Supporting the health and wellbeing of local residents and providing better access to innovative and inclusive activities is at the heart of a new leisure operator contract announced today (Friday 9 January 2026).
Sports & Leisure Management Ltd who trade as Everyone Active - a leading national leisure operator - was successful in the recent procurement to manage the council’s leisure facilities in the West of Cumberland.
The new 10-year contract will start in April 2026 and includes: Workington Leisure Centre; Maryport Activity Centre; Cockermouth Leisure Centre; Keswick Leisure Centre; Whitehaven Sports Centre; Copeland Pools and Fitness Centre; Cleator Moor Activity Centre (redeveloped facility) and Millom Leisure Centre (new facility under development).
A key part of the new contract is the delivery of an Active Wellbeing programme and to support a new Cumberland wide Active Wellbeing Partnership.
The programme targets health inequalities and will work in partnership with health and social care providers to support groups such as care experienced and cared for children.
The centres will continue to provide leisure, health and fitness facilities such as gyms, sports, swimming (lessons and public access)
Leisure sites in Carlisle - including The Sands Centre - do not form part of the new contract and will continue being managed on the council’s behalf by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), trading as Better.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“We want to provide the best possible leisure facilities with the aim of supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents. The new approach puts them at the heart of the service and makes leisure more accessible and more inclusive.
“The ten-year approach makes the service more sustainable and aligns with our approach to active wellbeing.”
The Active Wellbeing Programme will include targeted programmes designed to:
Deliver Social Prescribing and GP referral schemes.
Take an Age Friendly approach.
Ensure Programming for All by providing a dynamic, innovative, inclusive, and responsive programme of activities at the facilities and within key community settings. These will meet the needs of all sections of the community and promotes the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of residents.
The programme will be flexible to accommodate community and club activities.
The appointment of the leisure contract was taken at the Executive meeting on Tuesday 6 January. As per the normal council procedures, the decision is subject to a call-in period.