1. Leisure at Pancras Square
Jul 25th, 2014
This week’s guest blogis fromStephan von Schilling,publichealthinterventionsmanager.
At the openingof Pancras Square Leisure last Saturday, I joinedcolleaguesinthe Active Health
Team in welcomingpeople asthey came in. It was great to see so many local people whowere
genuinelyimpressedwithwhatwas on offer. All sectionsofthe community turnedout, we even
saw lionsand tigers(although these laterturned out to be childrenwho had visitedthe face
paintingactivity in the library earlierin the day).
The new‘clinical grade’ MOTOmed disabilityequipmentwhichwe have installedwas put to use
straight away by a stroke rehabilitationgroup. This type ofequipmentisnot normallyfound in
leisure centresand enablesusto offera seamlesspathway from physiotherapydischarge to a life-
long exercise habit.
The day continuedwith tours coming through, excitingclasses,gym inductionsand swim sessions.
We had also invitedlocal healthcare professionalstocome along and see what theycould referto,
via our Exercise on Referral programme.Local residentswithheart disease,diabetes,lung/
respiratory disease,diabetes,mental health,osteoporosisandother long termmedical conditions
can be referred.They receive eightweeksofadapted exercise andare then entitledtoa reduced
rate membership.All of the normal range of concessionary membershipsare on offeras well and
Camdenstaff can joinat a discountedrate of £48 per month (pre-paid) or£6.20 pay-and-play.
In 2014, watching televisiononyour treadmill is no longerenoughand the screenfeaturessocial
mediaapps whichseemto be just as popular. The cardiovascular machines that I saw will also
save workout data and upload it to the ‘cloud’. Rather than use a workout card, usersinsert a key
which remembersthe individual settingsforeach machine.
The pool is possiblythe biggestattraction for those who live nearby. CllrTheo Blackwell had
mentionedinhis openingaddressthat local people had asked for a pool whenwe negotiatedthe
King’sCross regenerationplans and now theyhave one. The family swimsessionson both
Saturday and Sunday were fullybooked. The moveable floor allowsa variation ofwater depthand
a moveable platformallowseasy wheelchairaccess. From now until the 29th
August 2014 there
will be free sessionsforadults and juniors. These sessionswill alsotake place at the other leisure
centresin Camden.
By the time you read thisPancras Square Leisure will have beenopenfor almost a week.It isgreat
credit to all those who worked so hard to make thishappen that such an excitingconcepthas
become everydayreality for Camden.