Explore Pontypools Active Living Centre
Pontypool’s Active Living Centre has been open for four months and if you haven’t visited it yet you have been missing out. The redeveloped Centre, formerly known as Pontypool Leisure Centre, is now an Active Living Centre and focussing on the health and wellbeing needs of the whole community.
The £7 million investment to transform the Centre is going to help make Torfaen residents fitter and healthier. It is different from a traditional leisure Centre because it offers much more than the usual swimming pool, squash courts and five-a-side football.
The Centre is now home to a wide variety of health services to improve the general well-being of residents.
It will also focus on providing a range of activities and services designed to increase levels of physical activity to help improve and prevent ill health.
Councillor Neil Lewis, Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Many of our customers health-needs cannot be met by simply providing new fitness facilities. Many require greater emotional support to encourage them to engage in physical exercise, and others need specialist support due to the nature of their illness or disability.
“By working with local health care providers and support groups we will be able to provide a range of specialist services not previously made available in one central location before.”
Councillor Rose Seabourne, Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Well-being, said: “We encourage social services clients of all ages to exercise. I think the free swimming is a great scheme for under 18s and over 60s. We want to encourage young people to exercise and more importantly continue it through their life. And for the older person we want them to know that age is no barrier to exercise. They can enjoy the health benefits which will keep the doctor away and improve their social life.”
Read more in this feature about what you can find inside the Centre. To discover more call the Centre’s new phone number on 01495 742222.
Help and advice
Many of the activities and services in the new Centre are being provided free by affiliated health providers or offered at a subsidised rate from the Council. Anyone interested in improving their overall health and wellbeing will be welcomed at the Centre and helped to identify an appropriate health and exercise plan to suit their specific needs. The Centre staff employed in the Healthy Living Area will be pleased to offer one to one support or direct people to the most suitable support group.
Daily activities
There are daily activities in the Centre offering a range of fitness opportunities, many with reduced or special prices.
Worktime workouts
For the first time ever, Torfaen Leisure has introduced reduced rates for local workers wishing to use its facilities in Pontypool. As part of Torfaen Council’s commitment to improving the health of both its own staff and the wider business community, workers can now pay less to use Pontypool’s pool and sports hall during working hours. To be eligible you must produce a company ID card or headed notepaper.
Exercise for Life scheme
Torfaen’s hugely successful X4L scheme runs at Pontypool Active Living Centre, Blaenavon Leisure Centre and Cwmbran Stadium. It incorporates the GP referral scheme, which provides health and fitness programmes for people with specific health issues, including obesity, and people who have been referred by their GP because of their sedentary lifestyle.
The scheme also operates a ‘Walking the Way to Health’ project, which encourages local people to go for a walk to stay healthy. The Junior Exercise for Life programme offers a similar scheme to X4L but helps children who are referred by their school, doctor, dietician or health visitor.
Torfaen Leisure will be providing a healthy food coordinator who will work from Pontypool Active Living Centre educating school children on food nutrition. Local schools such as Penygarn primary school are already using the Centre and benefiting from the various children’s activities on offer through its resident clubs and coaches.
Free training plan
If you’ve never exercised before do not be shy. Our trained instructors are used to supporting people who are new to exercising. They will help you to plan an exercise routine. Just ask at reception for help or call 01495 742232.
Leisure concession scheme
Torfaen residents on low income can also benefit from the facilities in Pontypool. If you meet certain criteria you can benefit from reduced price access to activities such as group exercise classes, racquet sports, swimming, and the fitness suite.
After school kids club
Another first for Pontypool Active Living Centre is its after school club where children aged from 5 to 16 can enjoy a range of sports activities from 4pm - 6pm. Children can enjoy exciting new activities such as water polo and synchronised swimming, take part in coached activities such as football, badminton, tennis and aqua aerobics, and have fun in street dancing or on the hydroslides. All sessions cost only £1 per hour.
How was it funded?
Pontypool Active Living Centre was redeveloped by Torfaen County Borough Council in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government (Physical Regeneration Fund), the Sports Council for Wales (SPORTLOT) and Torfaen Local Health Board (WANLESS funding). It involved the biggest ever capital investment made by the Council. The project was opened on schedule and within the budget. The redevelopment work was carried out by construction company Kier Western.
