Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub

23/09/2026

Sometimes the simplest conversations can make the biggest difference. ❤️

Today, our Community Connector Rachel was at Gloucester Services North and South as part of our Heart of the Game project, offering free blood pressure checks and helping people take a moment to think about their heart health.

The response from visitors was incredible:

💬 "Thank you so much for coming."
💬 "It's great to be able to get my BP checked like this."
💬 "I'm going to go to the pharmacy and get it checked again."
💬 "Thank you for testing me today."
💬 "This is such a good idea."

Every blood pressure check is an opportunity to raise awareness, start a conversation and, in some cases, encourage someone to take the next step in looking after their health.

At Freedom Leisure, we're passionate about taking health and wellbeing beyond the walls of our leisure centres and into the heart of our communities.

By meeting people where they are, we're helping make health checks more accessible, supporting prevention, and encouraging people to take positive action for their future health.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with Rachel.

Together, we're helping to build healthier, stronger communities—one conversation at a time. ❤️

https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/news/heart-of-the-game/

Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society
Gloucestershire Gateway Trust
NHS Gloucestershire
Active Gloucestershire

Freedom Leisure

23/09/2026

At Freedom Leisure, Healthy Communities is all about helping people live healthier, more independent lives through connection, prevention and early support.

It was fantastic to join residents at Badgervale Court's Macmillan Coffee Morning, where over £200 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support. ☕💚

Alongside the coffee and conversation, we were able to offer health checks that sparked some inspiring conversations:

💙 A 78-year-old resident achieved an excellent 94/100 InBody score, showing the benefits of staying active and engaged with your health.
💙 A 94-year-old resident took a positive step in understanding his heart health through blood pressure checks.

These moments perfectly capture what Healthy Communities is about - bringing health and wellbeing into local spaces, supporting people to take positive action, and helping them stay active, independent and connected for longer.

Because every conversation, every check and every small step can make a difference.

Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society
Age UK Gloucestershire
Active Gloucestershire
Gloucester City Homes

22/09/2026

21/09/2026

💙 Staying strong, steady and active matters at every age.

Good strength, balance and mobility help us move with confidence, enjoy the activities we love and stay independent for longer.

That's why we're supporting the Fall-Proof Gloucestershire campaign, which is helping people understand that falls aren't an inevitable part of ageing and that there are simple steps we can all take to improve our strength and balance.

At Freedom Leisure, we offer a range of activities, classes and programmes designed to help people of all ages build strength, improve balance, move well and feel more confident.

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch with our team and we'll help you find the right activity for you.

Active Gloucestershire is bringing Fall-Proof back into the spotlight, a countywide campaign designed to help older adults stay strong, steady and independent through strength and balance activity.

The renewed promotion of the campaign coincides with Falls Prevention Awareness Week (21-25 September 2026) and aims to raise awareness of the importance of strength and balance as we age, inspiring more people across Gloucestershire to take simple, practical steps to maintain their health, confidence and independence.

While many people assume that losing strength and mobility is an inevitable part of ageing, evidence shows that strength can be improved at any age. Regular strength and balance activity can help older adults stay active, maintain confidence and continue doing the everyday activities that matter to them.

Developed by Active Gloucestershire in partnership with NHS Gloucestershire, Fall-Proof provides practical resources, simple at-home exercises and information about local strength and balance opportunities across the county.

Throughout Falls Prevention Awareness Week, we'll be promoting five key messages:
✅ Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing
✅ Strength builds confidence and independence
✅ Small actions make a big difference
✅ It's never too early to start, or too late
✅ Strength can be built at home or in the community

We'll also be sharing inspiring stories from Gloucestershire residents who have experienced the benefits of improving their strength and balance, helping them stay active, connected and independent for longer.

Do you know an older adult who could benefit from improving their strength and balance? Or perhaps you're looking for ways to stay active and independent yourself?

🔗Read more here: https://ow.ly/WOcx50ZKuZe

Together, we can help Gloucestershire stay stronger for longer.

20/09/2026

🏋️‍♀️ LES MILLS BODYPUMP + BODYBALANCE 🧘‍♀️

Two very different classes, but both offer plenty of benefits for your body and wellbeing.

🏋️ LES MILLS BODYPUMP

A full-body resistance workout using weights, motivating music and high repetitions to train all the major muscle groups.

💪 Builds strength and muscular endurance
🦴 Supports bone health
🔥 Helps increase energy expenditure
🏃‍♀️ Improves functional strength for everyday activities
💥 Challenges your muscles through a range of exercises
🙌 You choose the weight and can work at a level that suits you

🧘 LES MILLS BODYBALANCE

A calming, low-impact workout inspired by Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates, combining flowing movement, stretching, balance and controlled breathing.

