The Leisure Review: news in brief

Edition number 90; dateline 9 February 2016

Click! Another blow to the northern powerhouse
Both the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Media Museum in Bradford have celebrated the creation of an “international photography resource centre” which will include some 400,000 items from the Royal Photographic Society collection. Currently held in Bradford, these items will be transferred to the V&A in London. Others have not been so thrilled, fearing that this represents the start of a process of diminishing and eventually decommissioning the National Media Museum. Simon Cooke, a Conservative councillor on Bradford council, was forthright in his condemnation of the decision. “I know London is a big, grand and fantastic city,” he said, “but to denude my city of these photographs reminds us that you – all the V&A’s trustees are based in London, many will never have visited Bradford – care not one jot for our heritage and history. I know you are incredibly excited by all this but, trust me, you could – had you had the guts and vision – have based this new resource centre in the north, in Bradford, where they would have been loved and cherished in a way you in London can never understand. We don’t have much up here and it fills me with a kind of sad rage that you felt able to visit this act of cultural rape on my city. I don’t expect anything to happen. You’ll make some sort of gesture, will utter a few banal platitudes and punch the air because the collection is where you and your pals can pop round, can show off to visiting dignitaries. A plague on you and your metropolitan cultural fascism.” Which should give the V&A and the London cultural community food for thought. But won’t.

Privatising museums or modern practices?
Still in South Kensington, there is growing support for a campaign against changes to the V&A’s employment practices. The museum has announced that new staff would be employed through V&A Enterprise Ltd, a decision that the culture section of the Public and Commercial Services Union has condemned as part of a process that is seeking to privatise public institutions and dismantle cultural services by stealth. The V&A said it was already accepted practice for the museum to employ staff on commercial terms and that the “recognised trade unions” had been informed and consulted.

Good ideas for bad diets
Food labelling should include an indicator of an “activity equivalent”, according to the Royal Society of Public Health. In addition to the calorie count packaging should be obliged to carry data on how long it would take to burn off the calorie intake. By way of example the RSPH’s proposals included a small packet of crisps with 171 calories, which would, according to British Heart Foundation figures, require 19 minutes of jogging, 23 minutes of cycling or 13 minutes of swimming. RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer suggested that the data would make calories “more relatable to people’s everyday lives”. However, Dr Asseem Malhotra, an adviser to the National Obesity Forum warned of simply equating calories with exercise. “What you don’t want is to give people the impression that you can out-exercise a bad diet,” he said.

The baroness goes to the ball
Sue Campbell, former head of the Youth Sport Trust and chair of UK Sport, has been appointed to the role of head of women’s football at the Football Association. Campbell has been given the task of co-ordinating the FA’s policies relating to the women’s game and doubling the number of women and girls taking part.

Anti-oil campaign makes cultural inroads
The Science Museum has responded to a freedom of information request regarding its sponsorship arrangements with Shell and revealed that it will not be renewing the deal. The response read: “No, the Science Museum Group does not have plans to renew its existing sponsorship deal or initiate a new deal or funding agreement with Royal Dutch Shell.”

Alton Towers crash a result of human error
Merlin Entertainments, owners of the Alton Towers theme park, has confirmed that the crash in June that seriously injured five people was a result of human error. Following its own investigation the company said in a statement: “The investigation concluded that the incident was the result of human error culminating in the manual override of the ride safety control system without the appropriate protocols being followed. The investigation also identified areas where protocols and the training of employees should be improved.” A total of 16 passengers on the Smiler ride had been trapped before being freed by emergency rescue services. The HSE is currently investigating the incident.

Parents fear for play spaces
Research from the Association of Play Industries (API) which shows over half (56%) of parents are unhappy about the about the lack of high-quality play facilities in their local area. The findings also show that nearly a quarter (23.4%) say their nearest playground is in a poor state and 22.9% say their children rarely or never play there. Over half (52.4%) see no improvement in local play facilities and 15.1% say they’re getting worse. Nearly four in ten (38.1%) are worried that playgrounds in their local community may close down altogether. Eight in ten think there should be funding for more high quality public play facilities (82.4%) and investment in parks and green spaces for public recreation (81.1%). Over one third (39.8%) think that disadvantaged communities should be the focus of funding for playground improvements. API Chair Mark Hardy said: “We’re particularly concerned that so many families (14.5%) said their nearest playground is derelict, unusable or unsafe. The strength of feeling amongst parents that government should be making children’s play a priority is clear, particularly as we face a physical inactivity crisis that threatens to shorten our children’s lives.”

