Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust, celebrated its first full year of operation on 1 April.

Managing Director Craig McAteer said: “Our first year has been fast moving and we have seen some significant achievements in terms of the range and diversity of the services we provide. This has included £0.5m investment in fitness services for adults and young people and we have worked closely on this with Rochdale Borough Council’s Youth Services and the Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale PCT.

“The new Middleton Arena is currently under construction and will be open by the end of the year and over £30m has been committed by the Borough Council on capital expenditure for 2008-2011.

“There is good news too for arts and heritage services with two centres receiving national accreditation from the Museums, Libraries, Archives Council and the award of ‘Outstanding contribution to Black Heritage’ for the ‘Fight to end Slavery’ exhibition at Touchstones Rochdale.

“The Trust has proven its ability to provide value for money by turning round a substantial deficit at the out-turn of the last financial year to a projected small surplus at the end of this.”

During the period, fitness studios at Furrow Sports Centre in Middleton, Littleborough Sports Centre and Central Leisure Centre in Rochdale have been refitted with Life Fitness equipment.

Fitness manager Ben Collier said: “All three gyms have been a huge success with customers and our membership targets are likely to be exceeded.”

The Museums, Libraries, Archives Council’s Museum Accreditation for Touchstones Rochdale and the Arts & Heritage Resource Centre, recognises the facilities meet the required standards of governance and management, services for users, visitor facilities and collections management. Touchstones also retained its VAQAS status as a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction and the Local Studies service received a 2 Star rating for the standard of its archives.