Horizon Leisure: Seriously Social About Inspiring Healthier Happier Communities
Our Community Focused Facilities
Horizon Leisure is a charitable trust that provides communal resources dedicated to the wellbeing of its community, reinvesting all surpluses into affordable, accessible community health initiatives, with a focus on inclusivity for all.
Based in South England, Horizon Leisure runs the local authority-owned Havant and Waterlooville Leisure Centres. Last year, Horizon unveiled its third premier health and wellbeing facility in Merrow Guildford. Horizon Leisure’s first acquisition of a private gym forms part of the charitable group’s long-term strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the region through acquisitions and expansion.
In a groundbreaking move, in June 2023, Horizon opened a pioneering Health and Wellbeing Hub within a Havant shopping mall, directly engaging with residents. Unlike other leisure hubs, this stand-alone facility, in a non-leisure environment, meets the community ‘where they already are’, empowering them on their journey toward greater activity and wellness.
The Hub allows passersby to pop in for a quick chat with Horizon’s expert staff, who have at least a Level Three Exercise referral qualification. Many also hold degrees and Level Four certifications in cardiac, cancer and neurological rehabilitation, and can offer advice and signpost to appropriate services, be that a full health check or an exercise pathway plan. The Hub is financially supported by our commercial profits alongside funding from key partners, and specifically targets those from lower socio-economic groups who are more likely to be inactive or affected with poor health. The concept works as people pop in for a chat, a blood pressure test or health intervention on their way to the shops or meeting a friend for a coffee.
Our Impact on Participants in the Community
“The Horizon Leisure team gave me the confidence to be in a gym environment after feeling it was impossible,” Foundations participant.
A third of Foundations programme participants have now transitioned to subsidised direct debit health memberships with Horizon Leisure. Impressively, 86.2% of these clients reported feeling motivated to engage in physical activity post-programme completion.
Flourish participant: “I felt confident in the care and advice provided. They were motivational and made me realise I wasn’t on a diet, just simply changing my lifestyle.
I started to lose weight and could see my body starting to change. On completing the programme I signed up for a monthly membership so I could keep up the work. The programme brought my BMI down to 38.6; it was over 40 before I began.”
Since opening, the SurgeryPod has taken 307 blood pressure readings. Results feed directly into the NHS system. Over 60% of those tested had high blood pressure, prompting necessary interventions. The Horizon Hub experts on hand mean people can get immediate advice, as well as access to a supported physical activity and education programme.
Our partnership with Southern Health NHS physiotherapy has helped alleviate NHS waiting lists, as they can deliver treatment to more people and can discharge patients quicker. Between October 2023 and April 2024 the Hub’s NHS physiotherapy service has seen 116 patients complete it six-week courses, with a third of these joining Horizon’s Foundations programme or exercise referral scheme. They also discharged 76 patients from the NHS following the Hub’s physio sessions.
Physiotherapy patient: “The Hub physio sessions gave me the knowledge to improve my strength and hopefully avoid surgery. I now feel positive I can make a difference through regular targeted exercises. I’ve signed up for the Foundations course and will continue the exercise routine at home.”
The Next Steps of Our Offering to the Community
Since last year we have improved our offer across our sites, introducing more small group exercise classes, including a men’s over 50’s weights class where we regularly have ten men attending; Ladies that Lift, where 73 women completed the course; Beat It, for people living with high blood pressure; a falls prevention class; plus a successful women’s-only weight management course, Flourish.
Hub participant: “The over 55 men’s weights course changed my life! The opportunity to train with people who have the same objective is a great motivator. I’ve enjoyed the Hub so much that I signed up for another course, and in 12 weeks I’ve managed to reverse my diabetes, which is a massive bonus.”
Responding to feedback, in partnership with Havant Council we are launching specialist weight lifting sessions for teenagers and young adults who lack confidence to attend leisure centres. Plus seated yoga will be relocated to the Hub, and a winter rowing course will start later this year to enable rowing activities to continue all year.
We are also due to commence delivering ESCAPE-Pain, a group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic back pain.
Plus, we plan to upgrade our SurgeryPod to assist with smoking cessation, monitor weight management, and deliver annual contraceptive pill reviews.
Horizon Leisure is Seriously Social About the Community
We are dedicated to connecting and empowering our communities through physical activity. Our leisure facilities and Wellbeing Hub make exercise accessible to everyone by offering low-cost or free services and programmes. Courses like Beat It, Flourish, and ESCAPE-Pain have had a profound impact, transforming the lives of many in our community.
