Member Article

SLS names first Active Community champions

School Letting Solutions (SLS) has announced the winners of its inaugural Active Community competition. Rebound Therapy with Nikki will receive a year’s hire of SLS school facilities in Fazakerley, Merseyside.

Nicola Breslin started her Rebound Therapy classes in May 2018 after she qualified in Rebound Therapy and Beyond Rebound training. Rebound Therapy was originally developed by Eddy Anderson and provides therapeutic exercise on the trampoline for children and young people with SEN, autism and physical disabilities.

The Active Community competition, which has received over 440 entries in its first year, was launched to offer local community groups, teams and clubs in need of the right facilities the chance to win a year’s hire of an SLS school in their region, worth up to £5,000. It received nominations from all over the UK across a diverse range of activities, from fencing teams and dance squads to keep fit clubs for dads and community yoga sessions.

In SLS’s experience, thousands of sport and leisure groups across the UK struggle to find suitable, high-quality facilities to base their club, group or session in, with lack of access to school facilities often being the main barrier.

Commenting on the prize, Nicola Breslin, Rebound Therapy practitioner, said: “Since finding out I have won the competition I am looking into offering evening sessions during the week, continuing with Saturday and Sunday sessions and possibly taking on an assistant to help me while working with children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) on the trampoline, all of which I am completely thrilled about. Rebound Therapy doesn’t just provide physical exercise, it can promote communication, self-esteem and confidence.”

Judged by an industry panel including Team GB Olympic gymnast, Becky Downie, and UKactive’s director of children, young people and families, Jack Shakespeare – the competition has also awarded four regional finalists a month’s free hire for their group with a value of up to £500.

The regional finalists were Old Skool – a fitness group aimed at men of all ages tackling fitness and mental health together, Stortford Strollers Walking Basketball Club – an inclusive opportunity for men and women who are recovering from injury to enjoy low cardio impact activity, Liverpool Softball League – a mixed gender league where teams consist of five men and five women from 14 years of age onwards and Zodiac Netball Club – a club in Worcestershire that has members aged from six to 60.

Team GB Olympic gymnast, Becky Downie, said: “I was blown away by the number and standard of entries. Reading the background stories demonstrated how much impact winning the Active Community competition could have on a wide variety of grassroots sports and projects. Every entry was worthy of support and showed how passionate people are about improving sporting and social opportunity. It’s been a real honour to be a part of the judging process and I know that the support of Active Community will make a real difference to the winners.”

Jack Shakespeare added: “This award was so difficult to judge, given that all of the finalists deliver such brilliant opportunities to be active in their communities. It is so vital that people have places in which they can be active – I wish Rebound Therapy and all the other entrants enormous luck for the year ahead.”

Scott Warrington, co-founder of SLS said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response to the competition in its first year. The number of entries we’ve received is testament to just how many groups and teams across different sports, age groups and backgrounds are looking for somewhere to come together in their local community and be part of something they feel passionate about.

“We intend to make Active Community an annual fixture in the company calendar and hope we can help many more sports and leisure groups reach their full potential by providing access to high-quality school facilities in the heart of their local communities. Many congratulations to this year’s deserving winners.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by School Lettings Solutions .