We have released information related to attendance figures for the first quarter of 2022.

We have seen an overall recovery rate of 82 per cent between April and June 2022 compared to the same period the previous year, this is an improvement of 47 per cent. All figures related to the first quarter have been benchmarked to the last full year of pre-Covid operations, 2019/2020, and a template has been used to measure how we are recovering from the impact of pandemic and associated lockdowns and restrictions to its business.

Overall attendance for the period was 551,079, with Pitreavie Athletics Centre, Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre and Waterstone Crook Leisure Centre showing the strongest recovery rates.

268,071 of the overall attendances were to wetside facilities a 90 per cent recovery rate and dryside facilities saw 222,976, a 74 per cent recovery rate while outdoor facilities recovered 60,041 attendances, a 86 per cent recovery.

In terms of key target customer groups, there were 269,547 attendances for under-18s, a recovery rate of 117 per cent, 18–60-year-olds saw 233,496 attendances, a recovery of 59 per cent and over-60s had 48,036 attendances, a recovery of 114 per cent.

Emma Walker, chief executive of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “The trust is very much in recovery phase not just from the Covid pandemic but the ongoing challenges of funding to adequately deliver on our charitable commitment to making a difference to local communities.

“Like many sports trusts around the country, we experienced significant operational difficulties due to the pandemic by way of periods of lockdown, restricted access and implementation of Covid health and safety protocols.

“Our staff are working hard to mitigate against these challenges, but we are very much working through our recovery and still have much to do to ensure the long-term sustainability of the trust. For example, to tackle the issues around staff shortages, particularly for lifeguards and swim teachers, we have been running recruitment campaigns and offering free training to attain relevant qualifications.

“We continue to work with our partner Fife Council and are passionate about making the case for community sports facilities for the benefit of local communities in order to offer affordable access to sports and leisure opportunities.”