Leisure centres and sports facilities
Carlisle Campus Sports located in Harraby offers 3G sports pitches, indoor and outdoor courts available for training purposes or matches for sports such as Football, Rugby, American, Football, Basketball, Badminton and Netball.Also available on the campus is the Carlisle Cycle Circuit, a purpose built 1km tarmac circuit which is ideal for training and Racing purposes. It is suitable for all users and in an enclosed safe environment.
The Sands Leisure Centre: please note that all activities have been temporarily located to the former Newman School.
Leisure centres in Carlisle
As well as Carlisle Campus Sports and The Sands Centre, The Better group also run a number of sports facilities within Carlisle
The following Community Centres within the City and District have gym facilities within their centres:
Botcherby Community Gym, 01228 596992
Brampton Community Centre Gym, 016977 45023
Longtown Community Centre, 01228 791876
The Leisure Suite at Morton Community Centre, 01228 531105
Please contact the centres directly for further information.
Football pitiches. The Sheepmount is home to adult grass football pitches, junior grass football pitches, mini grass football pitches. To book these, please contact GLL on 01228 591241.
Other Football pitches (not at The Sheepmount) can be booked by contacting the Green spaces Team on 01228 817200 or email [email protected]
Sports and activity clubs
Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Additionally communities which participate in sport and recreation develop strong social bonds.Sport and recreation builds stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities.
As well as the physical benefits of participating in sport, playing sport can positively affect your mental health by improving your mood and concentration, reduce stress and depression and boost your self confidence.Sport can also help you develop a range of skills such as teamwork, leadership skills and respect.There is so much to gain!! Details of the sports clubs and activities available within our area, for both adults and children, can be found by searching Active Cumbria’s Activity Finder. There is everything from Angling to Water Polo! Have a look and why not challenge yourself to try something new.
Further information on the work of Active Cumbria can be found on their website.
Sports awards and coaching
A wide range of sporting opportunities are available in Carlisle. We recognise and value the commitment made by local clubs to develop high quality, welcoming and safe environments for everyone. We provide advice, support and funding to sports clubs and coaches to enable them to develop. Coach Education We are committed to developing and supporting new and existing volunteers, leaders and coaches within Carlisle. We provide support for courses through the Coach/Instructor Grant Award Scheme.
Club Grant Scheme
We provide a grant award that can provide up to £300 for Clubmark accredited clubs or up to £150 for clubs who are working towards accreditation. Clubs who don't have accreditation will be offered assistance and guidance on club development.
Clubmark
Clubmark Accreditation recognises and values the commitment made by sports clubs to develop high quality, welcoming environments for young participants. We have a list of Clubmark Accredited Clubs in the Carlisle District.
Please see applications for sports development grant in the downloadable documents below.
Active spaces
Carlisle City Council owns and maintains 40 children’s play areas and five outdoor exercise areas across the city. Six multi-use games areas (MUGAs), five games walls (football goal/rebound wall and basketball hoop on hard surfacing) and Devonshire Walk Skate Park are also managed by the authority. All are free to use and open to access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, MUGAs are floodlit during evenings in the winter months.
Wellness Walks
“Walking can make us happier and healthier by providing a chance to get some head space and connect with nature. It is a great way to help us get moving while exploring our local communities.”
Mike Diaper, Executive Director Children, Young People and Tackling Inactivity, Sport England
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to the outdoors, staying active and the well being benefits of walking. To support our local communities achieve this we continue to deliver our successful programme of health walks both within the city and across our beautiful district. In partnership with the Ramblers Association a programme of Wellness Walks are now available, as lock down restrictions are eased.Wellness Walks are friendly short group walks within our local area, all walks are led by trained walk leaders.
Walking for Health Winter Programme 2021-2022
In line with Government guidelines and advice from the Ramblers we are limiting the number attending each walk to 30 people. To ensure that numbers attending each walk do not exceed 30 people your place on each walk must now be booked prior to attending. You can reserve a place on any of the walks by contacting or texting me on 07935001511 or by emailing [email protected]. Should you reserve a place on a particular walk but find that your circumstances change and you are no longer able to attend, please let me know as soon as possible.
Although we will be walking on good paths please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the conditions. You may wish to being your own alcohol-based hand sanitiser to the walk as well as a face covering, although the wearing of facemasks is not mandatory. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms prior to the walk please do not attend. Here is some information on taking part in COVID-safe walks. Ramblers restart for walkers
The more experienced walker may wish to try our Tuesday Trundle walks which are more challenging, longer, with varying gradient and surfaces. A programme for the 2021 winter walks is available below.
Tuesday Trundle Winter Programme 2022
For more information on our walking programme or to volunteer as a walk leader please email [email protected] or contact the Healthy City Team on 01228 817200.
If you would like to take yourself on a wellness walk, the Doorstep Walks give you all the information you will need to enjoy stretching your legs.
Food City
“Good local food for everyone”
Carlisle is a Food City aiming to be a beacon of good practice to inspire others.We are creating a city where good food flourishes and where we work in partnership to empower change towards a vibrant and inclusive food culture. We aim to encourage every setting to serve healthy, sustainable, delicious food. We are starting a local food revolution and wish to share learning to assist other places to recognise the value of working in this way.
Food Carlisle were shortlisted and became a founding member of the Sustainable Food Cities Network in August 2013. We developed a Charter and action plan to advance this work and projects throughout the city, and following this work, we gained our Bronze award in 2018. This project is jointly funded by Sustainable Food Places and Carlisle City Council.
Food Carlisle, like all partnerships, has had to change plans and divert resources during the pandemic.We are currently working alongside the Affordable Food Hubs and are delivering on Covid resilience work across the district.
https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts/sugar
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/no-dig-gardening-guide/