Case study list

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

01/01/2009

JJB Fitness Centre - Merthyr

JJB Sports is one of the UK's largest sports and leisure retailers. In the last few years it has expanded its services to include a chain of fitness clubs, the majority of which are adjacent to their superstores. One such facility is on the Cyfarthfa Retail Park, Merthyr. Even though it is in one of the most deprived areas in Wales, there are over 4,500 members, 2,600 of whom applied before the facility was opened. The facility provides state-of-the-art facilities and charges £36 per month for full membership, only £4 more than the local authority leisure centre at Rhyd-y-Car. The manager was subsequently appointed as Vice Chairman of the Merthyr Active Living Forum providing important private sector representation on the group.

Sainsbury's - Active Kids

The Sainsbury's Active Kids scheme is now in its third year of operation and has already supplied more than the £34 million of sports equipment and coaching sessions to more than 26,000 schools throughout the UK. Schools have to register to take part in the scheme. Under the scheme, shoppers receive one voucher for every £10 spent in store or online, and bonus vouchers on fresh fruit and vegetables and products featuring the healthy apple symbol. Vouchers are handed to schools, Scout or Guide groups, who can then redeem them for a wide range of sports equipment, kit and coaching sessions, as well as cookery equipment to encourage healthy eating within schools.