Station Leisure & Learning Centre celebrates its first anniversary
Mablethorpe's Station Leisure & Learning Centre, marked its first anniversary on Wednesday (July 16) and celebrated the record number of local people using the centre to improve their health and wellbeing and to learn to swim.
The launch of the leisure and learning facility has been seen as a huge success with memberships soaring and thousands of people coming through the doors in the last year.
Operated by Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture on behalf of East Lindsey District Council, the state-of-the-art £13.5m leisure and learning centre has brought superior health and wellness facilities, enhanced amenities, and the town's first swimming pool.
Since opening its doors, Station Leisure & Learning Centre has welcomed 169,001 visitors in its first year of operation.
The new community venue has experienced a remarkable surge in membership, with active membership standing at 417 members in December 2023, soaring to 1,542 members a year later, signalling a promising future for the centre.
As a town, Mablethorpe has also been without a swimming pool for many years, and as a result, it has a higher-than-average proportion of adult non-swimmers. The new swimming pool and the 'Learn to Swim Waterwise' programme have now enabled 188 people to improve their swimming skills.
Cher, parent of a child on Water Wise, said: "I can't thank the swim staff enough for all they have done for our son and his swimming, we have gone from sitting terrified on the side of the pool to being able to swim independently 5m in such a short space of time!"
Member Dawn Whimpenny said: "I joined the day the new centre opened, and it’s been such an amazing lifeline for me. Helping me get fitter, improve my mental health and meet and make new friends. The facilities are inclusive to all abilities and offer a big range of classes."
Magna Vitae was mindful of adding value and overcoming barriers to participation.
One such example is the introduction of community-inspired supported swims, attended by 73 people so far. The sessions are designed with inclusivity in mind, welcoming everyone who wishes to participate, regardless of their swimming abilities or health conditions. They offer a social opportunity, enabling participants to meet new people and form lasting friendships.
The new centre has also lived up to its name, creating numerous learning opportunities for residents to pursue careers in leisure.
To find out more, visit www.magnavitae.org