Ready to make a difference and gain valuable life skills?

Be Well’s free lifeguard training programme is back! Open to individuals of all backgrounds, this is your opportunity to learn life-saving skills, build confidence and kickstart your career in leisure.

Since taking over the borough’s leisure centres, Be Well has been dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for all residents. Develop essential skills and contribute to your community – all at no cost to you!

We’re offering two training groups: one mixed and one exclusively for women.

All applicants must meet the prerequisites and pass a swim test to apply.

Course details 

Course 1 – mixed (men and women) lifeguard training

• Course dates: Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February 2025
• Location: Poplar Baths Leisure Centre 
• Assessment date: Saturday 22 February 2025
• Training is daily from 9am to 5pm at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre

Course 2 – women’s only lifeguard training

• Course dates: Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February 2025
• Location: Tiller Leisure Centre, E14 8PX
• Assessment date: Saturday 22 February 2025
• Training is daily from 9am to 5pm at Tiller Leisure Centre

Swim test dates 

There are two swim test dates for the training groups – please come to the appropriate training session.

• For course 1: Mixed (men and women) lifeguard training – Saturday 1 February at 12:00pm at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre
• For course 2: Women’s only lifeguard training – Wednesday 5 February 12.30pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre

Unfortunately, we’re unable to organise swim tests outside of these times.

Prerequisites for applying

• 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
• Be able to jump/dive into deep water
• Be able to swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
• Be able to swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100m continuously on back
• Be able to tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
• Be able to surface dive to the floor of the pool
• Be able to climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits

Please email Jessica Johnson to register: jessica.johnson@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

The festive season is here! As you take time to celebrate, connect, and recharge, Be Well is here to take care of your health and wellbeing needs.

Check out our Christmas opening hours below!

£1.5 MILLION of additional funding is to be invested in leisure facilities in Tower Hamlets, as part of the council’s commitment to support healthier communities.

This funding adds to previous investments of over £4.8 million to upgrade the spa at York Hall, Mile End Park Leisure Centre football pitches, and essential systems across all six operating centres, including boilers, pool pump systems, heating and ventilation.

The new upgrades and refurbishments across the Be Well leisure centres include:

1. Women’s only gym at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre

Transforming the former café space at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre into a brand-new women’s only gym facility, complete with a cardio and free weights area, and dedicated functional and stretch zones.

2. Mile End Leisure Centre wet change facility

Reconfiguring the existing wet change facility to include more individual/personal cubicles, enhanced disability access, and improved family facilities, ensuring a modern, user-friendly experience that meets customer needs.

3. Mile End Park Leisure Centre Health Suite

A renewal and expansion of existing sauna, steam and spa facilities for an enhanced health suite experience.

4. Whitechapel Sports Centre Health Suite

Refurbishment of the currently closed steam room and sauna facilities at Whitechapel to enhance the service offering and provide an upgraded wellness experience for customers.

5. Women’s only gym at York Hall Leisure Centre

Creating a flexible gym facility, designed to support dedicated women-only programming, improving inclusivity and delivering a tailored fitness experience.

6. Pop up crèche facilities and equipment at Poplar Baths, Mile End Park and Tiller Leisure Centres

Introducing pop-up crèche facilities and equipment to support a new service, providing added convenience for customers.

7. Water play and sports hall inflatables across all centres

Investing in innovative ‘pop-up’ inflatable play and swimming pool facilities to create an engaging programme of activities for children and families.

Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:

“While leisure centres across the country are closing, Tower Hamlets Council is bucking the trend and investing further in upgrades for our Be Well leisure service. 

“These upgrades will enhance service delivery for our residents and customers, paving the way for the development of new programmes and an improved range of offerings.

“In May 2024, the management of seven borough leisure centres was bought in-house following the end of the contract with GLL (Better).

“The new service, Be Well, has since welcomed 17,000 new members.”

Ends

A day of free and fun activities for women was held at Tiller Leisure Centre on the Isle of Dogs on 9 November, as part of a drive to empower women and girls in the borough to engage in fitness, health, and wellbeing activities. 

Over 170 women took part in the ‘takeover’ day, organised by Be Well, Tower Hamlets Council’s Leisure Service, which included boxercise and self-defence classes, as well as pool inflatables and swim clinics to help strengthen swimming abilities.

Local women’s groups, including Shadwell Women’s Group, took part in the day, with the all-female staffed Tiller Leisure Centre also offering a pop-up creche and access to wellbeing advice from Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies. 

Fetuma Hassan, Tower Hamlets Young Mayor, officiated the event and said:

“Remaining active isn’t just a way of building lifelong habits for physical wellbeing but it’s also a space for young women to find a community, make friends, reduce stress and improve mental health.

“By creating spaces for women, we can build a foundation for a healthier, more resilient community.”

Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning said:

“Connecting residents to health and wellbeing services is vital for building a thriving community.

“In our borough, where health disparities persist, residents live unusually long amounts of their life in poor health – especially women who are more likely to be inactive and therefore have shorter life expectancy.

“The Mayor, with support from the council’s Public Health team, has made it a priority to close the health inequality gap through physical activity.

“When residents have access to the right support, without barriers, they’re empowered to make healthier choices and improve their quality of life.”

Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:

“Be Well’s vision is to create a community where women and girls have access to inclusive leisure services and reduce the barriers that were encountered previously.

“The council is committed to investing in its leisure offer to support healthier lifestyles and create spaces and initiatives that encourage greater participation from women.

“In July, Be Well launched a free swimming programme for women and girls in the borough, as well as for men over 55, breaking down barriers to health and fitness and creating more accessible opportunities.”

