Burnley gym lifts top prize at prestigious National Fitness Awards

The awards – billed as the UK’s biggest fitness awards - recognise excellence and achievement in gyms and individuals across the country.

St Peter’s Centre, which has members aged between four and 87, emerged triumphant from an extended shortlist of entries from 2020 and 2021 after last year’s awards were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Scott Bryce, head of group operations at Burnley Leisure and Culture, which runs St Peter’s, said “We are immensely proud to be named Local Authority / Leisure Trust Gym of the Year.

“This recognition is for the whole team at BLC group for their hard work, dedication, and passion to provide the ultimate health and wellbeing experiences to our local community.

“It’s been a really challenging period over the last two years for the leisure industry, as it’s been for everyone, and it’s a huge achievement to be named winners, especially with additional nominations rolled over from last year’s entries.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, BLC has created more than 400 fitness and healthy living videos for adults, children and people with learning disabilities. And while leisure facilities were closed BLC:

- Educated its members on the technology needed to access videos and other online content;

- Held weekly online question and answer sessions with members;

- Conducted 23 classes per week via Zoom;

- Loaned essential fitness equipment to members;

- Delivered PE lessons in schools and support sessions for schools’ non-PE staff;

- Held pre- and post-natal fitness classes;

- Organised aerobic workshops for people with learning disabilities.

Staff collected emergency food supplies, prepared and delivered hot meals to local families, and created food parcels over the summer.

They also supported the town’s lateral flow and PCR testing for covid, collected and delivered toys and meals at Christmas and delivered more than 20,000 Easter eggs.

Membership is now back at pre-covid levels, and the trust can cater for any age, ability or fitness level in a very relaxed and friendly gym and class environment.

The awards are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading B2B fitness magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport.

A National Fitness Awards spokesperson said: “All our winning facilities should be really proud of their achievements – it’s been a really tough time for the industry, and it has taken a huge amount of hard work and innovation for them to bounce back – it’s a massive achievement as the calibre of entries has been amazing.”