clay cross active Archives

Clay Cross Active celebrates one year with busy community open day!

Clay Cross Active marked its first anniversary with a day of activity, bringing together residents, members and partners to celebrate a successful first year at the centre.

The day began early, with a series of popular morning fitness sessions including BodyPump at 6.10am, Kettlebells at 7.00am and Stronger for Longer at 8.30am – all well attended by enthusiastic Just Do More members.

During the morning, Councillor Kathy Rouse, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, visited the centre for a tour of the facilities. She was joined by Assistant Director for Leisure, Chris Mills, and Centre Manager, Michael Price, as they met staff and spoke with visitors. The tour included stops at the busy gym and the outdoor 3G pitch.

Throughout the day, people of all ages made use of the centre’s wide range of activities. Visitors enjoyed swimming, gym workouts, fitness classes and Tag Active sessions. A programme of special offers and activities also ran alongside the celebrations, including free sessions, discounts on protein shakes and free Tag Active in the evening.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a live DJ set from 5pm to 8pm, helping to create a lively, celebratory atmosphere across the centre.

One of the highlights of the day was the Big Summer Sweat workout in the evening, free for members, which saw more than 50 people take part. The session brought together members of the community for a shared fitness challenge and added to the good feel of the day. There were also over 80 attendances to the free TAG Active sessions with over 40 attending the 5.15pm session alone.

A strong first year

Since opening, Clay Cross Active has quickly become a popular destination for health, wellbeing and social activities in the area. Key highlights from the first year include:

Over 3,000 local residents now hold a membership at the centre.
The 3G pitch attracts more than 4,000 visits each month, with many of those being young people.
NHS and Citizens Advice services based at the site have seen appointments increase by around 25% since the centre opened.
More than 45,000 visits to the centre were recorded in March 2026.
Sharley’s Café continues to provide a space for people to meet, socialise and connect.
Over 15 local groups and clubs regularly use the centre, including swimming, paddleboarding, fencing, football, athletics, pickleball and badminton.
More than 800 children take part in swimming lessons each week.

The One Year Celebration Anniversary open day highlighted the important role Clay Cross Active plays in supporting both physical activity and community wellbeing for local residents.

Thank you to everybody who’s been to visit throughout the year to help make the first year such a huge success.

Clay Cross Active Celebrates One Year with Community Open Day 18 June 2026

Clay Cross Active is turning one this June, and everyone is invited to celebrate!

To mark its first anniversary, the centre is hosting a full day of activities. The open day is designed to welcome both existing members and new visitors, with free activities, live entertainment and special offers throughout the day.

A Day of Fitness, Fun and Community

The anniversary open day aims to showcase everything the centre has to offer, while creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for residents.

Visitors can expect:

A range of free activities for all ages
Opportunities to try out facilities
A chance to meet the team
A vibrant, celebratory atmosphere throughout the centre

Decorations including balloons and bunting will help mark the occasion, creating a real party feel across key areas.

What’s On

Summer Sweat – Mass Workout Event

Time: 17:45 – 18:45
Location: Sports Hall
Cost: Free

Get ready to move with Summer Sweat, a high-energy group workout led by the Healthy Lifestyles Instructor team. This large-scale session is designed to be fun, inclusive and suitable for all fitness levels, whether you’re a regular gym-goer or just getting started.

TAG Active – Free Kids Sessions

Time: 16:15 – 20:30
Session times: 16:15, 17:15, 18:30, 19:30
Age: 8+
Cost: Free

Young visitors can enjoy free access to the popular TAG Active arena throughout the evening. These sessions are perfect for keeping children active, engaged and having fun, while parents take advantage of other facilities or relax in the café.

Live DJ in the Gym

Time: 17:00 – 20:00

Enjoy a live DJ set while you work out, bringing added energy and atmosphere to the gym during peak hours. Whether you’re lifting, running or just soaking up the vibe, it’s a great way to celebrate in style.

Protein Shake Promotion – Sharley’s Café

Available: All day
Price: From £2 (usually £3.75)

Refuel and refresh with a discounted protein shake from Sharley’s Café, with flavours including:

Strawberry & Summer Fruits
Chocolate & Banana

This special offer is a great way to tie into the fitness theme of the day while enjoying a post-workout treat.

Meet Stanley the Mascot

Keep an eye out for Stanley the STA mascot, who may be making a special appearance to greet young swimmers and families. This fun addition helps create a memorable experience for children attending lessons and strengthens the centre’s partnership with STA.

Come and Celebrate

Whether you’re already a member or thinking of visiting for the first time, the Clay Cross Active open day is the perfect opportunity to get involved.

From high-energy workouts to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone, so why not come along, explore the centre and be part of the celebrations?

Community investment as 3G pitch comes to Clay Cross

North East Derbyshire District Council will begin construction for the new 3G pitch on Monday 21^st July which will be located behind the newly built Clay Cross Active, providing more facilities for Clay Cross and surrounding areas and continues the investment in high quality community leisure facilities.

A 3G pitch is a modern, all-weather pitch which not only enhances opportunities for year-round football training and matches but will also strengthens community cohesion, supports youth development, and promote healthier lifestyles.

The project is funded by NEDDC, Football Foundation, The FA and the Premier League, with contributions also received from New Tupton Ivanhoe FC, Pilsley FC, Ashover JFC and Clay Cross Bulldogs.

