Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans has been named among the finalists in this year’s ukactive Awards, with the venue shortlisted as Regional Public Club/Centre of the Year – South of England. The nomination follows sustained investment and a wide range of services aimed at improving physical activity and wellbeing across the district.
What was recognised
The shortlist does not only single out the centre itself. Two other entries connected to the Everybody Active operation in Hertfordshire have also been placed in contention: a region-wide Parkinson’s Community Programme and a Hertfordshire-based health and wellbeing manager.
“It’s a huge honour to have Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, our Parkinson’s Community Programme and our wonderful colleague Kirsty Jones all shortlisted for the ukactive Awards this year,” said James McNulty, area contract manager at Everyone Active.
Westminster Lodge is run by Everyone Active on behalf of St Albans City and District Council. Local councillors and centre managers say the recognition reflects the team’s commitment to making the centre a focal point for community activity.
Facilities and community reach
The leisure centre offers a broad mix of facilities that support both general fitness and specialist activity sessions. It has expanded and refurbished services in recent years to meet local demand, with learn-to-swim lessons forming a major part of its programme.
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| Gym | 145-station gym |
| Swimming | Three pools; Swim England-accredited lessons for over 1,600 children weekly |
| Studios and sports | Four group exercise studios, climbing wall and sports hall |
| Other | Refurbished spa, crèche and bistro |
Those figures underline how the centre supports different age groups and needs — from young children learning to swim through to specialist exercise groups tailored to long-term conditions.
Parkinson’s programme and staff recognition
The Parkinson’s Community Programme has been shortlisted in the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion category. It provides free access to gym and swimming alongside tailored exercise sessions delivered at several venues, helping people living with Parkinson’s to remain active and socially connected.
Also shortlisted is Kirsty Jones, regional health and wellbeing manager for Hertfordshire, listed as a contender for Physical Activity Hero of the Year. Local leaders have welcomed the nominations as evidence of strong partnership working between the council and its contractor.
“I am delighted that our partner organisation Everyone Active has been shortlisted for so many top awards and wish them every success in the finals,” said Cllr Edgar Hill, vice-chair of the public realm committee at St Albans City and District Council.
What this means for local residents
- Recognition may help secure further support and visibility for community health programmes.
- Residents using Westminster Lodge can expect continued focus on inclusive provision and family services such as crèche and swim lessons.
- The Parkinson’s scheme’s nomination highlights local opportunities for condition-specific activity sessions.
The ukactive Awards are judged nationally and celebrate organisations and individuals who promote activity and wellbeing. For users of local services, the nominations are a reminder that community facilities in St Albans are being noticed at a national level. The winners will be announced at the ukactive Awards ceremony later in the year.
