REFUGEES will continue to get free membership at a sports centre in Rugby.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre has extended its free access scheme for refugees, having issued 75 free memberships since it began in May in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
The scheme, launched by leisure operator and social enterprise Better across all of its UK leisure centres, initially offered new refugees who had entered the UK within the last 12 months a free three-month membership. This has now been extended to six months and is open to adults and juniors.
If recipients are still classified as refugees after this period, they will be eligible to transfer onto Better’s discounted concessionary membership scheme.
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre manager Lisa Fletcher said: “We have been delighted by the success of Rugby scheme to date. The war in Ukraine and the arrival of many Ukrainians in the UK highlighted the plight of refugees from all over the world and we wanted to do our bit to help.
“We all know the mental and physical health benefits of sports and exercise and we hope that by offering these free memberships we will enable refugees to more easily integrate into UK society and enjoy some positive recreational activities.
“The initiative builds on similar schemes that have been implemented by Better in the past, for example in response to the displacement of people during the peak of the Syrian war.”
Visit www.better.org.uk/supported-membership-scheme to apply for the free refugee membership scheme.
