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WelcoME: Making Westminster Leisure Centres More Accessible

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WelcoMe: Making Westminster Leisure Centres More Accessible

ActiveWestminster is committed to making leisure and wellbeing services welcoming and accessible for everyone. As part of our wider accessibility offer, WelcoMe, is now available at all of our Westminster Leisure Centres, managed by Everyone Active.

WelcoMe is a simple digital service that allows visitors to share their access needs before they arrive, helping staff prepare and provide the right support. This can make visits smoother, more comfortable and more inclusive for disabled and neurodivergent residents

Supporting accessible and inclusive visits

WelcoMe helps remove barriers to visiting leisure centres by allowing visitors to share their access requirements in advance, thus allowing staff to prepare in advance and be ready to support visitors with accessibility needs on arrival.

The platform can help with things such as:

  • Mobility or step-free access support
  • Clear communication needs
  • Extra time or assistance on arrival
  • Creating a more comfortable and welcoming environment

List of all the Westminster Leisure Centres and Facilities with WelcoMe:

  • Academy Sport
  • Church Street Community Leisure Centre
  • Jubilee Community Leisure Centre
  • Little Venice Sports Centre
  • Marshall Street Leisure Centre & Spa
  • Moberly Sports Centre
  • Paddington Recreation Ground
  • Porchester Centre
  • Queen Mother Sports Centre
  • St Augustine’s Sports Centre

Getting Started with WelcoMe

Getting started with the service is quick and easy. 

  1. Create your WelcoMe profile: Visit my.welcome and set up your WelcoMe Key
  2. Share your access needs: Use your WelcoMe Key when planning a visit to a participating leisure centre
  3. Staff prepare for your visit: The team will receive a short briefing so they know how to support you
  4. Enjoy your visit: Arrive knowing the team is ready to welcome and assist you
Learn More and Sign Up

Help Shape LGBTQIA+ Health & Wellbeing In Our Boroughs

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Help Shape LGBTQIA+ Health & Wellbeing In Our Boroughs

 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea ad Westminster City Council are proud to launch a new Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) focused on health, wellbeing and everyday experiences of LGBTQIA+ people across our two boroughs.
 
This important work will help build a clearer understanding of the lived experiences of LGTBQIA+ residents in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster ensuring future services, support and strategies are inclusive, informed and responsive to community need.

Listening to Lived Experiences 

The assessment will explore the key issues affecting LGTBQIA+ communities including:

  • Physical and mental health
  • Access to health and support services
  • Community safety and sense of belonging
  • Social connection and wellbeing
  • Barriers, inequalities and opportunities for improvement

By gathering meaningful insight directly from residents and service providers, we can better understand what is working well and where change is needed.

rainbow flag on the wind

Choose how to take part 

 
You can contribute by completing the online survey or taking part in a confidential interview, whichever feels right for you
  • Online Survey now live and will remain open until 29 March: This is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ residents who live, work or study in Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster to share experiences and help shape future health and wellbeing support across boroughs. Your insight will contribute to a stronger, evidence base, helping ensure services are inclusive, responsive and designed around real community needs.

         Taking part is quick, confidential and an important step towards meaningful, long term improvement.

  • Confidential one-to-one interviews for in-depth insights: If your prefer to speak more detail, SMST Research Angency who are commissioning the survey are also offering confidential one-to-one interviews as per of this assessment.  
         Interviews are open to LGBTQIA+ community members and representatives from statutory and non statutory support services  
         operating across Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. 
 
         These conversations will explore lives experiences, across services, barriers and opportunities for improvement. All discussions will be               handled sensitively and in strict confidence. 
 
To find out more or express interest in taking part in the interviews, please contact the SMSR research team at info@smsr.co.uk.
         
Complete the Survey

Historic Clash Confirmed As Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Lands

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Historic Clash Confirmed As Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Lands

 
The stage is set. The full schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has officially dropped and it’s bringing a historic home nations showdown with it.

England will face Scotland at Headingley on 20 June 2026, marking the first time the two sides have met in a men’s or women’s World Cup on English soil. It’s a fixture packed with rivalry, pride and big match energy and it’s already shaping up to be one of the standout moments of the tournament. 

