In December 2023, Stoke-on-Trent City Council commissioned SLC to undertake a bespoke diagnostic review of the Council’s Leisure and Wellbeing Service.

The aim of the review was to identify the current state of readiness, gaps in key data and the key activities of the Council’s existing Leisure and Wellbeing Service. This was with regard to the desired overhaul of the service towards becoming a community wellbeing provider as set out in the Council’s 2024-28 ‘Our City, Our Wellbeing’ corporate strategy.

The corporate strategy made a specific commitment to enhance the engagement between the service and local delivery partners to support the delivery of preventative services to its community.

The existing Leisure and Wellbeing Service recognised the need for this change. However, it also identified six key issues, challenges and opportunities that needed to be addressed within the diagnostic review:

  1. Redesigning the current leisure service delivery model
  2. Undertaking a workforce transformation programme to support the new delivery model
  3. An updated city centre offer (to replace Fenton Manor)
  4. The development of a Sports Campus in partnership with a local football club
  5. Exploring options to optimise the potential of a major city park
  6. Ensuring that s106 opportunities and planning gain can be leveraged to support investment in the active environment.

Through a programme of consultation with key internal Council officers and external delivery partners and a review of the Council’s key strategic documentation, SLC recommended several workstreams to help support an effective overhaul of the Council’s Leisure and Wellbeing Service.

The Council is now considering these proposals.

TESTIMONIAL

From inception to completion, I can’t speak highly enough of the whole team at SLC. At every stage of the process, I was offered balanced and sound advice, tailored specifically to the needs of my individual report, rather than an “off-the shelf” piece of work. The level of support and turnaround time was exceptional, and the quality of the final report was first-class. The team’s deep understanding of the industry and best practices was evident in their professionalism and the advice they provided. They demonstrated an excellent grasp of the journey that not only Stoke-on-Trent Leisure and Wellbeing Services need to undertake but also the broader industry’s challenges and opportunities. In addition to their expertise, the team at SLC was friendly and welcoming, making the entire experience a pleasure to work with them.

Neal Morell, Strategic Manager – Leisure and Wellbeing Services, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

MORE CASE STUDIES