Get your lifeguard qualification with Be Well
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.
Free swimming for residents
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.
Be Well Summer Holiday Club
24 July – 29 August
Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium
Calling all 5-16 year olds! Looking for something to keep the kids active and healthy this summer holiday? Then look no further than our Summer Holiday Club at Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium.
The summer holiday is fast approaching so if you’re looking to help your child burn off some energy during the holiday, or help them discover their new favourite sport or hobby, we’re here to help!
Our all-day Summer Holiday Club has plenty of activities to help your children make the most of their free time and will be taking place from 24 July – 29 August, every Monday to Thursday (excluding the bank holiday), between 9am-5pm. It only costs £23.30 per child, per day.
Each day will be packed with fun activities from sports to arts and crafts, helping your child to make the most of their summer holidays. Some activities on offer are:
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Gymnastics
- Trampolining
- Football
- Tennis
- Arts & Crafts
- Musical instruments
- Soft Play
- Bouncy Castles
- ……and lots lots more.
We understand how important it is to introduce your child to a healthy and active lifestyle. That’s why our Holiday Club offers a perfect balance of exercise, activity, fun, socialising, interaction and engagement.
Our friendly, qualified staff are on hand to supervise and help make everyone safe and included.
Your child may be entitled to a free space!
There are funded spaces for children who attend a Tower Hamlets School, are aged between 5-16 years and are in receipt of benefit related free school meals. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis for applications satisfying the eligibility criteria.
For more details and an application form please email: bewell-mileend@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Booking are now open – check out our availability!
Summer Holiday Club terms and conditions and rules/regulations apply. Please check with Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium.
New leisure service, Be Well, launches in Tower Hamlets
The management of seven leisure centres in Tower Hamlets has been brought in-house to the council (on 1 May 2024), following the expiration of their contract with GLL (Better).
Whilst leisure centres close across the country, Tower Hamlets Council is investing in its leisure offer to promote healthier communities.
The new service, Be Well, will focus on a holistic view of health and wellbeing, alongside increasing participation and access for residents with a focus on women and girls, older adults, and people at risk of, or living with, a long-term condition.
It will offer a range of new benefits for residents, including:
- free swimming for women and girls over 16 and men over 55 (from summer 2024).
- access to six leisure centres under one membership.
- new fitness equipment and class programmes.
- health and wellbeing classes and programmes.
- upgrades to centres including the spa at York Hall, a new spin studio at John Orwell and refurbished pitches at Mile End.
The new service will also maximise opportunities for residents to pursue a career in the leisure sector once vacancies are available.
The council is also investing over £55m in a new leisure centre and housing facility that will be built on the site of St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell, providing more and better-quality leisure facilities alongside new homes for residents.
Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor, and Cllr Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, joined local community groups to celebrate the official reopening of the leisure centres at a celebratory event on 7 May at Mile End Leisure Centre and Stadium.
Pupils from St Paul’s with St Luke’s Primary School, Tower Hamlets Community Disability Learning Service (CLDS), Olympic coach Christopher Zah, and athletes Hayley McLean and Columba Blango also joined the celebrations.
Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“I am delighted to welcome new and existing customers to Be Well.
“The new service prioritises creating opportunities and increasing access to leisure services for those groups who have difficulty doing so – with a focus on women and girls.
“Tower Hamlets has a high prevalence of people living with a long-term condition, alongside a high rate of children living with excess weight.
“Investing in our leisure service is one of many steps we are taking to tackle health inequalities and improve health outcomes for Tower Hamlets residents.”
Cllr Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“Be Well will provide high-quality services for residents delivered through health, wellness and play.
“The new service features targeted programmes and interventions to remove barriers and bring communities together, to create a healthier borough.”
Free Lifeguard Training
YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!
We’re launching a new swimming initiative and are looking for passionate people to take part in our fully funded, free lifeguard training.
Apply to take part and learn life saving skills. By completing this training, you may have opportunities to kick-start your career with Be Well!
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference in your community!
PREREQUISITES FOR APPLYING
- 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
- Be able to jump/dive into deep water
- Swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
- Swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100m continuously on back
- Tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
- Surface dive to the floor of the pool
- Climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits
IMPORTANT DATES
SWIM TEST TO PASS PREREQUISITE
- Date: Saturday 18 May 2024
- Time: 10:00-11:00
- Location: Mile End Park Leisure Centre
COURSE DATES
Monday 27 May 2024 – Friday 31 May 2024
EXAM
Saturday 1 June 2024