IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Meopham Leisure Centre to Continue Trading

Statement from Meopham Sport and Leisure Association (MSLA)

"It is with immense pride that we advise that the Meopham Leisure Centre will remain open with a remodelled service provision.

From the 1st August 2022, Swale Community Leisure (SLC) take over, and will operate on behalf of Meopham Sport and Leisure Association, who will manage your membership at Meopham Leisure Centre. We have been working closely with SLC to ensure disruption over the next few weeks is kept to a minimum, but please bear with the team as they make the transition through a number systems and processes.

Trustee’s for the Meopham Sport and Leisure Association have continued to recognise the impact our facility has in the community, who have strived to keep it open. We have been working through a number of options, and have managed to secure a new managing agent, Swale Community Leisure (who are an independent charitable organisation and not to be confused with the Swale Academies Trust) on a fixed term arrangement.

We would also like to express gratitude to our current operating partner Serco Leisure for all their assistance during this difficult period working in partnership to find solutions to keep this community asset open.

For the foreseeable future, Swale Community Leisure will focus on core priorities within the new operating model, which includes maintaining key opening hours and mainstream service provision such as gym access, and hire/external hire usage. It is the intent that specific charitable projects such as the Holiday Activity and Food Scheme (HAF) and Reconnect offers will remain.

We apologise for how this situation has disrupted users, hires and staff and fully appreciate that this has been a difficult and challenging time for all concerned. The unwavering efforts of the MLSA and their partners have secured the short-term future of the continued community service, while discussions with Swale Academies Trust and Meopham Secondary School can continue.

Memberships, Booking, and Use of the Centre

We understand you may have questions around our membership or bookings with us as a result of the centre remaining open. Below you’ll find further details on each of these areas.

Your Payments:

• These will now be taken by Clubwise, on behalf of Swale Community Leisure. They plan on collecting payment/s after the 1^stAugust, but, there is no definite date as of yet due to the short transition period we have been working to.Please note:this is a change to the previous intention and communication. However, Clubwise will be writing to you all very soon and will advise you when payments will be collected. There are no membership price, or value adjustments planned.

Direct Debit members:

• We can confirm Direct Debit payments will now continue in line with the centre remaining opening and if you pay by Direct Debit your next payment will be taken around the 1st August 2022 and continue to be taken on the first of each month going forward.

• Paid in Full members:Now that the centre will remain open, you will simply continue to receive the full 12 months of membership that you have paid for as dictated by your start date.
  
  

Gymnastics, Basketball, Trampoline and Martial Arts Lesson Members:

• We anticipate that the majority if not all of our junior courses will continue but these are currently under review. Should we be unable to provide these sessions as a result of the transfer in operations, you will be refunded accordingly. We trust that we can count on your continued support and in the meantime, please remember that the cost of these courses is spread over twelve months. Therefore, the collection of the monthly subscriptions will continue over the summer as normal, aiming to return to classes in September. On the slim chance this is not the case, you will receive a full refund for August’s payment.
  
  

Block-bookings:

• If you have already paid for courses or activities that were set to take place in August (or later), or have a casual booking with us that was set to take place in August (or later), this will now continue as normal.

Super Stars Playscheme, Reconnect offers, and HAF scheme bookings:

• We are hoping to restart these sessions and working on providing a service throughout July and August and it is the intent that specific charitable projects such as the Holiday Activity and Food Scheme (HAF) and Reconnect offers will remain.
  
  

Sports Hall bookings:

• The aim is for these to be reviewed to understand customer demands and we will communicate in due course.
  
  

Group Exercise Programme:

• Arrangements with self-employed instructors/coaches will be assessed, with particular focus on group exercise once the programme has been fully explored and remodelled.
  
  

External Hires:

• Discussions will be had with our valued hirers, such as Amelia Appleby and ANA Therapies in the hope that if they have yet to find new premises, they continue on with us.
  
  

Other bookings:

• If you have another type of booking with us, these should continue to go ahead as planned, but please check with reception prior to the date of your booking.
  
  

More Fitness App:

• Sadly you won’t be able to access this after the 31st July 2022. SCL are exploring an alternative provision.

What Will Happen to the Centre Staff?

Since the recent announcement regarding Swale Community Leisure (SCL) taking over operation of Meopham Leisure Centre from 1st August 2022, Trustees at Meopham Sport and Leisure Association and Serco Leisure have been working with SCL to provide them with clear understanding as to how the Meopham Leisure Centre operating model currently works. We are very pleased to announce these discussions have proven fruitful and can now announce that it is SCL’s intention to retain all staff.

Over the coming weeks, SCL will conduct a full programme review and will consult with staff and customers to find the most efficient way to deliver a programme that meets the needs of customers in an efficient and financially viable manner, while working towards the organisation’s charitable and social objectives.

What Will Happen to the Meophamleisure.com website?
In line with this transfer, the meophamleisure.com website will also be transferred to a new online location -meophamleisure.org. This change will take effect on Monday 1st August 2022 and we would like to advise customers in advance that they may experience some technical issues on the website during the course of Sunday 31st July and Monday 1st August. We apologise in advance for any online disruption customers may experience during this time.

What Happens to The Fundraising Money?
For those individuals who have generously donated in order to support the centre staying open to date, we would like to thank you immensely for all your efforts to help us protect the centre as a joint use facility.These funds will now be used to help with the running of the centre under Swale Community Leisure.

Contacting Your New Provider
Your new provider Swale Community Leisure will of course send you updates and all the details you need. You can of course contact the friendly staff at Meopham Leisure Centre for details too."