Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub, a new community and sports hub in the heart of Gloucester managed in partnership with Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) by Freedom Leisure, welcomed The Princess Royal on Wednesday to see how the new facility is changing the outlook of health and wellbeing in Podsmead.
During the visit, Her Royal Highness met some of the customers who regularly use the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub, including Mike Bingham, who lives just a short walk away and has been using the fitness gym almost every day since it opened at the end of April.
If someone had said I’d be in the gym at age 70 a few years ago I would have laughed, but I’ve been coming here every day and have lost three stone. It was a real honour to meet Princess Anne today and to represent members of the hub.
Mike Bingham
The Princess Royal also met local sports teams who use the 3G pitch for training and matches, including the Old Cryptians Girls Rugby Team and the Tuffley Rovers Walking Football Team. In the Fitness Studio, Her Royal Highness observed a yoga class led by local resident and yoga teacher Fiona Channon, who runs regular sessions at the hub.
Her visit continued in the hub’s social space, where she learned more about the community activities and groups that make use of the venue, and met some of the key funding partners, including the Football Foundation, Gloucester City Council, Resonance and Sport England.
It was great to see how our £415,000 investment into Blackbridge, a brilliant community asset, is supporting local communities, like here in Gloucester, to be more active through sport and physical activity, so that it becomes a part of everyday life, helping to improve both physical, mental and social health.
Hari Matharu
The Princess Royal meets Blackbridge customers in the gym
Her Royal Highness also spent time with young people who attend the youth clubs at the hub
The Princess Royal with Freedom Leisure senior leaders
To mark the occasion, Her Royal Highness unveiled a commemorative plaque and asked about the origin of the “Blackbridge” name, which comes from a bridge located close to the new facility.
The Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub is managed in partnership by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS).
We were deeply honoured to welcome The Princess Royal to Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub. We are incredibly proud to manage this facility on behalf of Blackbridge CCBS, helping to bring their vision to life. The Princess Royal's visit highlighted the vibrant community already using the hub, from sports teams to fitness groups. We hope this fantastic event encourages even more local residents to visit and discover the wide range of activities on offer. At Freedom Leisure, we are committed to ensuring this hub continues to serve as a central point for the community for many years to come.
Lee Thomas