Charitable social enterprise and leisure operator GLL has been appointed to manage two historic leisure facilities; Wycombe Rye Lido in Buckinghamshire and Newcastle City Baths, with operations transferring to the organisation on 1 July 2026.

The appointments follow the administration of previous operator Fusion Lifestyle earlier this year, with GLL taking responsibility for the continued operation of both centres under its Better brand.

Existing members will transfer to Better memberships, providing access to the Better app and ‘Live Better’ a digital health and wellbeing platform comprising on demand fitness classes, virtual health advice and a digital health coach.  They will also gain access to GLL’s wider network of leisure facilities across the UK.

Wycombe Rye Lido employees will transfer to GLL under TUPE regulations, ensuring continuity of employment and operational expertise.

During the transition period activities at both facilities will remain unchanged. However, it is anticipated that enhanced programming and extended opening hours will be introduced over the coming months.

Justin Jardine, chief officer, corporate development at GLL, said: "We are pleased to be taking on the operation of these two important community assets at a significant point in their history. Our immediate priority is to ensure a smooth transition for customers and staff while maintaining continuity of service.

"As a charitable social enterprise and a cooperative, our focus is on protecting and enhancing public leisure services for the long term. Once the transfer is complete, we will work with local stakeholders to explore opportunities to broaden the offer, improve accessibility and invest in the future of both facilities."

Peter Brazier Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the Lido and its users. GLL are a major national leisure operator running more than 380 other centres nationally. To have them take over at Wycombe Rye Lido secures a really positive future for the centre and its staff too.”

Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for culture and communities, Cllr Rob Austin, added: “GLL manage nearly 400 public services around the country such as pools, leisure centres, gyms and libraries. They already manage some of our existing facilities, so it makes perfect sense to strengthen our partnership with them. It’s good news that the future of this Grade II Listed building has been safeguarded, and members can look to the future with confidence and continue to enjoy great leisure services in the heart of the city.”

Wycombe Rye Lido, which opened in 1957, includes two outdoor pools, a gym, fitness studios, an all-weather football pitch and tennis courts. The contract strengthens GLL's presence in the region, complementing its existing operations at Prestwood Gym & Fitness Centre, Henley Leisure Centre and Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex.

Newcastle City Baths is one of the city's most significant leisure landmarks. The current Grade II*-listed Art Deco building opened in 1928. Today the complex comprises a 25-metre swimming pool, fitness suite, spa and traditional Turkish baths. The contract expands GLL's portfolio in Newcastle, where it already manages five leisure facilities.

The latest appointments continue GLL's growth as one of the UK's largest not-for-profit leisure operators, with responsibility for more than 250 public sport and leisure facilities nationwide.

Rebecca Gediking, GLL library services director, said: "The GLL Literary Foundation demonstrates the impact that strong partnerships can have in supporting authors, inspiring children and strengthening communities. By bringing together libraries, schools, writers and local organisations, we are helping to create opportunities that encourage reading for pleasure while championing the vital role public libraries play in people’s lives.”

Speaking at the event, Philip Donnay, chief executive designate of GLL and Chair of the GLL Literary Foundation, added: "Supporting children's literacy and helping writers build sustainable careers presents even more opportunities for GLL to widen our societal impact beyond that already seen across our national leisure offer.

GLL, the charitable social enterprise operating Libraries and Leisure Centres across the UK, has today (9 June 2026) announced that it will be supporting the National Year of Reading as a major campaign partner alongside national organisations, including BBC Sport, Audible, DC Thomson and Tesco.

To mark the partnership, GLL, operating under the Better brand, commissioned new research into the reading habits of active Brits, and the findings make a compelling case for reading as a core part of the modern wellness toolkit, alongside sleep, nutrition, and physical recovery.

Reading as a recovery tool

The study of 2,000 UK adults, half of whom regularly play sport or exercise, found that reading has quietly become one of the most popular ways active Brits look after themselves, sitting comfortably alongside the sleep, nutrition and mindfulness habits that have long been part of the wellness conversation.

More than a third of active Brits (36%) use reading to switch off after sport or exercise, surpassing scrolling on social media (27%) and beating meditation (12%). Only watching TV or films (55%) and listening to music or podcasts (39%) rank higher as post-exercise recovery habits.

