Be Well celebrates first year with community giveaway and continued investment
As part of its one-year anniversary, Be Well, Tower Hamlets leisure and wellbeing service, has marked a first year of delivery with a community giveaway, strong resident engagement and further commitment to investment in local facilities.
Launched in May 2024 following the conclusion of the council’s contract with GLL (Better), Be Well was created to provide inclusive, community-led leisure services focused on holistic health, participation in physical activity and barrier-free access – especially for women and girls, older adults, and residents with or at risk of long-term health conditions.
To celebrate the anniversary and thank residents for their support, Be Well ran a borough-wide giveaway linked to a community survey, receiving 2,842 responses.
Key findings from the survey found that 84% of respondents rated the Be Well brand (name, logo, look and feel) as good or excellent.
72% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the facilities at their local Be Well centre, including gyms, pools, and changing rooms.
The giveaway winner, Shazmin Begum, received the first-ever Be Well membership card, granting one year of free membership and five day passes to Be Well The Spa.
In its first year, Be Well recorded a total of 37,277 members across leisure centres, with a shift in gender inclusion – 82% of members are now women, up from just over 40% before the service was brought in-house.
In addition, 19,150 free swim memberships have been taken up by women and girls aged 16 and over and men aged 55, removing barriers to accessing physical activity.
Continued investment for 2025-26
Looking ahead, Be Well is continuing to invest in the borough’s leisure infrastructure, and continue to listen to direct feedback from residents. Planned improvements include:
- Mile End Outdoor Pitches – Full upgrades with new 3G rubber crumb surfaces, fencing, floodlights, and goals. Work began in June 2025, with reopening expected in August 2025.
- Women-only gyms – Reconfigured and enhanced at Poplar Baths and York Hall.
- Health suite upgrades – Ongoing improvements at Whitechapel and Mile End Leisure Centres.
- Changing village improvements – Major updates at Mile End Leisure Centre.
- New water inflatables – to be available across centres with swimming pools.
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“Be Well is a powerful example of what’s possible when leisure is brought back into local hands.
In just one year, the service has delivered a remarkable increase in participation, especially among women and older adults, while maintaining a focus on inclusion, quality, and community connection.
We’re proud of the impact Be Well is already having and we look forward to deepening that work in year two and beyond.”
Be Well will continue to evolve its offer in 2025 and beyond, listening to residents and ensuring services remain welcoming, affordable, and community-led.
Over 20,000 Tower Hamlets residents access free swimming
More than 20,000 residents in Tower Hamlets are swimming for free as the council celebrates the first anniversary of its free swimming programme – a major investment in public health and community well-being.
20,583 residents are now signed up to the scheme, of those, over 18,000 are women and girls aged 16 and over, and nearly 3,900 residents aged 55 or over, helping to tackle persistent health inequalities and create more accessible routes into physical activity.
The programme has significantly boosted female participation across the borough’s leisure centres, with women and girls now making up 82% of users – up from just over 40% before the scheme launched.
At a time when swimming pools are closing nationwide, with 500 pools lost since 2010, and 42% of those closures since 2020 – Tower Hamlets is investing in public leisure rather than cutting back.
Younger adults have engaged strongly with the scheme, with over 3,400 members aged 16-24 and more than 5,700 aged 25-34. An additional 4,448 residents aged 35-44 and over 3,100 aged 45-54 are also actively participating, showing broad community engagement across all age groups.
Tower Hamlets is protecting and expanding access by also offering free swimming lessons for women and girls to build confidence and skills to support long-term participation.
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 free swimming programme is a core part of the council’s commitment to tackling inactivity, reducing health inequalities, and making physical activity more accessible – particularly for residents who face barriers.
Hussain Rabbani Chowdhury, a local resident said:
“I go for my free swim once a week and am really happy it’s more accessible.
“I feel like it’s helped my health and wellbeing overall, and I feel lighter after my swim – it’s improved mobility in my arms and legs.”
Joanne Barry, a local resident said:
“I’m a carer with my work and an old age pensioner, and I try to keep as active as possible.
“I thought swimming was more expensive than other activities and it can all add up at the end of the month – I think it’s great that it’s now free.”
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“In Tower Hamlets, we’re taking real action to tackle the deep health inequalities in our communities.
“At a time when access to swimming is vanishing elsewhere, we’re proud to be investing in public leisure, making it easier for thousands of residents to be active, healthy and connected.
“This isn’t just about swimming, it’s about building healthier communities.”
To learn more about Be Well’s free swimming programme, visit the free swimming for residents webpage.
Be Well celebrates one year of health, wellbeing and impact
One year ago, Be Well, Tower Hamlets Council’s leisure service, opened its doors with the aim to make health and wellbeing more accessible, affordable, and community-driven for residents across the borough.
The service launched in May 2024 following the end of the council’s contract with GLL (Better), with the goal of supporting holistic health and wellbeing, increasing participation in physical activity, and creating inclusive environments for all – placing a particular focus on improving access for women and girls, older adults, and residents at risk of, or living with, long-term conditions.
Over the past 12 months, Be Well has delivered a range of health and wellbeing services, with thousands of residents engaging in activities across its leisure centres.
Community participation
In its first year, Be Well achieved:
- 37,277 memberships taken up with Be Well, with a gender split of 18% male and 82% female
- 485,379 visits were recorded across Be Well leisure centres (excluding users of outdoor spaces)
- 57,396 classes were booked by local residents and members
- 3,019 people are taking swimming lessons with Be Well Swim Well
- 12 community events were delivered to support inclusion and engagement
- 158 birthday parties were hosted across centres
- 19,150 free swimming memberships taken up with women and girls ages 16 and over and men aged 55 and above across the borough, helping to remove barriers to accessing physical activity
- The introduction of swimming buddies at selected centres to improve swimming technique for women and girls, with the option of taking up free swimming lessons
- A complete refurbishment of the spa at York Hall, newly rebranded Be Well The Spa, to elevate wellbeing experiences
- Over 150 local residents trained and qualified as lifeguards through the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
Looking ahead
Building on this foundation, Be Well is preparing for another year of investment and impact, including:
- Upgrades to outdoor pitches at Mile End, with work beginning in June 2025.
- Improvements across centres including reconfigured women-only gyms at Poplar and Mile End, enhanced health suites at Whitechapel and Mile End, upgrades to changing village at Mile End and water inflatables across centres with a pool.
- Ongoing offers and prizes – including monthly discounts and offers at Be Well The Spa and the chance to win the first-ever Be Well membership card 001, which comes with a full year of free membership.
Reflecting on the first year, Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said: “Our first year has been about more than just getting people moving – it’s been about building community, providing opportunity, and listening to what our residents need.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together so far, and we’re committed to continuing this progress by offering high-quality, inclusive services that help everyone in the borough lead healthier, happier lives.”
Be Well will continue evolving in the year ahead, with further improvements to its facilities, programming, and outreach – ensuring even more people can benefit from its growing offer.