Early Christmas present for our veterans

Thursday, 2 December 2021 14:40

By David Murphy

Armed forces veterans are getting an early Christmas present from Bury Leisure, Bury Council’s in-house sport and fitness provider.

From 1 December all veterans from Bury can now use council-run leisure centres for free.

Bury Council and NHS Bury CCG have recently signed a new armed forces covenant which helps to give serving members, veterans and their families the support they need and deserve.

It formally recognises the contribution that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families make to Bury, ensuring that they are not disadvantaged and, in certain specific areas, are actually given priority.

Free membership of leisure facilities to veterans is part of the commitment shown to military personnel from the town. It means veterans will now join serving personnel in having free access.

“Bury has a long and proud military tradition and offering free membership to our gyms is just one of the things we can do to help our veterans,” said Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities and armed forces champion.

“Our armed forces defend our nation and keep us safe in the most dangerous of circumstances, and we have a moral obligation to ensure we look after them and their families.

“The covenant commits us all to support armed forces personnel, veterans and their families in key areas such as employment and skills, health and wellbeing, housing, and integration with the local community.”

Councillor Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said that serving military personnel have been entitled to free access to gyms for a while.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to extend the free leisure offer to our veterans. They have given service to the town, borough and nation and this is just one of the things we can do to support them and help with their wellbeing.

Dr Cathy Fines, chair of Bury NHS CCG, added: “Our armed forces community should be able to enjoy the same standard of care and access to both physical and emotional health care as every member of our community.”

Veterans will be able to use the facilities at all three council-run leisure centres – Castle, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom.

The all-inclusive membership includes:

3 swimming pools
3 new state-of-the-art gyms
Fitness sessions – instructor-led and virtual
Racquet sports – badminton, squash and table tennis
Fitness tech – Swimtag, Boditrax and Matrix fitness app
Wellbeing support from Bury Live Well Service

To apply, veterans should come along to any of our leisure centres and show a form of ID. This can be any of the following:

MOD 90 ID card
BOBVA ID card
Bury Veterans hub café ID card
Veterans rail card
Defence discount card
Discharge papers

For further information about Bury Leisure visit www.bury.gov.uk/buryleisure or follow @BuryLeisure. For further information about the support available for members of the armed forces see our website: https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16267

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something happening in our Borough?

Let us know by emailing newsdesk@rochvalleyradio.com

All contact will be treated in confidence.

More from Local News

Two men arrested and 300 cannabis plants seized after early morning raids in Rochdale

Over 300 cannabis plants have been taken off the streets of Rochdale after neighbourhood officers raided two illegal growing operations in partnership with the local council.
Bury teacher banned for life after engaging in sexual activity with child

A former teacher at Tottington High School has been permanently banned from the classroom after a professional misconduct panel found he engaged in sexual activity with a pupil.
GMP’s ‘headset heroes’ answer over a million calls in a year as response times reach record highs

Greater Manchester Police’s control room teams are being recognised for their vital role in emergency response as part of International Control Room Week.
Further arrests in Rochdale and Manchester as GMP intensifies crackdown on historic child sex abuse

Specialist investigation team arrests more suspects and secures major convictions as survivors of non-recent exploitation continue to come forward
Seven Sisters tenants reaction to the news they could soon be removed

Billy Jackson has called Rochdale’s Seven Sisters home for 40 years. But shock decision means 2025 will be his final year in the iconic tower blocks.
Festive magic arrives in Bury as North Pole Safari Trail transforms town centre

Free augmented reality trail, festive lights switch-on and family events launch Christmas celebrations in Bury
Replacement mosque plans approved despite concerns about parking

Plans to knock down and rebuild a mosque in Prestwich have been approved despite a 1,630 person petition opposing it.
Andy Burnham ‘taken aback’ by decision to move hundreds out of Seven Sisters towers

Andy Burnham was ‘taken aback’ by a decision to clear Rochdale’s iconic ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks, forcing hundreds from their homes.
Nine-bed HMO built ‘without permission’ discovered after neighbours complain

Council enforcement officers discovered a nine-bed HMO had been created without permission after a complaint from neighbours, councillors have heard.
Rochdale’s music legacy takes centre stage with iconic Cargo Studios reunion

Rochdale’s rich musical heritage was centre stage at a packed launch event marking the beginning of a new borough-wide celebration called ‘Rochdale Music Stories’, featuring big names like Peter Hook, Clint Boon and Andy McCluskey.
Naked man stops traffic on Rochdale Road in Bury in shocking mid-morning incident

A naked man caused disruption on a busy Bury road on Wednesday morning, swatting at cars and attempting to open vehicle doors before being detained and taken to hospital.
Seven Sisters tower blocks to be emptied over safety concerns

Residents of the iconic tower blocks that have dominated the skyline of Rochdale since the 1960s have been told they will be evicted due to safety concerns.