Leisure centre
Encyclopedia
A leisure centre in the UK
and Canada
is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city
, borough council or municipal district council
, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.
(many with water slide), large sports hall, squash
courts, cafeteria
, licensed bar, fitness suite, aerobics
studios, outdoor grass and/or artificial pitches for football (soccer)
, hockey
etc., a solarium, sauna
and/or steam room
.
Leisure centres in the UK and Canada are staffed by leisure centre attendants employed by the local council. They carry out a range of tasks to help and supervise people using leisure centre facilities and act as swimming pool life guards, gym instructors and coaches offering advice, motivation and expertise to users. Many of its functions may overlap with that of a community centre
.
In some areas of the UK and Canada (such as Calgary
) these services are now operated by private companies on contract to the local authority.
Most towns in the UK are now introducing leisure facilities for the local community.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
, borough council or municipal district council
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.
Typical Facilities
Facilities may include a swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
(many with water slide), large sports hall, squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
courts, cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, licensed bar, fitness suite, aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
studios, outdoor grass and/or artificial pitches for football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
etc., a solarium, sauna
Sauna
A sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
and/or steam room
Steam room
A steam room is an enclosed space with large amounts of high temperature steam, creating a high humidity environment. People sit in this room in a similar way to a sauna , for relaxation and purported benefits to health and well being. They can be commonly found in gyms, sanitariums and health...
.
Leisure centres in the UK and Canada are staffed by leisure centre attendants employed by the local council. They carry out a range of tasks to help and supervise people using leisure centre facilities and act as swimming pool life guards, gym instructors and coaches offering advice, motivation and expertise to users. Many of its functions may overlap with that of a community centre
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
.
In some areas of the UK and Canada (such as Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
) these services are now operated by private companies on contract to the local authority.
Most towns in the UK are now introducing leisure facilities for the local community.
Examples of Leisure Centres
- Deeside Leisure CentreDeeside Leisure CentreDeeside Leisure Centre is a sports centre in Queensferry, Flintshire, in Wales. Its facilities include Deeside Ice Rink, an Olympic-sized inline hockey rink, badminton courts and squash courts....
- Ladywell Leisure CentreLadywell Leisure CentreLadywell Leisure Centre is a leisure centre located in Lewisham, London. The leisure centre is owned by London Borough of Lewisham and managed on their behalf by Lifestyle Fusion...
in LewishamLewishamLewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... - Lakeside Leisure CentreLakeside Leisure CentreThe Lakeside Leisure Centre is a recreation complex in Brooks, Alberta. It is home to the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, who play in the Centennial Arena, which seats 900....
in AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... - Leisure centres in CardiffLeisure centres in CardiffMost leisure centres in Cardiff, capital of Wales, are owned by Cardiff Council. These centres are where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities. The council operates six leisure centres, one swimming pool and three other leisure facilities...
- South Norwood Leisure CentreSouth Norwood Leisure CentreSouth Norwood Leisure Centre is a leisure centre located on Portland Road in South Norwood, Croydon, London. The centre has recently gone through a refurbishment process which has seen it closed for more than a year and a half. It contains a 25m sized swimming pool with seating for spectators...
- Swansea Leisure CentreSwansea Leisure CentreThe LC is a leisure centre located in the city centre of Swansea, Wales, UK. Originally Swansea Leisure Centre, the rebranded facility re-opened to the public on 1 March 2008 after a £32 million makeover...
in WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... - The Dome Leisure CentreThe Dome Leisure CentreThe Dome Leisure Centre is an arena and leisure centre in Doncaster, England, informally known as The Dome or Doncaster Dome. It has a swimming complex, bars, a sports arena that is also used as an event venue and the United Kingdom's first ever split level ice skating rink.The Dome as a concept...
in DoncasterDoncasterDoncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...