Reading Leads the Way in Physical Activity

Latest Active Lives Adult Survey from Sport England shows that 70.9% of adults in Reading are achieving the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week— well above the national average of 63.7%. It marks a 2.9% increase from the previous year and highlights the town’s continued commitment to promoting health and wellbeing through sport and physical activity.

The annual Active Lives report provide vital insights into physical activity levels across England. They classify individuals into three categories: Active (150+ minutes/week), Fairly Active (30–149 minutes/week), and Inactive (less than 30 minutes/week).

Reading’s success is underpinned by the £40 million investment programme in leisure provision, which has delivered major upgrades across the borough:

• Rivermead Leisure Centre unveiled its new swimming pool, diving pool, and splash pad in June 2024.
• South Reading Leisure Centre completed structural repairs and upgrades to its swimming pool and changing areas also June 2024.
• Meadway Sports Centre received a £29,000 capital grant from the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund to improve energy efficiency.
• Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium saw lighting upgrades benefiting over 65,000 track users annually.
• Artificial Turf Pitch at Rivermead was refurbished in August 2024, with usage significantly increasing.

Quality assurance remains a priority, with Quest audits rating Palmer Park as “Excellent” and Rivermead as “Very Good”—a distinction achieved by only 22% of centres nationwide.

Quest continues to be the Sport England recommended quality assurance and continuous improvement tool for leisure facilities and sports development teams, designed to measure how effective organisations are at providing customer service. GLL is required to obtain Quest accreditation and maintain it throughout the contract period, with 'Good' being the quality management target.

Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the Council’s leisure partner, continues to expand services, including the Healthwise Programme targeting underrepresented groups and those with specific health conditions. GLL is also enhancing partnerships with schools and community organisations to broaden participation beyond leisure centre boundaries.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture said “Reading’s outstanding performance in the latest Active Lives report is a testament to our long-term investment in leisure infrastructure and inclusive programming. We’re proud to see our residents embracing healthier lifestyles and making full use of the fantastic facilities available. These results show that when we invest in our communities, we empower them to thrive.”

A full presentation by GLL of their Annual Report was delivered to the Council’s Housing Neighbourhood and Leisure Committee on 9 July, detailing service impact and progress on ongoing works.