Special Offers
Pontypool Active Living Centre offers excellent value for money. The facilities are identical to a private health club but you can enjoy them at much less cost. You can either pay on the door or join the Torfaen Total Health and Fitness Direct Debit Scheme.
This costs from as little as £23 per month and gives you access to Pontypool Active Living Centre, Cwmbran Stadium and Blaenavon Recreation Centre. To find out more about the scheme call 01495 742230.
Free swimming for under 18s and over 60s
UNDER 18s and over 60s can swim for free in all of Torfaen’s swimming pools. This is a great incentive to get .t. There is no excuse as swimming is a fantastic exercise. The teaching pool is a great way to introduce your young child to swimming.
Adjacent to the large pool, it offers a wonderful opportunity for young swimmers to have fun in the water while building their confidence. It is also used by a junior water polo club who meet every Friday at 3.45pm. Under 16s who live in Torfaen need to get a library card to be eligible to swim for free. But during school holidays the Welsh Assembly Government funds the scheme, which means all under 16s can swim for free, even those who live outside Torfaen.
People aged 60 and over must register in any leisure Centre for a Swim 4 Life card, which will give them free access to other pool activities such as Fit Swim, aqua aerobics and swimming lessons. Staff will take a photo or can accept a passport photo. Then the card will be processed in a few days. During this time you can swim for free by showing ID such as a bus pass or driving licence.
The pool has got a fantastic viewing area which means that friends and family can watch the swimmers in the pool.
New for 2007
Look our for these new events coming up this year
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Prostate cancer health checks from the Centre
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Tea dances for the over 50s providing music, dance and refreshments in a social setting
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C-Card status for Pontypool Active Living Centre which would enable the Centre to issue sex education information and condoms for young people
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Breast feeding accreditation as a mum and baby friendly Centre providing onsite breast feeding facilities
Pontypool Active Living Centre’s Health Programme
Pontypool Active Living Centre provides an innovative and unique range of services in one setting and is the first of its kind in Wales. These services will be available on evenings and weekends, many of which would otherwise be unavailable locally, or only available during office hours. The new programme of activities has been developed in partnership with the NHS, Local Health Board, SureStart, National Public Health Service and a registered Under 5s Playgroup (charitable status).
Every Wednesday and Friday - Midwifery ‘walk in’ clinic
A midwife team, based at the Centre, provides antenatal checks in an informal, non-medical environment. The team is able to address issues relating to smoking, diet and blood pressure. There is an in-house crèche and mothers-to-be can take part in activities such as aqua natal and gentle exercise to music, learn about baby massage or visit the new café.
Every Tuesday and Thursday - Health visitors ‘walk in’ clinic
Health visitors provide child development aftercare and SunShine Seekers sessions (for mothers with postnatal depression). In the near future, the resident health visitors also hope to provide infant inoculations in the Centre and develop a new project called ‘Mums on the Move’ to encourage mums to enjoy exercise with their children in the beautiful setting of Pontypool Park.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday - Club 50 Group
Reduced rates are available to anyone over 50 for pool, sports hall activities and group exercise classes.
The over 60s may also swim free of charge when the pool is open to the public under the Torfaen Swim 4 Life scheme (supported by WAG) and enjoy free swimming lessons and aqua aerobics.
Saturday - Multi-sports club for people with disabilities
This weekly multi-sports club for people with disabilities is run by qualified instructors and volunteers.
The club gives people with physical or learning disabilities, or mental health issues, the opportunity to take part in activities like Boccia (similar to bowls), new age curling, swimming and table tennis and access to the fitness suite. To speak to any of our health professionals operating from the Centre call reception on 01495 742222.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday - Diabetes / COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Exercise Sessions
Patients suffering from diabetes, COPD or other forms of respiratory disease are able to benefit from the support, counselling and access to physical therapy sessions in the Centre.
Patients who have completed their six week assessment via their GP may be eligible for 20 free sessions at the fitness suite and group exercise classes, after which they will qualify for reduced GP referral membership rates. After this time patients are able to take up a full membership at the Centre at a special reduced GP referral rate.