{"id":20507,"date":"2025-12-01T09:13:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T09:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/news\/supporting-the-next-generation-in-oldham-how-oldham-active-champions-our-young-people\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T09:13:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T09:13:47","slug":"supporting-the-next-generation-in-oldham-how-oldham-active-champions-our-young-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukactive.com\/cy\/news\/supporting-the-next-generation-in-oldham-how-oldham-active-champions-our-young-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting the next generation in Oldham: How Oldham Active champions our young people"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lauren Connis,\u00a0Head of Health and Wellbeing at Oldham Active\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following the launch of\u00a0ukactive\u2019s\u00a0new Children and Young People guidance, we hear from Oldham Active\u00a0on how they are already supporting the next generation across their\u00a0facilities, and why\u00a0ukactive\u2019s\u00a0new guidance will help ensure every child\u00a0can get active in a safe, supportive environment.\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

At\u00a0Oldham Active (Oldham Community Leisure)<\/a>,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0proud to support a borough full of energy,\u00a0diversity\u00a0and young talent.\u00a0Every day, we welcome children and teenagers from across Oldham\u2019s neighbourhoods\u00a0who are eager to move more, feel healthier and build confidence. Our job is to make sure they have the spaces,\u00a0guidance\u00a0and encouragement to do exactly that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Supporting young people across our centres<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our facilities offer a welcoming environment where Oldham\u2019s young people can get active in ways that suit their goals and interests. Our young person\u2019s offer, available from age 13+, gives them the chance to learn how to use gym equipment safely while building strength,\u00a0stamina\u00a0and confidence through our comprehensive induction programme,\u00a0Elevate<\/i>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We feel that this is a crucial part of the process to onboard \u2013 with all young people\u00a0benefitting\u00a0from a\u00a0structured induction, delivered by qualified fitness instructors who also hold a Level 2 Adolescents qualification. This ensures they receive age-appropriate guidance from staff who\u00a0truly understand\u00a0their needs and are committed to helping them build healthy relationships with exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In our pools, thousands of local children take part in swimming lessons every year, developing vital life skills alongside resilience, discipline and confidence. Our public swimming sessions are also a favourite for families seeking fun, affordable and healthy activities within their own community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0proud to work closely with local schools, youth\u00a0centres\u00a0and community organisations to deliver tailored activity sessions. These partnerships mean that young people who might not otherwise access structured physical activity can still enjoy positive, supported experiences at their local leisure centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local impact: stories from our community<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

One recent example comes from Oldham Leisure Centre, where our Young Person\u2019s Gym Pathway helped a 13-year-old from Royton who initially felt anxious about entering the gym. With patient guidance and an age-appropriate induction, he developed the confidence to use equipment safely and now attends regularly, telling us that it helps him \u201cfeel stronger, calmer and more focused at school.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

During the summer, we also partnered with the HAF (Holiday Activity and Food) programme to provide young people with two months of free membership across all Oldham Active leisure centres. The offer also included a free hot meal from\u00a0the centre,\u00a0helping ensure that local families could access\u00a0nutritional support\u00a0alongside\u00a0their\u00a0activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Helping shape national guidance<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oldham Active has played an active role in the\u00a0ukactive\u00a0working group focused on strengthening guidance for supporting children and young people in gyms,\u00a0pools\u00a0and leisure settings. Being involved meant we could bring the experiences and voices of Oldham families into national discussions, ensuring the final guidance reflects the real needs of communities like ours.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why supporting young people matters to Oldham<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Encouraging young people to be active\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0only about sport,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about supporting physical health, boosting mental wellbeing, providing safe\u00a0spaces\u00a0and helping young people make positive choices. In a borough as proud and\u00a0community-minded\u00a0as Oldham,\u00a0our leisure centres play a vital role. They are places where young people can feel welcome, supported and part of something positive right on their doorstep.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How the new guidance strengthens our approach<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The updated\u00a0ukactive\u00a0guidance reinforces many of the principles we already embed across Oldham Active\u2019s centres, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n