The benefits reported go well beyond simple relaxation. Among those who exercise regularly:

• Better sleep is one of the most commonly reported benefits, with 37% saying reading helps them switch off and recover
• More than a third (35%) say it improves their focus and concentration
• Reading provides extra motivation for a quarter of active adults (23%)
• One in five (21%) use it as a tool for mental recovery after sport
• Roughly one in seven (14%) say it has helped them develop their understanding of strategy and tactics

The survey found that active Brits read an average of 7.09 hours a month, and two in three (69%) turn to reading in the evening before bed. This points to a clear link between reading, winding down, and sleep quality.

More than half of active Brits (55%) say reading reduces their stress and anxiety, pointing to reading's role not just as a leisure activity, but as a genuine tool for mental recovery.

Britain's sporting readers: a sport-by-sport breakdown

The research also reveals clear differences in how each sporting community relates to reading.

As the World Cup approaches, footballers emerge as some of its most enthusiastic advocates. More than half (55%) say reading improves their focus and concentration, 40% say it helps them switch off and recover faster, and 37% say it has a positive impact on their athletic performance or motivation. Over a third (35%) say having free access to books and audiobooks at their local leisure centre would encourage them to read more.

Runners tell a similar story: 43% say reading improves their sleep and aids recovery, and 47% say it improves their focus. Romance is the genre of choice for runners (24%), while footballers gravitate towards sports books (38%) and self-improvement titles (24%). Gym-goers and yoga and Pilates practitioners show the highest rates of reading for stress relief – 60% and 58%, respectively, say reading reduces their stress and anxiety. Swimmers are close behind at 58%.

When it comes to reading volume, golfers lead the way at over 8 hours a month on average, followed by yoga and pilates-goers (7.8 hours), and walkers/hikers (7.23 hours).

Reading and the mental side of sport

The data also highlights reading's growing role in the mental performance of sport, with one in five saying reading helps them manage the mental demands of their sport or training and 17% saying it has a positive impact on their performance or motivation. Additionally, 13% say reading helps them visualise their performance, a technique long recognised in sport psychology as a tool for improving results, and nearly one in ten say it helps reduce pre-competition nerves.

The link between reading and mental performance is particularly evident among footballers, with 37% saying reading has a positive impact on their athletic performance or motivation, which is one of the highest figures of any sporting group in the study.

GLL's partnership with the National Year of Reading

As part of the partnership GLL will be promoting the benefits of reading to the 750,000 members who visit its 250 Better leisure centres across the UK, through digital communications, in-centre advertising and a series of free author visits.

The partnership reflects GLL’s unique position as both a major leisure operator and the UK's largest public library provider, operating under the Better brand. The partnership will feature a series of author events hosted at Better leisure centres over the summer months.

“Our new research* shows that active Brits already understand the connection between reading and wellbeing. By partnering with the National Year of Reading, we want to make it even easier for the communities we serve, whether they're coming through our leisure centre doors or our library doors, to discover the benefits of reading for themselves."  Phil Donnay GLL CEO designate and chair of the GLL Literary Foundation.

“We are delighted to welcome GLL as an official partner of the National Year of Reading 2026. As the biggest reading campaign in a generation, our mission is to inspire people everywhere to rediscover the joy of reading and embed it into everyday life. We’re inviting the nation to read into their interests - whether that’s running, football, going to the gym, swimming or cycling - because reading helps you go deeper into the passions you already love. We know that reading boosts wellbeing, confidence and learning, and we are excited to share these benefits with GLL’s members across the UK.”  David Hayman, campaign director, National Year of Reading 

*Methodology

A survey of 2000 UK adults conducted between 20–27 May 2026, 1000 nationally representative UK adults (weighted by age, gender, and region) and 1000 UK adults who regularly play sport or exercise.

School assemblies and water safety messages as part of swim lessons

The UK's largest public pools and swim school operator, GLL, is providing timely activities during Drowning Prevention Week (13-20 June 2026) to raise awareness of water safety ahead of kids breaking up for the summer holidays.

Charitable social enterprise GLL operates over 145 pools, lidos and open water facilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the 'Better' brand – many of which will offer Water Safety Lessons in Swim School sessions and School Swimming lessons, while some staff will go into local schools to deliver Water Safety Assemblies.

