Council splashes out on free leisure for children in care
Published: 2 August 2022
Being active is part of growing up fit and healthy
From this month children growing up in foster care in Derby can swim and enjoy the city’s leisure centres for free, thanks to new membership offers set up by the City Council.
This means free leisure membership for Derby Active’s facilities at Derby Arena and Springwood Leisure Centre for families who foster through Derby City Council. Highlights of the scheme include:
- Free annual membership at Derby Arena and Springwood Leisure Centre for up to 2 adults and 3 children living at the same address
- Free Derby Active card, which gives discounts on sports and activities at both centres, helping your money go further
- Discounts on Badminton, Pickleball and Squash and other activities at both centres.
Everyone Active, who run the new Moorways Sports Village for the Council, are also offering free membership including swimming, gym and soft play.
Councillor Evonne Williams, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
This is a fantastic offer for all our looked after children and their foster carers, and it couldn’t be better timing during the Summer holidays.
Finding some sort of activity you enjoy so you grow up fit and healthy is important for all children, but especially for our looked after children. We want them to have the best start in life.
The offer at Derby City Council’s leisure centres also includes discounts on birthday parties and savings on food and drink at Café 42, Derby Arena.
Parks are also part of the deal. At Markeaton Park, fostering families get a free voucher book to enjoy activities at the Mundy Play Centre, and savings on food and drinks from The Orangery café. The Waterside Café at Alvaston Park and the café in Chaddesden Park are also offering discounts.
Councillor Williams added:
Having a birthday party full of friends and fun is a really special occasion for a child growing up in care, and this will help our fostering families give children this valuable experience.
Fostering children is extremely rewarding, but it’s also challenging, so it’s great to be able to support our carers as they encourage their children to grow up healthy and active.
It’s also a thank you to our carers for all their hard work. We always need new foster carers for our children, and this shows the kind of support you can expect from us as a Council if you choose to take on this very special role.
The Council is contacting all its fostering families with details of how to benefit from the scheme.
There are events coming up soon for anyone interested in fostering for Derby City Council. Drop in for a chat at the Derbion centre, opposite Iceland, from 11am to 2pm on Friday 5 August. The next Fostering Information Event is at Broadway Baptist Church on Thursday 13 September from 7pm to 9pm. Find out more and book a place.