LETTERS
Write to reply
Fuel the debate about issues and opportunities across the industry. We’d love to hear from you – healthclub@leisuremedia.com
Focus on big bold ideas to really boost healthy lifestyles Create and innovate
14
Issue 3 2021 ©Cybertrek 2021
Could operators help families whose kids have been cooped up?
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/DENIS MOSKVINOV
Andy King, Link4Life In the spirit of collaboration and working from the premise that very few ideas are new, I used Linkedin to sound out the industry about ways we can strengthen both our commercial and social offering as we move towards re-opening. I was so pleased with the reaction I’m hoping others will join the discussion. The areas for consideration were as follows: 1. Incentivise vaccine refusers Can we target those who are nervous or reluctant about vaccination by incentivising them using leisure and cultural offers? IDEAS: free membership, tickets to shows, personal training sessions, wearables. 2. Means meet needs Given some people have reportedly been stashing cash as they can’t go abroad, for example, yet might well be carrying excess weight and be in poor shape generally, is anyone designing products and/or services to help accelerate positive change? IDEAS: advanced payment membership offers, weight management courses, nutritional advice and healthy food delivery services, wearables plus advice, personal training bundles. 3. Needs without means Can we design similar programmes
to assist with the above, but targeting deprived communities and those that need help most? IDEAS: aim to be commissioned to boost their resilience. Organise social prescribing activities with Link Workers and voluntary sector referral schemes using parks and community venues. Run community engagement events to co-create activities with the communities not just for them. 4. Family time Can we help families be more active with a ‘summer of fun’
for kids who’ve been cooped up for far too long? IDEAS: kickstart a new era in family activity in centres and parks. Create programmes in the streets. Organise huge open weekends that offer a range of family activities. Run summer play schemes utilising Marcus Rashford holiday hunger funding and Sport England’s £10m to open school facilities. Focus on big bold ideas to really boost healthy lifestyles. If you’d like to hear how others have responded to the above call for ideas and would also like to share your ideas please get in touch: andy.king@link4life.org.
