Free Access to National Sports people

Southwark Council, in partnership with Fusion Lifestyle, is helping the country’s athletes to set their own records, and launched a scheme to offer free access to sporting facilities in London Borough of Southwark.

The Southwark FANS scheme (Free Access to National Sports People) has been granted the Inspire Mark badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme.

The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The FANS scheme aims to support the city’s up and coming athletes in their development and progression in their chosen sport. 

To be eligible the sports person can be any age, live in the London Borough of Southwark, be at a national level in their sport either in the national team or ranked in the top 10 in the country. The sport must be recognised by Sport England.  

All applicable athletes will be able to access the seven participating leisure centres – Camberwell Leisure Centre, Dulwich Leisure Centre, Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sports Facility, Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre, Seven Islands Leisure Centre and Surrey Docks Watersports Centre.

Lord Sebastian Coe, (Seb Coe), Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games say: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like FANS are enabling people in London Borough of Southwark to make positive life changes.”

Councillor Veronica Ward, says: “I fully support this great scheme to help our local sport stars with their development and fitness training.

“It is a great scheme that we and our leisure partners Fusion are offering to help these athletes train for free.

“It will also give them the opportunity to help the youngsters of this city join in various sports, where hopefully we will discover another young sports person who will go onto greater heights in their chosen sport.

“The icing on the cake is receiving the London 2012 Inspire Mark and it is a fantastic achievement and highlights what a great initiative this is.”

Samson Oni, Great Britain High Jumper, says: “This will aid me in competing in London 2012 Olympics by adding extra convenience to my training and allowing me to attend to all my training needs, from keeping fit in the gym to recovering in the hydrotherapy pool at Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre.”

Dulcie Davies, England Hockey player, says: “To be the best in your sport takes commitment to training which I find hard to fit in between being at school and spending time with friends.

“With fitness facilities really close by it makes it so much easier to do those early morning fitness sessions"

Dan Reynolds, Head of Community and Sports Development Manager for Fusion, says: “The scheme was introduced to support the national sports people that we have who live and train in the London Borough of Southwark.

“Many national athletes receive little or no financial support for the additional training and costs needed to compete at the top level

“The FANS scheme is about supporting these athletes to help local sports people reach their full potential.”

For more details and application forms for the FANS ( Free Access to facilities for National Sports People in Southwark) contact  
Claire Jenkins, Community and Sports Development Manager 07824 884 979.