Drowning Prevention Week is an annual campaign run by the national charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). GLL is RLSS UK's first Water Safety Education Partner - GLL and RLSS UK Partner on Water Safety in UK Swim Lessons.

Every year, children drown when falling into the water or getting into difficulties when swimming. Between 2020 to 2022 and 2023 to 2025, the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) shows that the number of child drowning deaths has increased 67%. 

On average, over the last 5 years, 723 people drowned in the UK and Ireland each year, with 71% of child drownings happening between May and August, according to RLSS UK. 

At least 17 adults and children died in water-related incidents during the UK's May heatwave.

Water Safety Code

To help avoid accidental drowning deaths this summer, the public are being urged not to jump in after someone - as difficult as it may seem - stay calm, stay on land, and always follow this 4-step Water Safety Code.

Whenever you are around water:

• Stop and Think - Always swim in a safe place, spot the dangers.  Take advice from signs and lifeguards.
• Stay Together - Always go with friends or family. Keep young children within arm's reach.

In an emergency:

• Call 999 - Don’t enter the water to rescue.
• Float - Float on your back and call for help. Throw something that floats to somebody that has fallen in.

"Ashley Jones, head of water safety education at RLSS UK, commented: “We are grateful to GLL for their support in amplifying Drowning Prevention Week's key water safety messages nationwide. By working together, we can all help create communities free from drowning. The Water Safety Code is designed to be simple, clear, and easy to remember, equipping people, especially young children and teenagers, with the knowledge they need to stay safe around water, as well as the confidence to make vital early decisions and save lives in an emergency.”

3234 talented athletes from 69 areas in the UK to benefit from £2.23m of support as the GLL Sport Foundation announces its 2026/27 athlete cohort

Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL has announced a record-breaking 3234 athletes from across the UK will benefit from the 2026 intake of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.

Now in its 18th year, the GLL Sport Foundation has so far contributed nearly £20m worth of athlete funding and support and distributed nearly 35,000 awards to young and talented athletes in 69 areas of the UK where GLL operate and across 121 different sports.

With 86% of this year's cohort receiving no other form of funding - up 3% from 2025 - it outlines the significant contribution the athlete programme makes against the challenge of the ongoing cost of living crisis. 

Over 18 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent with 63% of athletes under the age of 21.

GLL’s own research shows that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition. For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential.

At the National GSF Awards Launch Event held at London's Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 6 May, athletes and partners gathered to hear how this year's GSF athlete award fund of £2.23m will help support talented athletes on their sporting journey.

The GSF supports athletes through financial bursaries, access to physical rehabilitation and mental wellbeing support and all athletes are also given access to over 250 sport and leisure facilities across the UK operated by GLL under its "BETTER" brand.

37% of GSF 2026's cohort are new applicants - showing the successful growth and reach of the scheme across communities in Northern Ireland, Wales and England. 

Current GSF National Ambassadors include Joe Clarke, Kimberley Woods, Tulley Kearny, Louise Fiddes, Lilah Fear, Lewis Gibson and Daryl Neita.   Amongst GSF Alumni are Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds and Anthony Joshua.

GSF athletes represented Team GB at the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano-Cortina and will also take their marks at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow this summer. 

GSF patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “It's fantastic to see the GLL Sport Foundation announcing its largest ever award cohort in 2026.

"The support continues to make a difference to young athletes at precisely the point in their careers when they most need it - keeping them training and focused on success. I wish them the very best of luck in their sporting careers."

GSF chair and GLL CEO Peter Bundey said: “GLL is a successful worker-owned cooperative and charitable social enterprise that has brought growing impact to public services and local communities over 33 years of successful operation.

“Our GLL Sport Foundation remains central to our remit to widen and deepen opportunities available to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport.

“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and our own purposed business model we are delighted to announce a record 3234 athletes will benefit from the programme this year. I want to wish them every success and we look forward to seeing them in competition here and abroad in years to come."

Speaking at the launch, GSF legacy ambassador Ellie Simmonds, OBE, who uses Better's Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre for her training said: “It’s amazing that GLL continues to support younger, up-and-coming athletes with free access to their sports facilities."