Unsung heroes making a difference across the UK are being urged to step forward for a groundbreaking new scheme offering free support and valuable access to facility space.
Award-winning leisure operator, Everyone Active, has pledged more than £60,000 in support of local projects, with the aim of building stronger communities and recognising the dedication of those who go above and beyond.
People involved in mentoring, promoting health and wellbeing, supporting inclusivity or leading environmental or cultural projects are being encouraged to apply. All successful organisations must be not-for-profit.
Successful applicants will secure valuable use of facilities within their local leisure centres, to help them carry out these projects. Everyone Active will raise awareness of this work to strengthen connections, encourage civic engagement and foster a culture of giving back.
Those selected for the Community Champions scheme are also in with a chance of being shortlisted for the Champions Awards in autumn of this year.
Applications for Community Champions close on Thursday, June 12, 2025 can be submitted via the Champions website at www.ea-champions.com
Jacqui Tillman, Everyone Active's Aquatics & Wellbeing Director and Chief Executive of the Charitable Trusts, said: "We are hugely excited to launch the Community Champions scheme, which we believe will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the communities we serve.
"We want to highlight the work of everyday heroes who are changing people's lives and inspiring others to make a positive impact in the areas that they deliver.
"We encourage local people, community projects and charitable initiatives to get their applications in so we can support the fantastic work that you do."
Everyone Active also runs the Sporting Champions scheme, which empowers aspiring athletes to achieve their full potential through access to state-of-the-art training facilities and invaluable mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians.
Since its inception in 2016, the scheme has elevated the sporting careers of more than 6,000 athletes by providing them with free access to Everyone Active's 240-plus leisure centres nationwide.
Everyone Active has also introduced a new ‘Agency Model' to help local authorities save on their leisure services.
Following a policy paper published by HMRC on 3rd March 2023, local authorities can now classify their leisure services as non-business for VAT purposes. In broad terms this means that the local authority does not have to charge VAT on supplies of leisure services to the public but can recover all of its VAT on expenditure in relation to those services. This provides the opportunity for significant VAT savings for the local authority.
Over the past year Everyone Active's "Agency Model" has been developed in partnership with KPMG, where, instead of being the local authority's contractor, it becomes their agent for the delivery of leisure services.
You can read more about the Agency Model here
If you want to discuss the benefits of restructuring as an agency contract, please get in touch with Everyone Active's Business Development team at BusinessDevelopment@everyoneactive.com
On 1st May 2025, the leisure operator launched its Agency Model in partnership with North Herts Council and St Albans City and District Council.
If you want to find out more information about Everyone Active and the latest industry news, click here to sign-up to the Everyone Active quarterly e-magazine
Everyone Active
Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports Leisure Management (SLM), which operates leisure centres in partnership with local councils across England. SLM Ltd was formed in 1987, managing just one leisure centre in the Midlands. Today, Everyone Active manages in excess of 230 leisure facilities and cultural services in partnership with more than 65 local authorities. These stretch from Sunderland in the north to Mid Suffolk in the east, Chichester in the south and Bristol in the south west. The company's growth is due to the ability to deliver well managed leisure facilities and an activity offering which provides great value for money. Everyone Active aims to increase the participation of local people in leisure activities, advocating a minimum of 30 minutes exercise, five times per week. www.everyoneactive.com
