Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is pleased to share its 2023-2024 Performance Review, highlighting a year of growth, innovation, and community impact. Fife Sports and Leisure Trust has made significant progress in providing a diverse range of physical activity opportunities designed to enhance the quality of life for Fife’s residents and beyond. From supporting grassroots sports to offering group fitness classes and improving access to gyms, swimming, and health suites, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is committed to promoting active lifestyles and strengthening its role as a vital part of the community’s physical and social wellbeing.

A key focus for the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust was the ‘Back to 100’ initiative, which aimed to return participation rates at its venues to pre-Covid levels. Aligned with the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s Business Plan, this initiative set clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive engagement. Through collective collaboration, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust achieved an impressive 2,399,135 attendances, a significant step towards its ambitious targets.

Over the past year, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust introduced a new, more flexible membership structure, making it easier for people of all ages and backgrounds to access its facilities. The fitness programme was expanded to offer over 250 weekly classes, while the health and wellbeing programme, which supports people with long-term health conditions, grew to deliver more than 90 weekly classes. The junior activities programme was also expanded, with the introduction of Rise Gymnastics in partnership with Scottish Gymnastics. Additionally, due to the continued excellence of the Learn to Swim programme, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust was awarded Scottish Water’s ‘Swimming Provider of the Year’ in 2023.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is dedicated to enhancing the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of our community. Our health and wellbeing programmes are designed for individuals with long-term health conditions. These programmes provide high-quality classes to improve mobility, manage pain, regulate blood pressure, control weight, and address various health concerns. Our ultimate goal is to empower individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives and create a supportive environment that encourages social connections, which are essential for overall wellbeing.

A Person-Centred Approach: The Active Options Programme  

Our flagship programme, Active Options, offers personalised physical activity and wellbeing activities that are carefully adjusted to each participant’s abilities and needs. Our instructors, who are both motivators and supporters, guide individuals on their health journeys, breaking down barriers to ensure active and engaged participation. By prioritising a person-centred approach, we ensure that our services meet the unique needs of every individual, making a lasting impact on their health journey.

Commitment to Community Health

Our team leads over 100 health and wellbeing classes weekly, supporting more than 1,600 participants on their journey towards better health. In the past year, our programme has welcomed over 827 new participants, reflecting the growing interest in our programmes and their impact. Attendance has soared from 36,455 to 47,186, underscoring the success of our efforts to enhance community health.

We recently moved from temporary, funded posts to permanent, internally funded roles within our Health and Well-being team. This shift demonstrates our commitment to supporting the health of our community in a sustainable and lasting way. By creating permanent roles, we are better positioned to introduce more targeted interventions and support.

Enhancing Accessibility: Referral Pathways and the “Together We Can” Campaign

A key achievement has been the expansion of referral pathways, including the introduction of self-referral options, making it easier for individuals to access the support they need. Furthermore, the integration of the Health and Wellbeing programme into our new Club Membership offers participants access to additional benefits, such as health suites, low-impact classes, and swimming pools.

To raise awareness of our programmes and promote holistic health care, we launched the “Together We Can” campaign, aimed at health professionals, social care teams, and organisations within the third and independent sectors. The campaign has not only increased referrals and participation but also strengthened our role as a leader in promoting health and wellbeing. By sharing real-life success stories, we’ve demonstrated the benefits of our programmes.

Evidence of Impact

The numbers speak for themselves:

• 221,000 overall attendances: Our classes have seen impressive engagement, reflecting both trust in our offerings and their impact on the communities health and wellbeing.
• 300 health and social care professionals: We collaborate with professionals, ensuring that our programmes complement therapeutic care, resulting in better outcomes for participants.
•  827 new participants: A growing number of individuals are recognising the value of our offerings, reflected in our expanding community.  

Participant Testimonials

Active Circuit Participant – “Attending my class is important to me. When you live alone, contact with other people is vital. I look forward to my class every week. It gets me motivated in the morning. It’s not only exercise but being able to chat with other people too. The class helps me to move more, and I really enjoy interacting with a class of like-minded people. The classes are very sociable, as well as doing exercises, and we have all made friends, which helps in all sorts of ways.”

