Sandwell Trust to run Bromsgrove's Ryland Centre

Buy photos »

BROMSGROVE’S Ryland Centre will be officially handed over on September 1 to Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT), which will take over the running of the Worcestershire County Council-owned venue.

The authority said it had been investigating ways of enabling the centre to be self-sustainable and the move, undertaken after a tending process, was done in a bid to secure its long-term future.

It has come about as part of the review of positive activities for young people. which aims to save £1.4million in areas such as buildings, utilities and back-office expenses.

The county council added the new provider, the SLT, was an award-winning social enterprise already managing sport and leisure activities in the Black County.

Coun Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council lead cabinet member for Children’s Services, said the authority was committed to continuing provision of positive activities for young people out of school to help them develop in a positive way, whilst delivering value for money.

“This has led to a number of different solutions being found for positive activities for young people located at a number of voluntary sector community bases across the county.

“There have been a number of partnership or community solutions for our own youth centres.”

Paul Slater, chief executive of SLT, said he was delighted to be taking over the running of the Ryland Centre and securing the important facility’s future for the residents of Bromsgrove.

The SLT will invest almost half-a-million into a major refurbishment of the Ryland Centre to create a new gym and fitness provision at the centre.

An additional £15,000-per-year will go towards positive activities for young people in Bromsgrove.

Regional news »