State-of-the-art community gym to pack a punch

When: 19th July 2008 at 2pm
What: Grand opening of Bromley Active Living Centre
Where: Queen Adelaide Court, Penge

A HOUSING association has come up with a new spin for a disused launderette and transformed it into a state-of-the-art community gym.

The new Bromley Active Living Centre, on the Queen Adelaide Estate, will provide free fitness facilities to people of all ages in the local community – thanks to a £300,000 investment.  More than £65,000 has been spent on the makeover and the gym has also attracted substantial funding from Sports England to support activities for the next three years.

The new gym, funded by Broomleigh Housing Association and London Active Communities along with partner contractors Osborne and Apollo, architects Pellings, Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club and Pro Active South London will be launched on Saturday 19th July at Queen Adelaide Court from 1pm – 4pm.

Special guests from the world of international athletics are expected to drop in for the event.  And other activities planned for the day include boxing pad workouts, workshops from Crystal Palace FC’s Football in the Community programme and a Cricket for Change Street20 session.

Victoria Whittle, head of community investment at Broomleigh Housing Association, said: “We are committed to helping people lead healthy lives and improving access to sports activities and training opportunities for local communities.  The Bromley Active Living Centre will offer a full range of activities for people of all ages living on and around the estate.”

Gary Stannett, MBE, chief executive of London Active Communities, said: ''London Active Communities is committed to the use of sport as pathway to community and personal development across London.

“We are proud to be working with Broomleigh Housing in the development of the Bromley Active Living Centre, which will offer quality fitness activities, coaching and accredited training opportunities to the residents of the Queen Adelaide estate.”