Work is expected to complete in January 2026. Demand for the pitch is already high but is you are interested in hiring the facility, please register you interest by emailing ccaenquiries@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk

In delivering such a facility, there will be increased construction traffic along the road at the side of Clay Cross Active for a period of time. We apologies for the inconvenience this may cause, and we really appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Cllr Kathy Rouse, Cabinet Member for Leisure at North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “We are passionate about supporting our local communities and providing services and facilities that provide a fantastic platform for exercise or even developing a future Millie Bright – these are the grassroots opportunities that make a difference to local clubs and this is set to be another great addition to what is a hugely successful community leisure offer at Clay Cross Active..”

Clay Cross Active Officially Opened with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Cross Active was officially opened with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries, including the Leader of the Council, Imogen Clarke, Commonwealth silver medallist, who had the honour of cutting the ribbon.

The event also welcomed representatives from Alliance Leisure, Universal Design & Build, Clay Cross Town Board, and Sport England, key partners who provided funding and support for the development of the centre.

The ceremony marked the formal unveiling of a commemorative plaque and celebrated the transformation of the site into a vibrant, state-of-the-art community hub. Although the centre opened its doors to the public on 18 June, the official launch highlighted the significance of the project for the town of Clay Cross and the wider region.

Clay Cross Active has already seen thousands of visitors in its first week, with glowing reviews praising the facility’s modern design, welcoming atmosphere, and wide range of amenities. The centre features a fully equipped gym, a wellness suite, a soft play area for children, TAG Active and the inviting ‘Sharley’s Café’ — named in tribute to the legacy of the former site and its importance to the local community. In the coming weeks and months, Citizens Advice and Clay Cross Clinic will also open their doors to the public along with work starting on the new 3G Football Pitch.

The centre has been designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating solar panels and energy-efficient systems to reduce its environmental impact. The project also retained and repurposed elements of the original building, blending those with innovation to both reduce overall cost and carbon.

Cllr Kathy Rouse, Cabinet Member for Leisure at North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “Clay Cross Active is more than just a leisure centre—it’s a space where people of all ages can come together to improve their health, connect with others, access services, and enjoy everything the facility and park has to offer. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here.”

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, Sport England, said:

“The doors are open! In a short space of time, we have already seen how Clay Cross Active will enable local communities to come together and share the benefits of being active.

“Throughout the construction, we worked hand in hand with North East Derbyshire Council and I’m so pleased to see we have delivered on our promise of Clay Cross Active being a low carbon, low energy destination hub for all the community to enjoy for years to come.

“We are working in this way across England – investing in places and spaces to create both formal and informal opportunities to support more people to be physically active and change their lives for the better.”

A spokesperson for Alliance Leisure said, “It’s thanks to the dedication of our delivery team, the strong collaboration between our partners and the flexibility of the UK Leisure Framework that we have successfully delivered this transformational project for North East Derbyshire.

Completing a community-led project like this is a proud occasion for the team, as we now get to see the huge benefits it will bring to the health and wellbeing of local residents.”

Clay Cross Active is set to become a cornerstone of the town, offering not only health and fitness opportunities but also a welcoming environment for social interaction and community engagement. The centre represents a significant investment in the wellbeing and future of Clay Cross and its residents alongside the other Clay Cross Town deal projects, soon to be completed in the town.

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Pictured Leader of NEDDC Cllr Nigel Barker cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening of Clay Cross Active

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Picture L-R: NEDDC Leader Cllr Nigel Barker, MP Louise Jones and Cabinet Member for Leisure at NEDDC Cllr Kathy Rouse.

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TAG Active arena

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Huge pirate themed soft play centre

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Wellness suite

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Café seating area

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Gym upstairs, weights area

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Gym upstairs

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Treadmills in the upstairs gym

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Main pool, learner pool and accessible pool pod entry

Clay Cross Active – Dawn of a new era as centre opens to the public

North East Derbyshire District Council is proud to announce that Clay Cross Active, the much anticipated leisure centre and community hub, opens its doors to the public on 18 June 2025.

A Centre for Everyone

Clay Cross Active replaces the former Sharley Park Leisure Centre and offers a modern, inclusive space designed to meet the needs of all ages and abilities. The new facility includes:

A 25-metre swimming pool and learner pool with spectator seating
Fully equipped fitness and spin studios
A large sports hall for team games and events
Soft play and interactive play areas for children
A welcoming community café
TAG Active arena for children 8+ and adults.

Memberships That Work for You – Sign up now and get the rest of June completely free!

Monthly memberships start from just £26/month
Includes full access to all facilities, classes, and the new Just Do More app
Membership includes access to any of the other council run centres in the district – Dronfield Active, Eckington Active and Killamarsh Active.

A Boost for the Local Community

Clay Cross Active is more than just a leisure centre – it’s a community hub. The centre will:

Provide new employment and volunteering opportunities
Attract visitors and boost the local economy
Offer inclusive and rehabilitation programmes for those recovering from illness or injury in the wellness suite
Serve as a key anchor in the Clay Cross Town Deal regeneration programme

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor, Kathy Rouse, said, “We are absolutely delighted to open Clay Cross Active – a facility that reflects our ambition to invest in our communities and support healthier, happier lives. This is a space for everyone, and we can’t wait to welcome you through the doors.”

She added, “The new centre is a game-changer for the district. It’s not just about coming here for fitness – it’s about community, a place to spend time as a family, whatever the weather and an opportunity to put Clay Cross on the map with all the fantastic developments in the town.”

Join Today

Visit https://justdomore.co.uk/clay-cross-active or drop into the centre from 18 June.