History & Background
Trafford Community Leisure Trust was established in 2003 for public benefit with the key aim of providing facilities and organising activities for recreation and improving the health and well-being through community participation in healthy recreation.
The Trust is a totally independent organisation and whilst it receives a grant from the Council, the majority of income the Trust generates comes from customers i.e. those coming through the doors. A Board of 13 Trustees, made up of local people, are responsible for the strategic management of the Trust. The Trust is a registered charity with every penny surplus generated being re-invested back into improving the leisure offer to the people of Trafford.
The Trust's Mission 'More people, More Active, More Often' summarises what the Trust is all about which is ensuring all sections of the community take part in sport or regular physical activity. The Trust currently operates 6 leisure centres, 2 sports centre, 2 golf courses, a school leisure centre as well as delivering sports development across the whole of Trafford. In addition the Trust works in partnership with a number of local voluntary, social and commercial organisations to improve the health of the community. Amongst the major partners that the Trust works with are: Kellogg's, Trafford PCT, Broadoak School, Manchester United, and Trafford Council. However, the Trust equally works with small community groups or organisations to assist them in promoting good health.
In a culturally and socially diverse Borough such as Trafford, key target groups and key target areas have been identified to increase participation and reduce some of the health inequalities. In the Sport England Active People survey, the levels of participation in physical activity 3 x 30 minutes every week, Trafford was amongst the 10 most active Boroughs in UK.
Since the Trust came into existence attendances at the leisure facilities have increased substantially as the Trust tries to make the facilities more attractive and encourage those most in need to take up regular exercise. Over the years the Trust has introduced a number of new facilities and initiatives to increase the participation levels in sport and physical activity.
Annual attendances at the Trust's facilities and activities currently exceeded 2 million.
Enhancing the Community through the provision of first class sport and leisure opportunities
During the formative years of the Trust, the key focus was about getting the Trust up and running and establishing sound foundations with little focus on long term planning. In looking beyond the immediate future, the Vision 2020 includes a strategic framework that ensures that there are links all the way from the Trust's Mission Statement through to each individual member of staff's own Personal Delivery Commitments. The agreed Vision for 2020 is "Enhancing the Community through the provision of first class sport and leisure opportunities". With a strategic review of leisure facilities completed In partnership with Trafford Council, the aim of the Vision 2020 is to ensure that all aspects of the Trust's management and operation are first class by 2020.
