A NEW trust has been set up to run the Royal Borough’s leisure centres due to the financial impact caused by Covid-19.

The current operator of the council’s leisure facilities, Legacy Leisure, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) Council decided to transfer to the newly established Leisure Focus – a charitable trust – from August 1.

It was agreed to transfer all the centres to Leisure Focus due the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic because it was thought it was in the best interests of customers, staff and the community for the trust – which will be run by local people – to take control.

The Windsor, Magnet, Cox Green, Furze Platt, Charters, and Braywick Leisure Centres will all mover to the trust where members who are currently with Legacy Leisure will transfer to the new trust and memberships will continue with change to the current terms and conditions.

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Employees of Legacy Leisure will also be transferred to Leisure Focus.

Russell O’Keefe, executive director, place, at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and trustee of Leisure Focus, says: “We hope that we will be able to open very soon. Work is ongoing behind the scenes to ensure all measures are in place to protect staff and customers throughout their visits. We cannot wait to re-open and encourage everyone to visit the sites and support your local centres.”

Councillor Samantha Rayner (Conservative: Eton and Castle), cabinet member for leisure, says: “Our priority as a council is to maintain the provision of leisure facilities in the area, especially at a time when health and wellness has never been more important.

“The Covid-19 global pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges for us all and we’re sad to be bringing our partnership with Legacy to an end. We’d like to thank them for their efforts over the last five years in helping us motivate our community to become happier and healthier and look forward to this new era under Leisure Focus.”

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More information on the trust will be available soon at: www.leisurefocus.org.uk