Three leisure centres in Tameside will be forced to close their doors after seeing a “dramatic rise” in energy prices and other overhead costs.
Active Ashton, Adventure Longdendale, and Active Etherow – which are all part of the not-for-profit community organisation, Active Tameside – will sadly close to the public from early September after claiming that financial changes in the national economy amid the ongoing cost of living crisis have “ravaged our capacity to remain financially viable as an organisation”.
The three centres have been chosen by the organisation to close due to their “current levels of subsidy” – with the physical state of the sites having also been “considered” too.
The closures have largely been put down to the high energy consumption of swimming pools and sports complexes, which has meant that Active Tameside’s spend on utilities has risen up to a whopping £2 million per year.
Active Ashton, Adventure Longdendale, and Active Etherow will all close in September / Credit: Google Maps
On top of this, other overhead costs and prices for related products such as chemicals, insurances, and staff wages have also seen “dramatic rises”, which the organisation says has only further “exacerbated” the financial difficulties it is facing.
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Active Tameside says that, although a series of options to reduce costs and maximise its income has been created over the last 18 months and are currently being implemented, with the help of key stakeholder and supporter, Tameside Council, this is unfortunately not been enough to save the “inevitable closures” of three leisure centres.
The organisation says the closures are being made with “deep regret”, and it understands the “significant impact” they could have on the community.
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It also says that the closures are a result of the fact that “it is not an option” for the organisation to charge customers “significantly more” for their activities, as this could have an impact on attendances and, in turn, the health of the community.
Active Etherow will close on Friday 1 September, while Active Ashton and Adventure Longdendale will close on Sunday 3 September.
Active Tameside says it now has a plan in place to relocate all its affected staff at the three closing sites over the coming weeks, and all members and service users of the centres will receive further updates on membership status and swimming lesson status “imminently”.
Featured Image – Active Tameside (via Facebook)
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
4th July 2023 
