Redbridge moves leisure into charitable trust

A new charitable trust has been launched to manage leisure services on behalf of the London Borough of Redbridge.

Vision – Redbridge Culture & Leisure will operate four sites – Ilford Leisure Centre, Fulwell Cross Leisure Centre, Cricklefields Athletic Ground and Ashton Playing Fields – from 1 April.

Mike Newton, newly appointed managing director of the trust, said: “The transition into a charitable leisure trust will allow us to improve the provision of services to local residents and encourage leisure participation in the borough across all our facilities.”

Newton has extensive experience in the leisure industry having formerly held the role of director of leisure services for Gateshead Council.

“The move into a charitable leisure trust has been undertaken extremely successfully in a number of other boroughs.

"We expect similar success for Vision – Redbridge Culture & Leisure which will be evident through a commitment to continuous improvement of our centres and services,” he said.