“We expanded our offerings in October with free swimming clinics for women and girls to build confidence and strengthen swimming skills, supporting a lifelong skill of safety in the water.”

“As well as supporting wellness journeys, these initiatives address a critical need – only half of individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds can swim 25 metres, and women of all ethnicities are even less likely to meet this criteria.”

Free swimming clinics for women

In July, we introduced free swimming sessions for women and girls aged 16+, and residents aged 55+ in the borough. However, we recognise that not everyone knows how to swim.

Did you know that only half of ethnically diverse communities can swim 25 meters? Females, across all ethnicities, are even less likely to reach that distance.

That’s why we’re launching targeted, free swim clinics for women. These sessions aim to help women feel safer in the water and provide extra support for women who have basic swimming skills but lack the confidence to swim independently.

Be Well intro

Starting from 1st October, we’re offering unstructured, drop-in swim sessions during women-only swim times, where a ‘swim buddy’ will be available poolside to answer any questions and help build confidence in the water safely.

These sessions are specifically designed to introduce women to swimming and support them in becoming more comfortable in the pool.

Please note this is not a structured lesson. This is a drop-in session during female only swim times.

We’re back with more lifeguard training and this time it’s for women only!

Since the council took over the leisure centres in the borough, Be Well has been committed to providing inclusive opportunities for residents.

Following the success of our other lifeguard training cycles, we’re keen to train and recruit more women to lifeguard across our centres.

There are 12 free spaces available on this course. You must complete a swim test to determine your place on the course.

Swim test dates 

There are two swim test dates.

Swim tests are during women-only swimming sessions.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to organise swim tests outside of these times:

• Tuesday 24 September 2024, 11am to 1pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium
• Friday 27 September, 8:30pm to 9:30pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium

Course details 

• Course dates: Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October 2024
• Training is daily from 9am to 5pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium 
• Course assessment date: Sunday 27 October 2024

Prerequisites for applying

• 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
• Be able to jump/dive into deep water
• Be able to swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
• Be able to swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100m continuously on back
• Be able to tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
• Be able to surface dive to the floor of the pool
• Be able to climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits

Please email Jessica Johnson to register: jessica.johnson@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

You asked, we listened!

We’re extending our health suite opening hours to better serve you!

We’ve listened to your feedback and have added additional women-only, men-only and mixed sessions to our Health Suite at Mile End Park Leisure Centre.

Relax and rejuvenate in our steam room, sauna, spa and relaxation area.

You’ll be able to book these new hours and sessions from 2 September.

New programme timetable

We have another opportunity for you to make a difference in your community!

We are pleased to be running a number of National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) courses at Be Well.

The course cost is £285 per person or funded spaces are available for free if you become a lifeguard with Be Well afterwards (terms and conditions apply).

If you would like to register for the paid course, please email: leisure.training.4all@gmail.com.

If you would like a funded place, where your course is free, you must complete a swim test beforehand. The next swim test is being held on Friday 16 August 2024, from 12 noon to 2pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium. To secure a place for the swim test, please email: leisure.training.4all@gmail.com.

PREREQUISITES FOR APPLYING

• 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
• Be able to jump/dive into deep water
• Be able to swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
• Be able to swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100m continuously on back
• Be able to tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
• Be able to surface dive to the floor of the pool
• Be able to climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits

IMPORTANT DATES

SWIM TEST FOR FUNDED PLACE

• Date: Friday 16 August 2024
• Time: 12:00-14:00                                        
• Location: Mile End Park Leisure Centre

COURSE DATES

We have three courses taking place across August:

• 19-24 August 2024, from 9am to 5pm at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre and Gym
• 19-24 August 2024, from 9am to 5pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium
• 26-31 August 2024, from 9am to 5pm at Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium

For more information, email: leisure.training.4all@gmail.com.

Swimming pools are closing around the country: more than 1,000 have closed in the last 14 years, including 450 council pools.  

However in Tower Hamlets, the council is investing in its leisure offer to promote healthier communities.

In May, the management of seven leisure centres was brought in-house to provide direct control over its leisure offer, under the brand Be Well. 

Be Well seeks to support residents’ journeys to a healthier lifestyle.

As part of this, Be Well is launching free swimming for women and girls aged 16 and over, and men aged 55 and over, from 15 July 2024.

Tower Hamlets is a borough with poor health, with half of adults either overweight or obese.

Women in the borough are more likely to be inactive than men, with women’s life expectancy seven years younger than that of men.

Older adults have the lowest rate of physical activity than any other age groups.

The launch of the new free swimming programme seeks to address these inequalities.

Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, officially launched the new free swimming programme at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre and Gym on Monday 15 July.

Ali Noyce from Swim England and Matt Croxall from the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) – the borough’s new swimming partners – attended to speak about the benefits of swimming and the importance of water safety.

Local organisations and young people joined the celebrations.

Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:

“We are committed to reducing health inequalities and investing in health and wellbeing.

“Insourcing our leisure service and creating Be Well has been one of our many steps towards achieving this.

“Both women and girls over 16 and those over the age of 55 are less likely to be physically active.

These inequalities are even greater amongst diverse communities such as those in Tower Hamlets.

“Our new free swimming programme will address these health inequalities and make it easier and more accessible for those who need our support the most.”

Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:

“Free swimming for women and girls aged 16 and over, and men aged 55 and over is a targeted approach to removing barriers and bringing communities together, to creating a healthier borough.

“I am excited to be launching our new programme and look forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the community.”

Learn more about the registration criteria, view our free swim timetable and book your session.