Dronfield Active Archives

Make a splash in our newly refurbished pools!

What better way to start 2025, than by making a splash in our shiny new-look pools!

The swimming pools at Dronfield Active are now open after undergoing a £175k makeover, which have seen them relined and new energy saving covers fitted.

Triple glazed windows have been installed and the poolside and changing rooms will also be redecorated shortly.

Behind the scenes, a new energy and a cost-saving variable speed filtration system has been installed to keep operations running smoothly.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse said: “We are delighted the pools are now back open and are looking their very best for our leisure centre users.

“Investing in the health and wellbeing of our communities is one of the key features of our Council Plan, with upgrades also taking place to the fitness suites at both Dronfield Active and Eckington Active recently.”

We have a variety of swimming sessions* for you to try at both Dronfield and Eckington, from casual and lane swimming to swimming lessons, fun family sessions and aqua classes.

Interested in becoming a leisure centre member? Our Memberships start from just £23 a month and all (apart from racket membership) include swimming as an option.

We also have a concessionary pass scheme, allowing you access to swimming and gym at a reduced cost if you meet certain criteria.

You can also use your membership at all three of our centres – Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh.

Our centres are the perfect place to work out, socialise and have fun!

But don’t just take our word for it, read what some users have to say**:

“In our experience every visit to Dronfield sports centre has been a pleasure. We regularly go swimming and it’s always clean and well maintained.” – King G.
“Great swimming pools, the small pool for toddlers is nice and warm, very friendly staff.” – Alan Challoner. (Dronfield Active)
“Excellent swimming pool for learners. Friendly, professional, and caring staff. Visiting this pool is one of the highlights of my week.” – Uruemu Odeghe. (Eckington Active)
“Well organised, great facilities.” – Rosie Chitty. (Eckington Active)
“Good atmosphere and friendly, professional staff”. – Joanne Hobson. (Killamarsh Active)
“Good clean gym, lots of equipment not seen it busy any time of the week.” – Sharon Murdoch. (Killamarsh Active)

Dronfield Active was shortlisted as a finalist in December 2024’s APSE Performance Networks Awards as Best Performer for Sports and Leisure Facility Management.

More information about Dronfield and all our centres can be found on our Just Do More website.

You can also sign up to receive updates straight to your inbox.

*Sessions vary by centre. Visit our swimming pages to find out more.

**Google reviews

Pictured: the newly refurbished swimming pools at Dronfield Active.

New Sustainability Policy for our Leisure Centres

Here at our leisure centres we are here to help you just do more to hit your goals, feel stronger, happier and healthier.

Because we love to see you thrive, we have a lot on offer – flexible memberships to suit you, friendly supportive staff, and a huge variety of classes.

Following the North East Derbyshire Council’s commitment towards greener and better District, we recognised that we too can do more for the environment, community and for the future.

So today we would like to present you our Sustainability Policy for leisure centres, laying out our approach to eco-friendly practises, so you can feel relaxed that your goals are being achieved with little help from us without compromising the future of our planet.

Download our Sustainability policy here.

Dronfield Active & Eckington Active Fitness Suites officially opened!

Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, Cllr Nigel Barker and Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse were on top form on Friday 15 November as they officially opened the new gym refurbishments at both Dronfield and Eckington Active after they have both had significant investments with new equipment, graphics and lighting.

Eckington Active saw £182,000 invested in new equipment, decor and lighting, with some amazing cardio and strength training equipment.

Dronfield Active saw £235,000 invested in the fitness suite and some of the changes included:

All new Pulse Fitness equipment
An expanded free weights area
The addition of a Functional area with an Indigo Fitness rig
New Keiser UK spinning bikes
Refreshed décor & new flooring.

Dronfield Active

Eckington Active

Pool closures Dronfield

The swimming pools at Dronfield Active will be undergoing a £175k makeover shortly, meaning some facilities will be out of action while the improvements take place.

The swimming pools will be closed from Monday 25 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 inclusive, while work takes place to re-line the pool, fit new energy-saving pool covers and triple glazed windows and decorate the poolside and changing rooms.

Remedial works will also be taking place behind the scenes in the plant room, including installing a new energy and a cost-saving variable speed filtration system, to keep operations running smoothly.

Meanwhile, our sports halls will also be having a facelift, with work taking place during the centre’s Christmas closedown to chemically clean and re-seal the floors.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse said: “We recently carried out upgrades to the fitness suites at both Dronfield Active and Eckington Active and these latest works are just another way of improving facilities for the benefit of our customers.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused while these essential maintenance works take place, but once done, swimmers will be able to benefit from fresh-look changing rooms and an improved swimming environment, while sports hall users will be able to enjoy an improved playing surface.”

Money for the pool energy saving works has come from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund Grant – £70k secured earlier in the year – with the rest funded by the council’s capital investment programme.

Don’t worry the improvements won’t take long! Remember your membership at Dronfield Active means you can also use our other centres as you would do at Dronfield, so you can swim at Eckington Active while the works take place.

If you have a swimming membership, information about how the closure will affect you can be found here.

For more information, visit justdomore.co.uk or keep an eye on Dronfield Active’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/dronfieldactive

Health help on hand

A sciatica sufferer has praised our Exercise by Referral classes for helping her on the road to recovery.

Sheila Dungworth (75) from Holmesfield was referred onto the 12-week scheme by her physiotherapist after suffering from the condition, which can cause extreme pain in the bottom, backs of legs and feet.

After joining in with the low impact circuit classes and enjoying them so much, she now attends Dronfield Active once a week.

She has thanked our Healthy Lifestyles Instructor Georgia Limb for helping her to get moving again.

Sheila said: “It (the sciatica) has all gone now.

“I still had it when I started with Georgia, but the 12 weeks certainly helped and the whole experience was a lifting one.

“Georgia is very nice. The people are very nice there.”

Sheila praised the fun sessions, which take place to music and include activities such as a basketball challenge.

She added: “I haven’t done it before and I found I actually enjoyed it.

“It lifts you. You are not on your own. You are all wanting to get better.

“I’m feeling massively better.”

Georgia said: “I’m so pleased Sheila has benefitted from the scheme and is feeling better.

“It’s great to hear her physical symptoms have gone now, but she still enjoys exercising with us.”

To participate in the scheme, you must be aged 19+ and either make an appointment with your GP or complete the self-assessment tool on the Live Life Better Derbyshire website

Activities can include gym, swimming, low impact circuit training, cardiac rehabilitation, chair-based exercise and Forever Active. Other activities are available, but are chargeable at a pay-as-you-go-rate.

Pictured: Sheila (centre, purple jacket) with her friends at the low impact circuit training class.