Bigging-up the Bard
If you’ve never really been that into Shakespeare 2016 might be a good time to try again to see what all the fuss is about. This year a consortium of the UK’s leading cultural, creative and educational organisations are taking part in Shakespeare400, a project that will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Coordinated by King’s College London, the programme promises “a connected series of public performances, programmes, exhibitions and creative activities in the capital and beyond, [in which] partners will celebrate the legacy of Shakespeare during the quatercentenary year”. The Barbican has unveiled some of its contributions, highlights of which include Table Top Shakespeare, which will be presenting Shakespeare’s 36 plays on a table top using a cast of everyday objects, and a Shakespeare weekender.

Health and exercise: we’re beginning to get it, says HAFOS
Leisure-net Solutions will be undertaking the sixth annual Health and Fitness Omnibus Survey (HAFOS) in March, focusing on outdoor exercise. A review of the HAFOS data since its launch suggests, according to Leisure-net, that the public are beginning to understand the importance of physical activity in improving or maintaining health. Since the initial survey in 2011 the number of people citing health as their motivation to exercise has grown by 25%.

New future for Toon landmark
Fusion Lifestyle has announced plans for a £5 million investment in the refurbishment of Newcastle’s city hall, pool and Turkish bath complex. Built in 1928, the facility is Grade II listed and was closed in 2013. Fusion were selected as preferred bidder for the project to restore, redevelop and reopen the site in partnership with the Newcastle Theatre Royal. Fusion chief executive, Peter Kay, welcomed the opportunity to regenerate a much-loved local landmark. “There has been a tendency over the past few decades to neglect or shut our historic leisure facilities,” he said. “However, over the past few years, particularly as many are threatened with closure, people are waking up to the fact that these valuable resources may be lost forever and are recognising that they are important community assets.” Fusion have scheduled the reopening of the facility for 2017.

BHF manifesto for early years backed by API
The British Heart Foundation National Centre has published a manifesto for early-years physical activity, titled, Best Start in Life. Prepared by the BHFNC early years advisory group, the document urges policymakers not to ignore pre school-aged children when developing policy on physical activity. Proposals include: greater emphasis on the importance of physical activity across the early years foundation stage curriculum and better guidance and training for early years practitioners on how to promote and develop physical activity in young children; access to safe and stimulating physical activity and travel opportunities in every local community; and better guidance and support from health professionals for parents on increasing physical activity in young children. The manifesto has been supported by the Association of Play Industries (API) ), which campaigns at the highest levels for policy recognition for play. API chair Mark Hardy said, “With many children already overweight when they start primary school, it is vitally important to embed physical activity into children’s lives as early as possible. Physical activity provides clear developmental, health and wellbeing benefits to even the youngest children, and healthy lifestyle habits and behaviours that start early in life are more likely to continue in adulthood. Parents, childcare settings, local authorities and government all have a vital job to do in providing opportunities, places and time for the youngest children to play and be active.” Recent API research showed that nearly four in ten (38%) parents are worried their local playground will close down, with more than half (56%) unhappy about the lack of high quality play facilities in their local area.
• Download the BHFNC Best Start in Life manifesto at www.bhfactive.org.uk

News in brief briefer still
Sandwell Leisure Trust will be working in partnership with the Swimming Teachers’ Association to launch a new Swim Academy business model at its six pools. Tonbridge Swimming Pool has been ranked as ‘outstanding’ by Sport England’s national quality scheme, Quest. Test Valley Borough Council has begun an 18-month search for a new partner to operate its sports and leisure centres by appointing law firm Blake Morgan. YMCA Awards has been awarded the prestigious ‘Innovation of the Year’ accolade at the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Awards for its new learner application ‘Y-Go’. British Military Fitness has launched a training academy providing a variety of Level 2 and Level 3 certificates, as well as launching a new Level 4 award in strength and conditioning. French artist Philippe Parreno has been commissioned for this year’s Hyundai Commission for the Tate Modern Turbine Hall, which will open on 4 October 2016. APSE will be host a seminar titled ‘Healthy Living: Let's Get Physical’, which will explore the championing of local authority delivery of sports and leisure, on 10 March at the Chill Factore, Trafford Quays Leisure Village, Manchester. Elevate, billed as the UK’s first trade event focused on tackling physical inactivity, will be held at Olympia, London 4-5 May.