18 March, 2004

St Edmundsbury Borough Council is appealing to local residents to take an active part in a new Trust which is being set up to manage the leisure centres in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.

The Trust will be a company with charitable objectives, giving more scope for developing and improving the leisure centres. It will be launched in October this year and aims to use the knowledge and experience of a range of people improve the services which the centres provide. 

St Edmundsbury is looking to attract a wide range of people who have a genuine desire to improve public participation in leisure and could include those who currently use services at either leisure centre, have experience of providing leisure services or health care provision in the community or have general business skills. Trustees can expect to spend one day a month being involved in running the Trust which would include management and administration, although commitment at first will be greater.

More information about the Trust and being a Trustee can be found out at an open evening being held on Tuesday 30 March at 7.30pm at Bury Leisure Centre, Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds and on Thursday 1 April at Haverhill Leisure Centre, Ehringshausen Way, Haverhill starting at 7pm.

Please contact Annabelle Bryant on 01284 757061 or e-mail annabelle.bryant@stedsbc.gov.uk to register your interest to attend either open evening.  An information pack is also available by writing to Head of Leisure Services, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Borough Offices, Angel Hill, Bury StEdmunds, IP33 1XB.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

St Edmundsbury Borough Council is looking for people with one of more of the following qualities to be part of the Trust:

-         a current user – either yourself or through your family – of the leisure centres

-         experience of providing leisure services either in the private or public sector

-         financial skills or fund-raising experience

-         knowledge of health-care provision in the community

-         experience of youth work or crime reduction strategies

-         general business skills and previous board membership

-         good communication skills

-         good knowledge of the authorities area and the challenges it faces.

The closing date for applications is 8 April and it is intended that interviews will be held in the week beginning 19 April.