Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s largest provider of sports and leisure services across the Scottish capital, has launched its first Impact Report since 2015.

Edinburgh Leisure’s 2023-2024 Impact Report highlights key achievements in line with its strategic goals. Notable successes include a significant increase in customer visits, now surpassing 5.6 million annually, and the growth of their Active Communities programmes, which have supported over 12,500 individuals.

The leisure trust provided sports coaching to over 13,000 adults and children across nine disciplines, including swimming – an essential life skill. The reopening of the historic Warrender Swim Centre marked a milestone, with the facility known for producing elite swimmers.

Edinburgh Leisure hosted major events, including the 2023 Scottish Open Snooker Tournament, and brought back its swimming galas post-pandemic. All of this achieved with the combined efforts of their employees, partners, volunteers and supporters, all of whom help Edinburgh Leisure inspire the city to be active.

Jen Holland, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure, who joined the organisation in March 2024, said: “As custodians of the City of Edinburgh Council’s sport and leisure estate, Edinburgh Leisure looks after an incredible range of sites and venues throughout the city. This is not without its challenges, and this year we have faced extreme pressure on our budget, but we remain committed to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the city.

“Edinburgh Leisure is addressing the growing need for affordable physical activity in the city by providing services at reduced or no cost to those facing barriers to leading active lives. By working closely with our partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council, the NHS, and voluntary organisations such as Paths for All and Alzheimer’s Scotland, Edinburgh Leisure is helping to reduce the social and economic costs of ill health and inactivity. As demand for our services increases and economic pressures on the health sector mount, these partnerships remain vital. Through collaboration, we continue to align with national and regional goals, promoting sport, physical activity, health, and inclusion across the city.

“This year we have started developing our 5-year strategic plan, ensuring we listen to our customers and are aligned with our partners’ strategies to meet the needs of the city and to be ‘Fit for the Future’.”

Edinburgh Leisure is part of a network of charities operating with a social conscience, delivering social good when providing public leisure services. Their core business isn’t about making profit, it is about purpose – helping people first. They’re about supporting society to get healthier and happier, employing local people, creating safe spaces for everybody, connecting communities, working towards net zero and supporting people with quality health and wellbeing services for everybody regardless of age or ability.

Edinburgh Leisure provide activities for everyone as they move through their lives, supporting as many people as possible to feel as good as possible.

The Impact Report is available to download in PDF format on the Edinburgh Leisure website. https://bit.ly/3ZjFr6Q