The team at King Alfred Leisure Centre has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ category for its LGBTQIA+ Badminton group and this recognition underscores the commitment to excellence and innovation in the health and fitness industry by the staff at King Alfred.
The UK Active Awards celebrate organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the nation’s leisure industry sector. Being shortlisted as a finalist is a testament to Freedom Leisure’s dedication to providing high-quality services and fostering a community-centric approach to health and wellbeing.
"We are incredibly honoured to be recognised as a finalist in the UK Active Awards 2024," said Ivan Horsfall Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Leisure. "This nomination reflects the hard work and passion of our entire team, who are committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve."
LGBTQIA+ Badminton in Brighton stands out as one of the city’s most unique community initiatives, offering a welcoming and inclusive environment for complete beginners to engage in the sport. This bi-weekly safe space, held at King Alfred Leisure Centre, provides all necessary equipment, allowing anyone from the community to get active and participate.
With a diverse attendance ranging from ages 16 to 65+, the team has fostered a warm, safe, and inclusive atmosphere. Freedom Leisure’s commitment to accessibility ensures that the LGBTQIA+ community that may be unsure about engaging in racquet sports can try it out and have fun.
Councillor Alan Robins, Brighton & Hove City Council cabinet member for sports and recreation said: “Congratulations to the team at the King Alfred on reaching the final of this prestigious award.
“Providing access and opportunities for all our residents to get involved with sport is a huge priority for us and an important part of our healthy lifestyles programme. The City’s Let’s Get Moving Strategy outlines our ambitions to become one of the nation’s most active cities and for that to happen, tackling inactivity and inequalities is central to our success.
“We will continue to work with Freedom Leisure to ensure our leisure centres remain safe, welcoming and inclusive for all our communities to access opportunities to move more!”