The letter is signed by each member of ukactive’s Membership Council, which represents more than 4,000 ukactive members and is made up of leaders from 13 organisations across both the public and private sector, including operators, suppliers, and organisations from the wider physical activity sector.

ukactive and its partners have been in conversation with the government over the past weeks and months, presenting evidence of the current and projected impact of the energy crisis, and the measures of support required by the whole sector. 

Following consultation with its members this year, ukactive estimates that compared to 2021 levels, energy bills for the sector will increase by up to 240 per cent in 2023. 

The consultation showed that some public leisure centres are already facing increases of between 150 and 200 per cent, largely due to the high energy consumption of swimming pools. 

With no financial support, nearly all fitness and leisure facilities will need to increase their prices over the next 12 months, and more than half of all public and private facilities will be forced to close some or all of their sites. This includes up to 85 per cent of public leisure facilities within the next six months.  

The letter makes clear the measures of support necessary to allow thousands of facilities to survive the economic turbulence in order to continue providing their essential service to the nation, along with protecting thousands of jobs.

These are:

1. Provide Local Government grants, ring-fenced to protect public and community leisure facilities.
2. Expand the current business rates holiday and freeze business rates now for next year (FY22/23) for all fitness and leisure premises, with no caps applied.
3. Reduce VAT to 5 per cent for fitness and leisure businesses.
4. HMRC to replicate the Time-To-Pay flexibility scheme granted during the pandemic.
5. Provide and support access to funding for investment in the adoption of green technology by businesses and local authorities.

“Our sector has laid out the evidence to the government and the stark reality is that millions of people are facing the loss of fitness and leisure facilities that they rely on for their health, wellbeing and even their safety,” said Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive.

“We welcome the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to her new role and she has the opportunity to make an immediate and positive impact on the future health and cohesion of our communities, by providing the support gyms, pools and leisure centres need to survive the energy storm and grow once again.

“We must see the support required by our members to continue their essential role for our health and wellbeing, and we will continue to work tirelessly and constructively with the government and its partners to ensure it is delivered.”