Clay Cross Active Archives

UKSPF Funding Boosts Leisure Careers Across North East Derbyshire!

Recruitment in leisure services at North East Derbyshire District Council has transformed thanks to £20,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding, enabling residents and staff to gain vital qualifications and start a new career.

Since July 2025, the Council have utilised UKSPF funding to train staff and members of the public for roles in leisure services, which include Leisure Attendants, Gymnastics Instructors, Swimming Teachers, and potentially NPLQ Trainer Assessors (lifeguard trainers).

By creating a pipeline of qualified instructors and lifeguards, the Council is strengthening its leisure services, ensuring classes and swimming sessions can run smoothly and safely. For residents, this means more opportunities to access high-quality fitness and swimming lessons locally, while those who gain qualifications benefit from secure employment and the chance to build a rewarding career in health and wellbeing.

This initiative has been a game-changer for recruiting into hard-to-fill posts, breaking down financial barriers to training and opening doors for those transitioning into a new field.

So far, the funding has supported:

6 British Gymnastics Activity Instructors / Level 1 Instructors
6 Swimming Instructors gaining Level 1 & 2 teaching awards (with 5 now employed
17 Pool Lifeguards

Clay Cross Active

Index 1 – Clay Cross Active.

A lifeguard.

Index 2 – A lifeguard.

These newly trained staff are now working across Eckington, Dronfield, and Clay Cross leisure facilities. Participants include upskilled staff, volunteers who have joined the workforce, and residents who have embraced a fresh start in leisure careers.

Councillor Kathy Rouse, portfolio holder for Health and Leisure said “It’s great to see the UK Shared Prosperity Fund being utilised to help upskill residents in North East Derbyshire through this important training, helping to further their careers, whilst also contributing to the success of our Leisure Centres. Congratulations to those who have qualified, we look forward to seeing you poolside!”

To find out more about North East Derbyshire Leisure Centres or to become a member, please visit www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure .

Recruitment in leisure services at North East Derbyshire District Council has received £20,000 from the UK Government and EMCCA through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

This project is funded by @East Midlands Combined County Authority and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is providing £25.17 million of funding for local investment across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 2025/26. This funding, distributed by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), aims to boost pride in place and increase life chances in the region. The investment will focus on supporting communities and businesses, as well as developing skills for individuals.

Christmas information 2025/2026

Our leisure centres will be open as normal up to and including Tuesday 23 December 2025.

Wednesday 24 December 2025 Closed
Thursday 25 December 2025 Closed
Friday 26 December 2025 Closed
Saturday 27 December 2025 Open 9am – 4pm*
Sunday 28 December 2025 Open 9am – 4pm*
Monday 29 December 2025 Open 9am – 4pm*
Tuesday 30 December 2025 Open 9am – 4pm*
Wednesday 31 December 2025 Closed
Thursday 1 January 2026 Closed

Open as normal from Friday 2 January 2026 onwards.

*General swimming at Eckington Active will be from 10am – 4pm

WIN with our leisure survey!

Have your say on our leisure services and be in with the chance of winning £50!

As a leisure centre user, we are keen to know how you rate our facilities and services.

How often do you use Clay Cross Active, Killamarsh Active, Eckington Active and Dronfield Active?, which facilities have you used over the last 12 months?, how satisfied are you with our facilities?

Cllr Kathy Rouse, Cabinet member for Leisure, said: “Your views are important to us to help monitor customer satisfaction and improve our facilities, so please make some time to have your say.”

The survey is quick and easy to complete and everyone who fills it in* will have the chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher!

The survey will open for a fortnight from 20 October – 2 November 2025.

You can fill in the survey online or pick up a paper copy from the leisure centres.

For more information about all our leisure facilities, see our new website – www.justdomore.co.uk

*Contact details required to enter prize draw.

North East Derbyshire Steps up for Macmillan on National Fitness Day

Leisure centres across North East Derbyshire including Clay Cross Active, Dronfield Active, Eckington Active and Killamarsh Active came together to support National Fitness Day and to help raise funds for the Chairs charity Macmillan Cancer Research.

