Funding to adapt a gym at Littleport Leisure to provide a safe and welcoming space for under-represented groups to improve their health and fitness has been approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

A grant of £11,400 has allocated towards the £17,000 cost of improving the leisure centre’s second gym to create 14 workstations.

The money will enable the purchase of a dual adjustable pulley, leg curl machine, leg extension machine, leg press and adjustable benches along with several pieces of cardio equipment.

The updated gym area, which already includes monkey bars, a boxing bag and some fitness equipment, will be used for targeted classes such as female only, disability groups and under 18s.

A multi-purpose room will be available to be hired for physical training sessions and boot camps. Outside of scheduled classes it will be a safe place for people with less confidence to use away from the main gym area.

The money was approved at the Operational Services Committee meeting on Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Cllr Julia Huffer, chair of the council’s Operational Services Committee, said: “This funding will help transform this second gym into a safe and specially adapted space that can be utilised by members of the community that typically have difficulties accessing fitness services.

“Additionally, it will help Littleport Leisure support the new Active for Health initiative which supports people who have been identified by their GP as benefitting from accessing fitness services.”

Clare Pendle, General Manager for Littleport Leisure, added: “Accessing leisure and fitness services has many positive benefits. As well as improving physical health it can also help people’s mental health and provide opportunities for social engagement.

“This new dedicated area will enable us to reach out to different individuals and community groups, who may not have felt comfortable or physically able to access our services beforehand.

“This will increase the number of people who use Littleport Leisure which in turn supports its future viability for the benefit of all members of the community.”

Support for the project has been provided by St Geroge’s Medical Practice in Littleport and the MS Society

The work is expected to take two months to complete.

The money has been awarded as part of the District Council’s £300,000 Community Sport Fund Scheme 2022-2025.

The fund has been created to enable leisure providers to make sustainable improvements to the facilities they offer residents.