{"id":19666,"date":"2021-03-01T11:44:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T11:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/news\/ukactive-estimates-400-gyms-pools-and-leisure-centres-already-lost-and-further-2400-at-risk-without-greater-support-in-budget\/"},"modified":"2021-03-01T11:44:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T11:44:28","slug":"ukactive-estimates-400-gyms-pools-and-leisure-centres-already-lost-and-further-2400-at-risk-without-greater-support-in-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/cy\/news\/ukactive-estimates-400-gyms-pools-and-leisure-centres-already-lost-and-further-2400-at-risk-without-greater-support-in-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"ukactive estimates 400 gyms, pools and leisure centres already lost and further 2,400 at risk without greater support in Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hundreds of gyms, pools and leisure centres have been forced to close and thousands more are at risk unless they receive urgent, tailored, financial and regulatory support from the Government, ukactive has warned.<\/p>\n

As the Chancellor prepares to announce his Budget on Wednesday, 3 March, ukactive says tailored financial and regulatory support is essential to avoid putting thousands of facilities at risk, along with up to 100,000 jobs.<\/p>\n

A new survey of ukactive members asked major fitness and leisure operators\u00a0from both the public and private sector, about the economic impact of COVID-19 on their\u00a0sites to date.<\/p>\n

Based on the responses,\u00a0ukactive\u00a0estimates that approximately 400 gyms, pools and leisure centres\u00a0across the UK\u00a0have already been forced to close,\u00a0due to the financial pressures caused by lockdown and operating restrictions, such as social distancing measures which reduce capacity.<\/p>\n

Prior to the pandemic, the sector was growing 6% year on year, and in 2019 was one of two sectors showing a net growth in site openings, despite the widespread decline of the high street. But by the end of March 2021, facilities will have been closed for eight months out of 12, leaving 121 days of suppressed trading, with very limited income and substantial outgoings.<\/p>\n

In advance of the Prime Minister\u2019s roadmap on Monday (22 February),\u00a0ukactive\u00a0surveyed operators\u00a0representing more than 1,800 sites\u00a0and these businesses\u00a0estimated that 39% of\u00a0their\u00a0facilities were at risk of permanent closure.\u00a0This means that despite the support offered by the Government\u2019s furlough scheme, public leisure fund, and\u00a0the moratorium on evictions because of unpaid rent, vital facilities have already been lost.<\/p>\n

The publication of the roadmap has allowed the sector to revise its projections on its survival and recovery modelling, reducing some of the financial uncertainty. However, ukactive projections still point to a loss of a third of the UK\u2019s fitness and leisure facilities (around 2,400 sites), along with up to 100,000 jobs, unless there is bespoke support in the Budget.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, businesses focused on providing fitness classes, such as many boutique operators, will be unable to reopen until 17 May, due to restrictions on indoor classes, causing further financial pressure.<\/p>\n

In order to support the sector\u2019s full range of operators and providers \u2013 from public to private, multi-site to independent, freelance to full-time \u2013 a comprehensive package of measures is required.<\/p>\n

Permanent closure of gyms, pools and leisure facilities would cause significant damage to the nation\u2019s recovery both in terms of health and the economy, as highlighted by a coalition<\/a> of more than 50 health bodies, charities, academics and athletes in a letter to the Prime Minister on 12 February.<\/p>\n

At risk:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n