⚖️ Improves balance and coordination
💪 Develops core strength and stability
🤸‍♀️ Improves flexibility and mobility
🧠 Encourages focus and body awareness
🌿 Helps release muscular tension
😌 Supports relaxation and leaves you feeling refreshed

So what's the difference?

BODYPUMP = strength, resistance & muscular endurance.
BODYBALANCE = mobility, flexibility, balance & mindful movement.

Both can play an important part in a balanced approach to fitness - and you don't have to be fit, strong, flexible or experienced to get started.

Find the class that works for you and enjoy moving your body in a way that feels good. 💚

Check out days/times and book now using the Freedom Leisure App or website:
https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/blackbridge-community-and-sports-hub/book-session-blackbridge/

17/09/2026

⚠️ Safety Reminder ⚠️

We kindly ask all visitors to observe the 10mph speed limit while on site.
As you leave, please remember that the exit joins a 20mph residential area, where local families, children, cyclists, and pedestrians may be present.
Taking a few extra moments to slow down can make a big difference in keeping our community safe.

Thank you for helping us create a safer environment for everyone. 💙

17/09/2026

🌿 Imagine the perfect green space for Podsmead...

A place to walk, play, exercise, relax, meet friends, connect with nature and support wellbeing.

Now's your chance to help make it happen.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is inviting local residents to share ideas for the future of Podsmead's green spaces, starting with Scott Avenue Green Space.

Using the interactive map, you can add everything from walking routes, benches and community growing areas to play spaces, sports areas, trees and wildflower meadows.

Being active outdoors is great for both physical and mental wellbeing, helping people feel healthier, happier and more connected to their community. That's why local voices matter.

🗺️ Share your ideas using the link.

At Blackbridge Community & Sports Hub, we're proud to support opportunities that help local residents shape healthier, greener and more connected communities. 💚

Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

🌿 Neighbourhood Nature – Have Your Say!

There's still time to submit your ideas and help shape the future of green spaces in Podsmead, starting with the Scott Avenue Green Space.

A few weeks ago we shared early access to the interactive map tool created by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to help residents design ideas for local green spaces. Using the tool you can add:

🌳 Trees
🌸 Wildflower areas
💧 Ponds
🪑 Benches and seating
🚶 Paths and walking routes
🌱 Planters and community growing spaces
🛝 Play areas
⚽ Sports areas
🌿 Grassland and areas for nature

It's an accessible way to think about what would make local green spaces better for nature, play, wellbeing, community use and everyday life.

🗺️ Take part in the consultation!

Access the interactive map and create a design here:

https://podsmeaddesignplatform.netlify.app/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Or, you can upload your own sketch, drawing or design through the same platform, before the end of September.

16/09/2026

As we celebrate National Fitness Day, Freedom Leisure colleagues, Paula, our Area Healthy Communities Manager, and Rachel, our new Community Connector, met with local partners across Gloucester who are all working to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents in Podsmead.

From the Pedal Together Gloucester FREE bike scheme to the One Church Community Cafe and HLS FREE Weight Management programme to the fantastic youth and community work by Blackbridge Community Charitable Benefit Society, it's inspiring to see so many organisations side by side to make a difference.

If you'd like to know more about what Blackbridge has to offer or the opportunities through our local partners, come and have a chat.

Together, we're here for our local community.
Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society
Active Gloucestershire
HLS Gloucestershire
One Church Podsmead
Gloucester City Council
Gloucester City Homes
Gloucestershire Gateway Trust
Gloucestershire Bike Project
Play Gloucestershire
Beezee
The Friendship Cafe
Age UK Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire County Council
NHS Gloucestershire

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

📢 THE RACE IS ON! 📢

It's National Fitness Day and Freedom Leisure centres across the country are putting the pedal to the metal! 🚴‍♀️🔥

Our challenge? 2,026km at every centre.

But we're not stopping there…

As centres hit 2,026km, they're continuing to clock up the distance as we battle it out between regions to see who can go the furthest.

🏃 Every run counts
🚶 Every walk counts
🚴 Every cycle counts
📏 Every kilometre counts

So if you're at your local Freedom Leisure centre today, get involved and help push that total higher.

And if you've already done your bit… do a bit more! 😉

DON'T STOP. KEEP GOING! 💪

Register for a free day pass here: https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/national-fitness-day-2026