the budget to "back forcibly" the ambitions of the NHS to collaborate and partner with the physical activity sector.
Edwards said there remains an inconsistent approach to the sector within Whitehall. He highlighted two recent news items which, he said, were perfect examples of a "contradiction in value" regarding the role of the sport and physical activity sector – an issue which the government should look to end.
"The first, in The Times, reported that its own analysis of council accounts showed spending on council-run sports facilities had fallen by two thirds over the past decade," Edwards said.
"It revealed that local authorities spent £244m on leisure centres, swimming pools, running tracks and other sports sites in 2018, down from £565m in 2009 as they have struggled to cope with central government funding cuts.
"The second news we saw was NHS plans for newly diagnosed cancer patients to be offered gym sessions before they start treatment, in the hope of boosting the speed of their recovery. Thousands will be invited to sign up for a ‘prehab’ fitness programme following their diagnosis.
"The NHS rightly wants to make our members – both public and private – supporting people with long-term conditions to manage their health.
"But part of this provision – funded by councils across the country – has felt the bite of national austerity acutely, and authorities are shackled to the reality that sport and leisure has too often been top of the cuts list given its non-statutory status. An almost impossible situation for authorities to find a solution to.
"This contradiction in value, captured in these two stories, must be addressed urgently by our new Government."
Huw Edwards
"Local authorities spent £244m on leisure centres, swimming pools, running tracks and other sports sites in 2018, down from £565m in 2009" - Huw Edwards, ukactive CEO
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
NHS has revealed plans to offer thousand of patients 'prehabilitation' / shutterstock
The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has revealed that the government will present its budget on 11 March. Javid has hinted that the budget will include measures to ignite a 'decade of renewal' for Britain – and analysts predict that he will announce a string of major investment projects.
Among these could be a shake-up of the way the Treasury allocates investment in order to even up spending between the regions. Encouragingly for the leisure industry, spending measures will focus on health and the cost of living, while Javid’s investment plans could see billions being earmarked for capital projects.
“With this budget we will unleash Britain’s potential – opening a new chapter for our economy and ushering in a decade of renewal," Javid said.
Ukactive CEO Huw Edwards said the government should use the budget to "back forcibly" the ambitions of the NHS to collaborate and partner with the physical activity sector.
Edwards said there remains an inconsistent approach to the sector within Whitehall. He highlighted two recent news items which, he said, were perfect examples of a "contradiction in value" regarding the role of the sport and physical activity sector – an issue which the government should look to end.
"The first, in The Times, reported that its own analysis of council accounts showed spending on council-run sports facilities had fallen by two thirds over the past decade," Edwards said.
"It revealed that local authorities spent £244m on leisure centres, swimming pools, running tracks and other sports sites in 2018, down from £565m in 2009 as they have struggled to cope with central government funding cuts.
"The second news we saw was NHS plans for newly diagnosed cancer patients to be offered gym sessions before they start treatment, in the hope of boosting the speed of their recovery. Thousands will be invited to sign up for a ‘prehab’ fitness programme following their diagnosis.
"The NHS rightly wants to make our members – both public and private – supporting people with long-term conditions to manage their health.
"But part of this provision – funded by councils across the country – has felt the bite of national austerity acutely, and authorities are shackled to the reality that sport and leisure has too often been top of the cuts list given its non-statutory status. An almost impossible situation for authorities to find a solution to.
"This contradiction in value, captured in these two stories, must be addressed urgently by our new Government."
Huw Edwards
"Local authorities spent £244m on leisure centres, swimming pools, running tracks and other sports sites in 2018, down from £565m in 2009" - Huw Edwards, ukactive CEO
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
instantprint We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded
in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Sally Corporation Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Painting With Light By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
IDEATTACK IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and
design company with headquarters in
Los Angeles. [more...]
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
