• The 24-hour challenge will also include the driving time between each of the mountains
• The team will attempt to walk Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours, to raise £5,500 for WheelPower
• The Three Peaks Challenge will see a team of 27 both members and staff from the local centre trek up the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales

Quotation

Tony Penge, Contract Manager across the leisure centres, said:

We’re really looking forward to completing this challenge once again! Everyone involved is determined to reach the £xx target and I have no doubt we will achieve this goal. It’s going to be an exhausting 24 hours for everyone, but we have every faith in the team and we wish them all the best of luck!

• As part of his commitment to the agency, Josh is required to fundraise before starting work with them in Burkina, so far over summer and has managed to raise £1528.26
• Josh will help in combating poverty and oppression, focusing specifically on the human rights of people with disabilities
• Josh burnt in excess of 14,000 calories during the event using a spinning bike, cross trainer, treadmill and other equipment available at the leisure centre, and only took occasional short breaks for food and drinks

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Josh Thorn, member of St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, commented:

It was the most physically and mentally straining 24 hours but completely worth it. I am so thankful to the staff and members at St. Crispin’s Leisure Centre for their endless support and to Maxinutrition for agreeing to sponsor me for the event. I am truly honoured to be working with United Nationals International Service in Burkina over summer to provide assistance to make a lasting difference to disadvantaged and impoverished communities

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at St Crispin‘s Leisure Centre commented:

This was a very exciting 24 hours for the leisure centre. We are very proud of Josh’s efforts and were more than happy to support his commitment to his opportunity with the agency

• Classes will take place every Saturday starting from the 11.00am at 12.30pm
• Sessions will last for 30 minutes and are parent participated
• Skratch Golf is aimed at children that are starting to develop their gross motor skills and involves different parts of their body such as feet, head, legs, arms and hands
• These skills are important to develop, as they are a foundation for more complex movements a child will make, as they grow older
• To book call 01189791066 or email st.crispins@harpersfitness.co.uk

Quotations

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at St Crispin‘s Leisure Centre commented:

We are delighted to be introducing Skratch Golf at St Crispin’s. It will be a good opportunity for children to get the perfect introduction to golf and for parents to get involved in the learning process. We hope the community takes advantage of this and participates.

• Activities will take place at either 8.00am until 6.00pm (costing £22.70 per day or £81.72 for four days) or 9.30am until 3.30pm (costing £14.60 per day or £52.56 for 4 days)
• There is also a 10% sibling discount
• Children taking part in the Wokingham Active Kids camps will be able to enjoy taking part in football, dance, swimming, tennis, trampolining, cricket, judo touch rugby and basketball

Quotations

Tony Penge, Contract Manager for Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, said:

This is an exciting opportunity for the local community to get active during May half term. The activities set out for the camp are a fantastic way for children to occupy themselves during the term break and make some new friends.

• Pratik’s new role will involve overseeing the management and financial elements of the leisure centre as well as making sure an outstanding level of customer service is provided
• Prior to this new role Pratik worked in various senior roles at Bracknell Leisure Centre and Loddon Valley Leisure Centre

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Pratik commented on his new role:

I’m really excited about my new role as Business Manager for St Crispin’s Leisure Centre. I’m really looking forward to getting started and making the leisure centre the best it can be.

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at Carnival Pool Leisure Centre, said:

We are really looking forward to welcoming Pratik to our team. He has a wide variety of experience, giving him a vast knowledge of both day-to-day duties and the centre’s role in the community.

• This event is hot on the heels of the appointments of Amy Cheale as the new Business Manager, Charlie Webb as the new Health and Fitness Manager and Fiona Robertson as the new Duty Manager
• In her new role some of Amy’s responsibilities include; managing and coordinating the daily operation of the centre and communicating effectively between staff and customers
• Amy is no stranger to the centre having held a number of positions within the leisure centre
• Charlie’s new role will see him responsible for managing a team of six fitness coaches, four freelance instructors and around 30 group trainers, as well as being responsible for holding open weekends every three months to encourage Personal Training sign ups
• Fiona Robertson started out on the apprenticeship scheme in August 2012 as a Leisure Attendant
• Her new role will involve making sure the leisure centre is presentable to all members and ensuring staff are working effectively
• To mark the new appointments the leisure centre will be holding a ‘meet the managers’ day on Wednesday 10^th April at 4.00pm until 6.00pm at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre
• Amy, Charlie and Fiona will be on hand to chat to users and get feedback about the facilities

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• Local residents came along to the leisure centre to enjoy coffee and cakes, made Jan Thomas – a friend of the leisure centre, for just £2 per person, with all proceeds going to Pancreatic Cancer UK

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• This event is hot on the heels of the appointment of Rob Cunningham as the leisure centre’s new Business Manager
• Rob’s new role will see him manage various departments from sales; fitness, swim and he will also manage Duty Managers
• He will be responsible for all aspects of the club from member gains, revenue, and health and safety
• Prior to this new role Rob worked as a Fitness Manager at Virgin Active, where he was responsible for managing five Heads of Department, healthy and safety, and revenue
• Rob has also delivered a wide variety of exercise classes, and personal training sessions
• His passion lies with playing rugby for the Reading Rugby Club and he has previously represented the South of England’s Under 20s

Quotations

Rob commented on his new role:

I’m really excited about my new role as Business Manager for Carnival Pool. I cannot wait to get stuck in and put all of my expertise into the leisure centre. My previous experience will help to really understand what the centre’s employees and the local community really need in a well-run leisure centre.

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at Carnival Pool Leisure Centre, said:

It is fantastic to have someone with Rob’s experience join us at Carnival Pool. He has a wide variety of experience, giving him a vast knowledge of both day-to-day duties and the centre’s role in the community. We look forward to him joining the team.

• As Easter weekend traditionally involves chocolate treats, the leisure centres are giving people the chance to make use of the extra two days off work and commit a little bit of time to exercise this upcoming bank holiday
• This Easter Carnival Pool Leisure Centre, Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and St Crispin’s Leisure Centre will be open from Friday 29th March – Monday 1st April at 8.00am until 8.00pm

Quotations

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at Carnival Pool and St Cripsin’s Leisure Centre, commented:

We are really looking forward to this Easter holiday and we can’t wait to see some new faces join us with their free three day passes this upcoming Easter weekend. It is a great opportunity to visit the centres and to get to know the facilities on offer.

• Tom Dune, Laura Mortimer and Rachael Daniel are being congratulated by the centre for their fast thinking after they used the iPhone Finder application, which saw them find the two stolen phones within two hours of them going missing

Quotations

Tony Penge, Contract Manager at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, said:

We’re very proud of Tom, Laura and Rachael for reacting so quickly and saving the day. We take theft at the leisure centre very seriously and have increased changing rooms inspections since the incident. We hope having fast-thinking staff will encourage our members to feel confident and safe when they visit us.