The day kicked off with the Climb Everest Stairmaster Challenge, where members, staff members and councillors all participated from each centre took on the virtual ascent of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest which stands at 8,848.86 metres.

Together, the centres climbed an incredible 32,000 metres – or the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 3.7 times!

Congratulations to Dronfield Active who collectively climbed the highest and surpassed the summit of Everest by a whopping 295 metres.

This was followed by the Big Workout, Cardio Blast, Conditioning Strength, Combat Fitness and Cycle Power – seeing hundreds of members workout and sweat towards a worthy cause.

Fundraising continued throughout the day, which is all being donated to Macmillan Cancer Research through the Chair’s Charity Fund, Chairman of the Council Councillor Hartshorne who said;

‘I’ve really enjoyed my part in the Stairmaster challenge helping not only support National Fitness day, but to help raise money towards Macmillan Cancer Research. Thank you to all of our amazing staff and members for donating and taking part, your support is much appreciated.”

For those that have participated but were unable to give on the day, or those who just want to support a great cause, you can visit the just giving webpage. Any donation you can afford would be greatly appreciated.

You can find out more about our leisure service by visiting https://www.justdomore.co.uk.

Cllr Hartshorne with staff

Cllr Hartshorne with Just Do More members of staff by the stairmaster at Killamarsh Active.

Staff at Dronfield Active

Staff and members celebrate Stairmaster challenge at Dronfield Active.

Just do more members after the Big Workout on National Fitness Day in Dronfield Active.

Just do more members after the Big Workout on National Fitness Day in Dronfield Active.

Just do more members after the Big Workout on National Fitness Day at Clay Cross Active.

Just do more members after the Big Workout on National Fitness Day at Clay Cross Active.

More smiles as staff and members take part in the Stairmaster challenge.

More smiles as staff and members take part in the Stairmaster challenge.

Cllr Hartshorne and staff at Clay Cross Active following a successful Stairmaster challenge.

Cllr Hartshorne and staff at Clay Cross Active following a successful Stairmaster challenge.

Cllr Nigel Barker doing his bit for National Fitness Day.

Cllr Nigel Barker doing his bit for National Fitness Day.

Workout session in support of National Fitness Day.

Workout session in support of National Fitness Day.

National Fitness Day comes to NE Derbyshire

It’s time to step into your shorts, pull on a t-shirt and lace up those trainers, in preparation for National Fitness Day!

To mark the event, the UK’s biggest celebration of health and fitness, North East Derbyshire District Council’s four leisure centres will be holding a packed day of activities on 24 September with all money raised going to NEDDC’s Chair’s Charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cllr Lee Hartshorne, Chair of North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “Macmillan Nurses provide critical care, comfort and support to those facing cancer, helping not only patients but also their families through immensely challenging times.

“I am committed to raising as much as possible to support their invaluable work and I will be incredibly grateful for any support you can give on National Fitness Day.”

Each site – Clay Cross Active, Dronfield Active, Eckington Active and Killamarsh Active will be running a StairMaster Challenge – Powered by Macmillan from 7am-5pm.

Using the StairMaster, which mimics the action of climbing stairs, each centre will battle it out (virtually!) to see who can climb the furthest up Mount Everest – a height of 8,849m.

Then, in the evening, we have the Big Circuit Workout – Powered by Macmillan at Dronfield (6pm-7:20pm), Clay Cross (6pm-7pm) and Killamarsh (6:30pm-7:30pm).

These sessions will include cardio, functional, core and strength-based movements for a full body workout!

At Eckington Active, back-to-back fitness classes will also be taking place, consisting of 20-minute sessions each with a five-minute break in-between:

Cardio – 5.30pm – 5.50pm
Conditioning – 5.55pm – 6.15pm
Combat – 6.20pm – 6.40pm
Cycle – 6.45pm – 7.05pm

Four workouts, one cause! Are you up for the challenge?

Cllr Kathy Rouse, NEDDC’s Portfolio holder for Leisure, said: “This is a great opportunity to either continue with, or start your fitness journey, and help raise money for a worthy cause at the same time.”

Members can now book on at the reception of each leisure centre from today for any of the challenges. They will also be available on the JDM app shortly, so keep a look out!

If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit Cllr Hartshorne’s JustGiving page.

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