Freedom Leisure has been appointed by Southend-on-Sea City Council as provider for its leisure services.

The new partnership covers the operation of three leisure centres: Belfairs Swim Centre, Shoeburyness Leisure Centre and Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre. The contract starts on 1 July for three years and the option for a further two.

Immediate improvement works will begin across all three facilities to improve the leisure experience for everyone. The leisure trust and the council are keen to take a “customer first” approach, which will include opportunities for customers to share their perspectives and feedback with representatives from both organisations, ensuring they get the best possible experience when they visit the leisure centres.

Ivan Horsfall-Turner, Freedom Leisure CEO, says: “It's an exciting time for Southend as we can now start to work towards delivering inclusive, accessible and efficient leisure services across the city. We look forward to working with the council, new colleagues, customers and stakeholders to evolve and improve Southend’s leisure offer and help residents to have healthy active lifestyles.”

A charitable not-for-profit leisure trust, Freedom Leisure manages more than 130 leisure and cultural venues on behalf of local authority partners across England and Wales.