Castle Point Active
Transforming Public Leisure into Active Wellbeing
Castle Point Borough Council is leading the way in reimagining public leisure as an Active Wellbeing service, ensuring that more residents (particularly those facing financial barriers and long-term health conditions) can access inclusive, community-led opportunities.
Supported by Active Essex and Sport England’s Place Partnership Expansion, this transformation builds on successful PHAB funding in 2024 and has accelerated through a further £60,000 investment and a comprehensive strategic diagnostic review.
The ambition directly supports the Future of Public Leisure vision, embedding health, wellbeing and prevention into local leisure services by using community assets, green spaces and trusted local partnerships to tackle deep-rooted inequalities.
This transformation was driven by significant local challenges, including high levels of physical inactivity and obesity, a growing number of residents living with long-term health conditions and financial pressures that limit access to traditional leisure services. Recognising these inequalities, the Council identified the need to move away from a facility-led leisure offer, towards a whole-system Active Wellbeing model that prioritises prevention, inclusion and community connection.
The work is strongly aligned with both Sport England’s Future of Public Leisure and Active Essex’s Fit for the Future Strategy, particularly around:
- Tackling inequalities
- Strengthening communities
- Using physical activity as a tool for prevention
It also directly contributes to Active Essex Implementation Plan priorities, including:
- Better connected and accessible places
- Developing positive attitudes to physical activity among children and young people
- Building a highly skilled and diverse workforce
- Creating stronger, more resilient communities
Active Essex has played a critical system leadership role throughout the programme by supporting Castle Point Leisure, now Castle Point Active, to secure £227,000 of PHAB funding in 2024 to launch the Active Wellbeing Referral Programme, and by providing strategic insight and partnership brokering to secure Place Partnership Expansion funding. Active Essex convened system partners and contributed to the June 2025 diagnostic review, shaping recommendations for service redesign, workforce transformation and asset optimisation, while embedding its strategic priorities into the emerging Active Wellbeing Strategy to ensure alignment with health, active travel and community resilience agendas. One of the most visible changes has been the rebranding from Castle Point Leisure to Castle Point Active, signalling a cultural shift towards a wellbeing-led service. Early impact has been demonstrated through a six-week pilot of the Active Wellbeing Referral Programme.
The programme specifically supports older adults, people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnically diverse communities, women and girls, and residents impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
Delivery has expanded beyond leisure centres into parks and community spaces such as The Paddocks and local halls, significantly reducing barriers and improving engagement through activities including Chair Yoga, Sit & Move, Breath and Meditation, Girls’ Self-Defence and Neuro-Sisters sessions.
Workforce development has been a cornerstone of the new model, with the recruitment of Wellbeing Ambassadors, the appointment of a Physical Activity Coordinator, upskilling staff into wellbeing and health coaching roles, and the creation of future pathways for young people into the leisure and wellbeing workforce. Strategic planning has identified four priority workstreams: Active Wellbeing Strategy, Service Model Redesign, Workforce Transformation and a Leisure Investment Strategy, resulting in masterplans for Waterside Farm Leisure Centre and The Paddocks, both reimagined as multifunctional wellbeing hubs.
Strong partnerships with Castle Point Active, the South East Essex Health Alliance Partnership and local voluntary and community organisations have ensured services are co-designed with trusted partners and respond directly to local need.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Insight
Community consultation shaped the programme.
Integration
Breaking down silos has been key for initial progress and future success.
Workforce
Upskilling staff and supporting transition is critical to delivering the new model.
Affordability
low-cost and no-cost community-based provision has reduced barriers for disadvantaged groups.
As a result of this work, Castle Point has emerged as a national exemplar for the Future of Public Leisure, hosting the national launch of the Place Partnership Expansion, welcoming Sport England Board and DCMS Policy Unit visits in 2025, and laying strong foundations for future Neighbourhood Health Hubs aligned with the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Next steps include implementing the Active Wellbeing Strategy by early 2026, scaling referral and community programmes to reach 3,000 residents over the next two years, completing workforce transformation and securing capital investment for Waterside Farm and The Paddocks as integrated wellbeing hubs.
