The team at Derby Active are putting the finishing touches in place ready to re-open leisure centres to the public from Saturday 25th July.

It will be a phased re-opening, with dates yet to be confirmed for sports like gymnastics coaching, and indoor track cycling at Derby Arena. Moorways Stadium has already opened for outdoor track and field activities.

New safety measures like screens, dispensers for hand sanitiser, and increased cleaning have been put in place to reduce the risk of infection. The safety of staff and customers is our priority. But while our centres may look a little different for now, what hasn’t changed is the warm welcome from Derby Active.

We’ve taken a ‘belt and braces’ approach to making our leisure premises as safe as possible as the lockdown eases. Not only do they meet the standards set by the Government and the individual sporting bodies, they also have to be approved by the Council’s own internal group before they can reopen.

Councillor Robin Wood, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:

The team at Derby Active have pulled out all the stops and shown the same enthusiasm for reopening as they did for developing an online programme of activities while the centres had to stay closed. They have the knowledge and dedication to support anyone who wants to improve their fitness and overall health after lockdown.

We are contacting Derby Active members by email and text to update them about our plans for reopening, and to discuss any concerns they may have. We understand that some customers may not feel ready to return and we are ready to listen. Our online programme, Derby Active at Home, will continue to run, but will be reduced to five or six workouts a week now our staff are back teaching in the facilities.

All staff at Derby Arena, Springwood Leisure Centre, and Queen’s Leisure Centre have been
trained to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19, and customers can expect to follow one way in and out of the building. Public seating has been removed to discourage people from spending time in the building unnecessarily.

Please bear with us while we get used to putting these measures in place. If something doesn’t feel right, please raise it with us – we are all learning, and the safety of customers is our priority.

More details about arrangements for each centre can be found at inderby.org.uk/welcomeback, but here’s what to expect:

Fitness classes

  • All sessions will be limited and can only be booked in advance. Your Derby Active
    membership means you can book classes at all our centres.
  • Changing rooms will be out of use, so please arrive in fitness clothes and bring your own
    water bottle, ready filled.
  • You will need to provide your own exercise mat. These can also be purchased at the leisure centre.
  • You will be asked to wait outside until just before your class, and then led into the room by your instructor. Your instructor will allocate you a designated workout space, and the
    content of the class will be adapted for this.
  • In some centres you will find that we are using a bigger room for classes. For example, at Springwood classes will be held in the Sports Hall. Some classes will be held outside.
  • There will be a 15 minute gap between classes to allow for all equipment to be wiped down.
  • Rooms will be closed and deep-cleaned in line with COVID guidelines.
  • For indoor cycling, the bikes will be positioned with sufficient distance between them for
    safe social distancing, and will be wiped down between classes.
  • Customers are asked to follow safe social distancing and to use hand sanitiser regularly,
    and to limit the amount of personal belongings they bring with them.

Gyms

  • You will have to book a gym session online or by phone, which will be for a period of 75
    minutes. Derby Active members can book a session at any of our gyms.
  • Some machines will be closed or unavailable during your session. This means we can
    swap them over while we clean them.
  • We ask you to help us keep the facility safe by following the signs, wiping down equipment before and after use, and using hand sanitiser regularly. Please leave your gym towel at home.
  • Changing rooms and lockers will not be available, so please come dressed for the gym and limit your personal belongings. Bring your own water bottle, already filled.
  • Free weights can be used with sufficient social distancing between people.
  • Gym instructors will be on hand for advice at all times, so ask if there’s anything you’re
    unsure of.

Lane swimming and Learn to Swim classes at Queen’s Leisure Centre
We are delighted to welcome back our Learn to Swim pupils at Queen’s Leisure Centre. Lockdown feels a very long time, but especially for children, so they will receive safety information before their lesson to help them feel confident in the water again.

During lockdown we have been busy recruiting and we now have twice as many instructors as we had in March. They are looking forward to meeting all our swimmers, and we are contacting all our families to let them know when their lessons can restart.

How they will work:

  •  Swimming lessons will be held in all three pools at Queen’s, with no public swimming at the same time. There will be an hour’s cleaning time for spectator seating and any equipment used during lessons.
  • Learn to Swim classes will be advance booking only.
  • Use of changing rooms will be strictly controlled. Learn to Swim pupils are asked to arrive with their costume on under their clothes at a designated entry point.
  • One parent is allowed to accompany each child, but we can be flexible if they have to bring a sibling.
  • Please use the hand sanitiser provided on arrival, and observe social distancing when
    using spectator seating.
  • Children will be able to change in the changing rooms after their class, and parents will
    have access to assist them, but no showers will be available.

Lane swimming at Queen’s Leisure Centre will be available for customers to book a session
online, or by telephone. Other swimming options will be introduced in the future, as we continue to follow government guidance.

Customers can book all activities at all centres online from Friday 17th July. From Monday 20 July you can book your session by phone with the Derby LIVE Sales and Information Centre on 01332 255800, and from Friday 24th July you can call the leisure centres
direct.