Active Strength and Balance Participant – “Attending classes helps me both mentally and physically. I get to meet other people and get some exercise. It is my only trip out on my own each week. The class motivates me to exercise, chat, and socialise with others. It is a weekly activity that I enjoy and look forward to attending. I enjoy attending classes and learning exercises that I can continue doing at home. Hopefully, this will improve my stability and walking and help to build up my muscles in different parts of my body.”

Counterweight Participant – “My weight loss journey had been a series of attempts and disappointments. I owe my discovery of the Counterweight programme to my GP, who recommended it to me. Initially, I was sceptical, assuming it would be another programme dictating what to eat and how to exercise. Now, I realise how mistaken I was. My instructor taught me how to make positive, sustainable changes in my life to reach my weight loss goals. What sets this programme apart is its emphasis on small, manageable adjustments in diet and activity, which has been a revelation for me. Counterweight has been life-changing for me. My physical health has significantly improved, with no more back or knee pain. Moreover, my mental wellbeing has received a boost, resulting in increased energy, happiness, and motivation.”

A Lasting Impact: Collaboration and Partnership

Our partnerships with Fife Health and Social Care, Fife Council, and numerous third-sector organisations have been essential in delivering impactful services. With over 300 referral partners, we work collaboratively to ensure our programmes meet the health and wellbeing needs of our community.

To make the referral process as easy as possible, we’ve developed high-quality resources and marketing packs for our partners. These materials are designed to streamline the referral process and ensure that both health professionals and participants can easily access the support they need.

We recently launched a dedicated area on our website for health professionals, providing them with a secure login to access valuable resources, referral tools, and ongoing support. This platform further enhances collaboration by equipping professionals with everything they need to integrate our services into their care pathways.

By maintaining these relationships and expanding our partnerships, we are confident in our ability to deliver sustainable, impactful health interventions that address both local and national health priorities.

For more information about our health and wellbeing programmes, please visit: Health & Wellbeing – Fife Sports and Leisure Trust

To learn more about our Together We Can campaign and partnerships, please visit: Together We Can

For more information about the Seriously Social campaign or the Seriously Social Awards, which support people over profit for social good, connect communities, and help individuals become healthier, happier, and more creative regardless of age or ability, visit: Seriously Social about Public Leisure and Culture. 

#SeriouslySocial #Health 

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is honoured to support Suicide Prevention Awareness Week 2024, an important annual campaign running from 9th to 15th September, which includes World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September.

In collaboration with partners such as Fife Health and Social Care Partnership Health Promotion Service, Samaritans, NHS Fife, Fife Council, Fife Voluntary Action, Families in Trauma & Recovery, and the Scottish Government, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is dedicated to enhancing awareness and providing support throughout this critical week.

The campaign’s theme is “Creating Hope Through Action”. It highlights the powerful impact of our actions in fostering hope and strengthening prevention efforts. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, our collective aim is to inspire hope by promoting support through the values of Time, Space, and Compassion.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust remains committed to promoting staff wellbeing by offering confidential counselling services, alongside a team of dedicated volunteers known as Mental Health First Aiders, who provide a discreet listening ear. By encouraging open dialogue, the Trust ensures its employees can discuss mental health freely, secure in the knowledge that they will receive empathy and support.

Lana Turnbull, Head of People at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, emphasises the importance of this initiative:

“Working alongside our partners, our goal is to show that support can be as simple as dedicating your time, creating a safe space for conversation, and demonstrating genuine compassion. By fostering a supportive atmosphere within our organisation, we aim to help employees recognise mental health as a vital part of overall wellbeing and to understand that seeking help is a sign of strength, not a weakness.”

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust invites everyone to participate in raising awareness during Suicide Prevention Awareness Week and to extend support to those who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

For more information and resources, visit: Suicide prevention in Fife | NHS Fife