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Clay Cross Active – Progress update

Clay Cross Active, the highly anticipated leisure centre, is set to open its doors in summer 2025, and the excitement is building! This state-of-the-art facility promises to be a game-changer for the local community, offering a wide range of activities and amenities designed to promote health, wellness, and social interaction.

The new centre will feature a large, modern fitness suite, a spin studio, a sports hall, and both a main pool and a learner pool with spectator seating. Additionally, visitors can look forward to a community café, treatment rooms, a soft play area for children and a brand new Tag Active arena.

Check out some of these progress pictures!

Determined amputee defies the odds

A determined amputee who was told she would never walk again is defying the odds, thanks in part to the help she’s received from our in-water, instructor-led Water Wellbeing programme at Eckington Active.

Tina (72) from Killamarsh has Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia – a rare cancer which cannot be cured, affecting the bone marrow and white blood cells.

She has suffered with the condition for 12 years, but last year was also given the devastating news that the artery in her left leg had failed and the limb would need amputating.

Tina, said: “I was driving one day and the next day I was in hospital. The artery just stopped working.

“I was numb at first when I got the news, but it was kind of you have your leg off or lose your life.

“I was in hospital for a week after having the leg removed.

“The surgeon said I’d never walk again, but I started walking only four months later.”

To help build up the muscles needed to hold the weight of a prosthetic leg, in March 2024 Tina was one of the first to attend our Water Wellbeing classes.

Adult and separate child sessions, which take place every Wednesday in the pool at Eckington Active, are aimed at those with injuries, impairments, long-term health conditions or anyone who just struggles to exercise on land, and the good news is you do not need to be a swimmer to take part in the adult sessions.

The class is carried out in the shallow end of the pool and consists of gentle everyday movements using the water as resistance. There is also the option to enjoy a ten-minute swim at the end, or for those less confident, to work with our instructors who will introduce you to some basic confidence skills.

Thanks to the support Tina received from the wellbeing team, in just over eight months she was able to develop the core strength and balance needed to walk correctly and was given a new high-tech bionic leg which will help her walk more normally.

She’s now able to do all the things she did before, such as driving and shopping trips to Meadowhall.

Tina has praised staff, saying they: “literally got me on my feet after having my left leg amputated above the knee.

“On the evaluation examination, the prosthetic team told me they hadn’t seen such progress in muscular development and balance in such a short time in years.

“This could not have been possible in such a short time, without the dedication, patience and kindness of Ann and her team at Eckington.

“I’m certain that there are many more people like me who would greatly benefit from the expertise as I have.”

Ann Lindley, a Swimming Instructor specialising in Aquaphobics and Disability Swimming as well as being an advocate for ‘Scuba Diving for all’ established the sessions after seeing how beneficial the water was for her own mum who suffers with a condition called Cerebellum Ataxia which affects her balance, co-ordination and speech.

Ann said: “There are very few conditions that stop someone from gaining health benefits by being in water and it doesn’t matter what the body shape is, what’s missing, what isn’t, the water is a great leveller.”

Tina’s sister Margaret, who joins in with the sessions too, said: “Everyone accepts everyone for who they are. There’s no discrimination.”

Ann along with co-worker Rebecca, who is also a swim teacher, is in the pool during these sessions. We offer practical support, encouragement and promote a feeling of social belonging with lots of chatter.

Tina says she was turned down by some centres because of her disability, before finding Eckington Active could cater for her needs.

Eckington Active has Swim England’s Water Wellbeing Accreditation, putting it in an elite group of facilities which are championed for their accessibility and inclusivity.

The centre has a range of equipment to help people with disabilities, including hoists and disabled changing.

No membership or referral is needed to join the Water Wellbeing sessions, but we will need you to fill in a medical form.

Visit our website www.justdomore.co.uk for more information about Water Wellbeing and all our facilities or give Eckington Active a call on 01246 217481.

Did you know? you can also sign up for leisure updates straight to your inbox!

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 £26 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.

3G pitch at Clay Cross Active gets go-ahead

North East Derbyshire District Council are delighted to announce they have successfully secured funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to install a new 3G pitch at the Clay Cross Active facility.

The 3G pitch project has been made possible thanks to a £786,000 grant from the Football Foundation, with the remaining 25% of the project costs provided by the council and local partners.

Works are set to start early in 2025 and the pitch is expected to be available for hire in the summer of 2025, once the facility is open.

Local teams and partners who have been consulted with previously will be contacted through 2025 to confirm their bookings.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse said: “Thanks to the generosity of the Football Foundation and our local partners this exciting project will now commence and be ready for our communities to use when the centre opens in the Summer of next year.

It’s fantastic to bring yet more great news on Clay Cross Active’s progress.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:

“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“This grant award to North East Derbyshire District Council towards developing a new 3G pitch at the Clay Cross Active facility is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”

Exciting times are coming, keep up to date by signing up to our email newsletter for the latest news and updates as things progress.

ENDS

About the Football Foundation

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.

The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring every community has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested more than £1.1 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,200 3G pitches, 13,000 grass pitches and 1,500 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.4 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2.5 billion investment in grassroots football so far.

In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.

Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.

Important update regarding the Clay Cross Active development

Firstly, we extend our sincerest apologies for the delays experienced due to the administration of our previous contractor, ISG.

This has impacted the construction world throughout the whole of the UK and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.

Since the announcement (of ISG going into administration) We have been working extremely hard with our partner Alliance Leisure in the background to progress the works as quickly as possible.

As previously stated, Universal Civils & Build has been appointed as the new contractor for the project. They have already secured and made the site safe, and will be intensifying work from December.

What this means for Clay Cross Active:

We are now targeting an opening in early summer 2025 and will confirm an exact date in the coming months,

We are excited about the progress and look forward to delivering a state-of-the-art health and community hub for Clay Cross. Further updates will be provided through our social media channels and the Council’s website.

If you have any queries, especially regarding club activities and bookings, which could include new bookings, please do not hesitate to contact our team at ccaenquiries@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk

Thank you for your understanding and support.

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