Launceston Life met with administrator Katie and duty manager Mark, two of the cogs in a busy machine that works away behind the scenes, to find out what is coming up for the centre in 2025.

Run previously by a large sports leisure operator, Mark had been working at the centre for a matter of months as a lifeguard when the news came about of the centre’s closure in 2022.

Announcements had been made the previous year that a number of leisure centres across Cornwall were at risk of closing, including nearby Wadebridge and, further south, Falmouth. It suddenly fell on the communities to do something about it before their leisure centres and vital facilities were closed to the public.

When the news hit about the operator stepping away from Launceston, it was local man and business owner Michael Davey who came to the rescue. The Davey family have long been a part of the community and it was Charles Henry Gilbard on Michael’s mother’s side who originally gifted the land at Coronation Park for use of the community to include a park and pool.

Mark said: ”When the leisure centre was at risk of closure, Michael put his hand in his pocket because he realised it was such an important place for the community. Within three weeks of the doors closing the employees teamed up with a number of volunteers from the community, and started painting and tidying up – the building had fallen into a state of disrepair over the years.”

The leisure centre officially reopened to the public on 16th February 2023. In the centre’s second anniversary year, they are celebrating the community that has helped them achieve so much, from attaining 900 monthly members - plus 500 pay-as-you-go members; running a successful Swim School for more than 300 children and teaching the area’s youngsters an essential life skill; to providing an important health and wellness service to the community and a venue to groups for people living with conditions such as osteoporosis, rehabilitation and physiotherapy sessions and maintaining strong links with NHS groups and organisations.

The most important element that ties everything together at the leisure centre is Launceston’s strong sense of community.

“I moved here from Bristol two and a half years ago, and being introduced to the community here has been an incredible experience,” Mark said. “Leisure centre is not a term I would use for it; it’s so much more than that. I get emotional talking about this place because I understand just how much it means to people.

“It’s not about people’s leisure time; it’s about what gets people through the day.”

With the addition of a café so that members, parents and the community can grab a coffee and a snack and have a sit-down in the reception, it creates the sense of a real social hub. Katie said: “With the classes there’s a feeling of seeing regular group members, which naturally provides new social opportunities for people – this is really important, particularly in an area that experiences high levels of social isolation.

“We’re introducing new classes all the time. We’re doing really well and we need to keep doing well in order to ensure the leisure centre thrives.”

With plans to build a new level to provide even more space, plus installing a new roof to say goodbye to leaks, the team are hoping the community will continue to show their support.

Katie continued: “We really need people’s patience this year. The building needs major reconstruction, which will include a new roof and a potential new storey and space for activity.”

“It’s generally the community support that keeps us going,” Mark added. “We need people to bear with us as we move forward.”

Alongside the staff and volunteers, who oversee the running of the centre, a new board of trustees means the decision making at the centre has been opened up to people in the community, who all have a connection to the centre through membership.

If you would like to make a donation to the leisure centre, sign up for a new membership, or find out more about the centre’s classes and swimming lessons, please contact the team on 01566 779557 or go to launcestonleisure.co.uk/contact

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