Helping people experiencing poverty to live active healthy lives
As the UK gets ready for Challenge Poverty Week (Monday, 7th October to Sunday,13th October 2024), Edinburgh Leisure, the largest provider of sports and leisure facilities across the city, is working in local communities to support more people living in poverty and affected by inequalities to be active and well.
Poverty and poor health are inextricably linked. Despite Edinburgh being one of the wealthiest cities in the UK, Edinburgh faces some of the greatest levels of inequality. The Edinburgh Poverty Commission estimates that almost 82,000 people are living in poverty. And in terms of life expectancy, a person born in an affluent part of Edinburgh can expect to live 14 years longer, than somebody living in a poorer area.
Forty-three percent of adults living in the most deprived communities in Scotland do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity compared with twenty-seven percent of adults living in the least deprived areas.
Helen Macfarlane, Director of Wellbeing at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Being active is one of the best things we can do for our health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet many people living in poverty can face barriers to being active, such as cost, lack of confidence and knowledge of what support is available.
“As part of Challenge Poverty Week, we’re aware there are many people experiencing poverty or health inequalities that don’t know about the help and support Edinburgh Leisure can give them.
“We’d like to raise awareness of our £10 Get Active card so that more adults experiencing poverty enjoy the life-changing benefits of being active with us. If you know someone who is receiving benefits, they may be eligible for a £10 Get Active Card, which offers off-peak access to Edinburgh Leisure facilities.
Edinburgh Leisure’s target is to attract 250 new Get Active Card holders across their venues in October. They currently sell around 600 passes each month.
People in receipt of the following benefits are eligible for a Get Active Card:
- Universal Credit
- Income support
- Job seekers allowance
- Guaranteed pension credit
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
A Get Active Card offers off-peak access to all Edinburgh Leisure gyms and gym classes; swimming, saunas and steam rooms; and group fitness classes. No joining fees are payable, there is no monthly subscription, and people can pay when they can.
If eligible visit a local Edinburgh Leisure venue and speak to one of Edinburgh Leisure’s Welcome Hosts to sign up or top up your card whenever you want to be active.
