Summer of fun for under 16s as GLL launches free junior play cards

The gym and leisure operator, which runs 15 centres in partnership with Belfast City Council, is offering reduced-cost access to children and teenagers as they finish school for the summer holidays.

With the prospect of a summer getaway off the cards for many families, GLL hopes to make physical exercise and leisure a more inclusive, accessible, and affordable option for children aged between five and 15 across the city.

Valid across Belfast, the membership cards are free of charge and will entitle children to up to 30% off all ‘Pay and Play’ activities, including swimming, junior gym sessions, football, badminton and tennis.

It also includes access to the Aqua Park at Andersonstown Leisure Centre, home to three world class water slides and Northern Ireland’s only Surf Simulator.

Over 60,000 children are eligible to register for the cards, which will be available for use all year round. GLL is encouraging young people to enjoy a summer of leisure and fun to kickstart a healthy lifestyle and advises any Belfast school children without an address in the city to register using the postcode of their school.

A social enterprise committed to transforming local communities towards ultimately healthier lifestyles, GLL has launched ‘Pay and Play’ as part of Belfast City Council’s ten-year plan to get more people, more active, more often through the £105m Leisure Transformation Programme.

Regional Director of GLL Gareth Kirk, said: “This is a fantastic investment for school children right across Belfast. GLL is thrilled to be able to offer this as part of our commitment to engage with local communities and welcome more people into our centres.

“With leisure back open for business and new state-of-the-art facilities at Andersonstown and Lisnasharragh up and running, the ‘Pay and Play’ membership will give children the opportunity to use our incredible new centres and really benefit from transformed leisure provision across the city.

“Though children under five can currently swim for free at any of the centres across Belfast, the ‘Pay and Play’ cards make having fun and keeping active even more affordable. Our centres are aimed at people of all ages and abilities, however giving more children the chance to enjoy physical exercise is a top priority for GLL.”

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl, added: “It is great to see membership cards for the under 16s being introduced as they will encourage our children to live more active, healthier lifestyles. Belfast City Council’s £105 million Leisure Transformation Programme demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens. In the spirit of inclusivity, it is vital that our five-star facilities are affordable to everyone, particularly kids from less affluent backgrounds.

“With the reopening of gyms and swimming pools in recent months and with schools soon finishing for the summer, the timing is good. I am sure the uptake will be high, and this will ultimately lead to long-term health benefits and social outcomes for the city.”

All eligible school children can sign up for their card online via www.better.org.uk/active-belfast and collect their cards at their local Better leisure centre.

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