12 teams, one trophy and a landmark summer to remember

Following a fiercely contested qualifier in Nepal, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland have secured the final four spots., completing the 12-team line up for next summer’s global spectacle across England and Wales (12 June – 5 July 2026)

European nations make up a third of this year’s competition which is a huge milestone for the growth of the women’s game.

image of some of the cricket players and full fixture

The Groups

  • Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands
  • Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland Scotland

World Class Venues and Unmissable Moments

Across 24 days, 33 matches will played iconic venues including Headingley, Old Trafford, Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Bristol County Ground and the Hampshire Bowl, culminating in the final at Lord’s on 5 July.

With elite international talent, fierce rivalries and record-breaking ambition driving the tournament, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 promises to be one of the defining sporting events of the summer.

Tickets on sale now

Tickets for all matches, including the historic England v Scotland are on sale now. With strong demand already building, fans are encouraged to secure seats early.

Lock Your Seats In Now!

A New Era Of Outdoor Sport, Fitness And Community Shine at Johnsons Place Launch

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A New Era For Outdoor Sport, Fitness And Community Spirit Shine At Johnsons Place Launch

A fantastic community celebration marked the official launch of the new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and outdoor gym at Johnsons Place on Monday 9th February.

Residents, partners, councillors and coaches from SportWestminster came together to mark the official opening of the upgraded outdoor sports facilities, designed to give residents of all ages more opportunities to get active in the heart of the community. The event really showcased the energy, enthusiasm and community spirit the the new space is set to inspire.

A great turn out from the community, and plenty of happy faces as children tried out the new facilities for the first time, some of our councillors got in on the action too!

Built for play, training and everyday fitness

The upgrade includes eight brand new pieces of outdoor gym equipment, new lighting, fencing, multi-use surfacing, goals, basketball hoops, and seating, delivered by the amazing team at Play Innovation, who have recently been shortlisted for a SAPCA (Sports and Play Construction Association), award for their groundbreaking work on this project. 

The investment in Johnsons Place forms part of Westminster’s wider commitment to improving access to outdoor sport and physical activity spaces. By enhancing local facilities, we are helping to remove barriers to participation and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles across the city.

Whether you’re organising a casual kick about with friends, trying out a new fitness routine or looking for somewhere for the kids to blow of some steam, Johnson’s Place is ready and waiting to become a vibrant hub for outdoor sport and community activity.

On The Ground – Sharing Your Stories: January’s NSC Spotlight

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The Abbey Centre Is Impacting Women's Wellness With Their Weekly Yoga Sessions

The Abbey Centre  is spreading the zen throughout the borough with their weekly women’s wellness yoga sessions, which have been designed to give women a space to connect, socialise, stay active  and find their calm.

What to expect in the sessions

The sessions every Friday between 9:30-10:30 pm (with the exception of Easter and Christmas holidays).

Each session combines a series of stretching exercises and guided breathing techniques with a goal to help improve strength and flexibility whilst reducing stress and enabling participants to find balance in the fast moving chaotic place the world can sometimes be.

Programme Case Study

Highlights
  • The programme engaged 29 participants during December 2024 over three classes, maintaining consistency in attendance throughout the quarter.
  • Successful introduction of breathing techniques which have been positively received
  • Participants have reported feeling more relaxed and connected, reducing stress and isolation
  • This year there are plans to expand the offering in partnership with VICEC by providing classes at St Andrew’s Youth Club.

Participant Case Study

Participant Profile: Josephine, in her 70s, enjoys participating in the sessions  
Reasons for getting involved in the programme: Having had spinal surgery, Josephine wanted to regain her strength
Programme Impact: Getting involved in the programme has enabled her to gain hope, confidence and connection from being in a shared space with others. She has also been able to take the exercises learnt in the sessions to practice yoga at home. Josephine aspires to continue attending the sessions and build on the strength and confidence she has already gained.

Find out more about the Abbey Centre and the other sessions available through our Neighbourhood Sports Club programme, upcoming sessions, and how to register for future Unity in the Community tournaments on the NSC event page or contact Ryan Denys at ryandenys@everyoneactive.com.

 
NSC Programme

Want to share your experience?

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