Slough Community Leisure took on fi ve new apprentices in October who will be learning the ropes in several of the leisure venues it manages, including Montem Leisure Centre, Absolutely Ice and Absolutely Ten Pin.

The apprentices are all aged between 18 and 20 and have some limited work experience elsewhere.

The apprenticeships are all for 12 months and the apprentices will each work 30 hours per week and be fully supported in training for their relevant NVQ level 2.

Rob Whitehouse, Chief Executive at Slough Community Leisure said, “Too often these days, young people are accused of being workshy and unwilling to start at the bottom of the career ladder. This is very diff erent from our experience, where we take on young workers regularly and successfully.”

YOUR HIRED!

www.sloughleisure.com • www.absolutely-group.co.uk

COMMUNITYSPIRITJANUARYISSUE: 01

Absolutely Ice’s popular Christmas show took place in December and was as successful as ever.

Performing to approximately 2,000 people across four nights, the theme for this year was ‘A Journey through the History of Dance’.

The show was opened by an outstanding performance by British and International Ice Dance medallists, Sophie Jones and Jordan Brown, before skaters, who are taught by

Absolutely Ice’s NISA Qualifi ed Coaches, took to the ice to perform four group numbers and various solo routines.

Diff erent styles of dance were showcased, including Disco and the 1960s, as well as a truly inspirational Rock’n’Roll performance by SPICE (Special People on Ice).

The ice show has been running for 10 years now and gets bigger and better every year.

DANCE ON ICE!

Sophie Jones & Jordan Brown

Saturday Night Fever

SPICE (Special People on Ice) - Rock ‘n’ Roll Performance

www.sloughleisure.com • www.absolutely-group.co.uk

NEWSLETTER / JANUARY / ISSUE: 01COMMUNITY SPIRIT

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Dan Putty, offi cially opened Absolutely Karting in July.

The brand new go karting track includes two impressive 50 metre straights, which are ideal for overtaking and boasts 270cc GT5 karts to enable racers to tackle the demanding track.

Councillor Dan Putty, said, “The borough has so much to off er both residents and visitors and its range of free time facilities is one of the things that make it such a great place to live. Absolutely Karting adds a fun and exciting new leisure venue that is bound to attract even more people to our town.”

ABSOLUTELY KARTING OPENS IN BASINGSTOKE

Due to popular demand, plans to double the size of the spin studio at Langley Leisure Centre were approved.

Spinning has become the number one sporting activity to take place at the centre, with all 22 weekly classes currently at 100% capacity. The new spin studio, which opened in January 2014, increases the number of bikes available from 14 to 30, meaning there is now over 2,000 spaces for the local community each month.

SPIN STUDIO EXTENSION AT LANGLEY LEISURE CENTRE

Slough Community Leisure’s Marketing Assistant, Pippa Hatch, joined Paralympic Gold Medalist, Richard Whitehead MBE, during his gruelling ’40 marathons in 40 days’ challenge.

Richard started his fi rst marathon in John O’Groats in August and worked his way down

the country, fi nishing in Land’s End on 23rd September raising just under £200,000 for Sarcoma UK and Scope.

Pippa joined Richard for a 5k run during his 31st marathon in Bath.

RUN PIPPA RUN!Pippa Hatch & Paralympics Gold Medalist, Richard Whitehead MBE

Mayor or Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Dan Putty opens

Absolutely Karting.

www.sloughleisure.com • www.absolutely-group.co.uk

BERKSHIRE COUNTY BLIND SOCIETY HAS A ‘ZOOMING’ GREAT TIMEMembers of Berkshire County Blind Society (BCBS) were given the chance to be Lewis Hamilton for one night only, thanks to Absolutely Karting in Maidenhead.

Eight children and three adults took part, with four people making use of the centre’s dual cars and the remainder going it alone. Drivers started out slowly but soon gained confi dence as they memorised the track.

Absolutely Leisure aims to provide activities that are totally inclusive and it was fantastic to see the group having a great time zooming around the course.

ABSOLUTELY ICE RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATIONAbsolutely Ice is celebrating after being awarded National Ice Skating Association (NISA) accreditation and is now the only rink in the area to hold this esteemed national mark of approval.

Receiving the accreditation highlights how Absolutely Ice is committed to delivering NISA’s approved Learn to Skate training scheme. Known as ‘Skate UK’, the training scheme is taught by NISA Level 2 coaches and abides by the Skate UK award scheme.

As an approved rink, Absolutely Ice, located on Montem Lane, Slough, will now have details about their courses and coaches displayed on the NISA website, ww.iceskating.org.uk.

www.sloughleisure.com • www.absolutely-group.co.uk

NEWSLETTER / JANUARY / ISSUE: 01COMMUNITY SPIRIT

SLOUGH LEISURE VENUES SUPPORT SCHOOL’S READING PROGRAMMESynergy Swim and Absolutely Leisure are sponsoring The Westgate School’s Accelerated Reader programme.

The scheme has been developed to encourage the Slough school’s students’ reading abilities to grow. Once a student has fi nished a book, they complete a quiz and, if they receive full marks, they go into their class 100% box.

At the end of every term, a winner is drawn from each box and is awarded with a voucher from Synergy Swim and Absolutely Leisure. The voucher enables them to have a free swim at Montem or Langley Leisure Centre, a free skate for two at Absolutely Ice, £5 off Karting at Absolutely Karting and a free family bowling session at Absolutely Ten Pin.

The local community has been almost unanimous in their praise of Absolutely Tenpin and the venues great reviews have been recognised by travel review site, TripAdvisor.

The 18 lane bowling alley on Bath Road in Slough has been awarded the TripAdvisor excellence award – an accolade given to only the top ten per cent of tourist destinations reviewed on the site.

Reviewers praised the “great value”, “friendly staff ” and “tasty food” with many also recognising the variety of activities and the fun to be had.

ABSOLUTELY TENPIN WINS TOURISM AWARD

ABSOLUTELY FITNESS BRACKNELLBracknell Council’s Town Clerk, Russell Reeve, offi cially opened Absolutely Fitness’ new Bracknell gym on Friday 13th December.

Based on Easthampstead Road, the gym features state of the art facilities, which include:

• Functional training area• Ladies only gym• Personal training• Ample free parking• Easy access for all

As well as off ering aff ordable membership, Absolutely Fitness also has a number of hours that they are off ering to schools, community organisations and disability groups for free or for a subsidised rate.

Local groups who would like the opportunity to use the facilities at Absolutely Fitness Bracknell can contact thegym by emailing Jack Bishop – j.bishop@absolutely-group.co.uk - for further information.