The insight developed through consultation and developing this strategy has identified opportunities for future delivery of active wellbeing services in Bracknell Forest. These opportunities for change have been summarised below within the 3 key themes. These will be reviewed and updated every 3 years.
1 - Active people
- 1.1 Improve the extent, nature and reach of inclusive provision for all in the borough, delivering a universal and targeted offer to support both physical and mental wellbeing.
- 1.2 Ensure that facilities and programmes are wholly inclusive and meet the needs of those who would benefit the most and those that are least likely to participate.
External
External
| Achieved by | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Continue the delivery of the health and wellbeing exercise referral programme from November 2025. | Continuation of existing programme | Through Public Health funding and sourcing external funding opportunities. |
| Promoting the leisure saver scheme and community memberships to reduce affordability and digital exclusion barriers. | Ongoing from May 2025 | Work with Everyone Active and partners to make sure of continued promotion of digital inclusion and access to services. |
| Develop more targeted service offerings for under-represented groups and those who are likely to be more sedentary or unable to access facilities or services such as SEND, children in care or older persons. Making sure they are available at a range of times and sensitive to both different demographic and cultural needs. |
By 1 April 2026 | Review KPIs and equalities monitoring to develop service offering with Everyone Active subject to available funding opportunities. Link to the Community Engagement team to support. |
| Support local talent through pathways at a club level, enabling individuals to be the best they can be. | By 1 April 2026 | Delivery and support through the establishment of the sports and physical activity liaison network. |
Internal
Internal
| Achieved by | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Consider Bracknell Forest Council staff as a community and increase opportunities for physical activity and mental wellbeing. | Ongoing from May 2025 | Continue to support and grow the wellbeing offer which is currently available to staff. |
2 - Active communities
- 2.1 Support and empower local communities and partners to deliver activities and services for local people. Promote and support innovation.
- 2.2 Develop opportunities to achieve more through targeted engagement, collaboration and codesign with key partners and stakeholders.
- 2.3 Identify funding and coproduction opportunities for financial sustainability, long term investments and resourcing provisions where appropriate.
- 2.4 Develop options for the delivery of a new leisure contract in 2033. This will require pre-market engagement and procurement to understand model options. This will have a clear link to the redevelopment of Bracknell Leisure Centre.
External
External
| Achieved by | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Support the establishment of a sports and physical activity liaison network group increasing collaboration, joint working and providing one voice for sport. The ambition is to develop a self-resourced and financed model. | By 1 April 2026 | Implementation to be met through existing resources following the climate change board model. To be chaired by cabinet portfolio member and championed by local organisations. |
| Improve information for our communities, supporting and enabling them to understand what offers are available to them. | Ongoing from May 2025 | Continue with existing and expanded opportunities for promotion of services. |
| Using a community asset based approach to create further opportunities for residents to participate in activities to support both physical and mental health. | 2026 to 2027 | Link to existing community map and sports and physical activity liaison network. |
| Explore and apply to relevant funding opportunities that will support the delivery of existing and expanded services and facilities. | Ongoing from May 2025 | Access through external and internal funding opportunities as they become available. For example through grant schemes and Community Infrastructure Levy. |
3 - Active places
- 3.1 Undertake more detailed feasibility work to inform the replacement of Bracknell Leisure Centre. This may include complete or part replacement, potential funding routes and site location.
- 3.2 Develop a long term and sustainable investment programme for the council owned sports assets including planned preventative maintenance. Where possible our assets will minimise their impact on the environment.
- 3.3 Work collaboratively to develop opportunities to use and promote a place based approach and access provision and space for delivering physical activity sessions for those who may feel intimidated by a traditional leisure centre setting.
Internal
Internal
| Achieved by | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Commission a feasibility study and options work to determine the future provision of Bracknell Leisure Centre and include colocation of complimentary services, for example library or health as part of any refurbishment or rebuild of facilities. | By 1 April 2026 | Commission consultants to undertake this subject to budget availability. |
| As part of the evidence base for the Bracknell Forest Local Plan consider updating the existing Playing Pitch Strategy (2016 to 2036) and Play and Open Space and Sports Study (2016 to 2036). | 2026 to 2027 | Commission consultants to undertake this subject to budget availability. |
| Develop a built sports facilities strategy to provide a full assessment of indoor sport and recreation facilities. | 2026 to 2027 | Commission consultants to undertake this subject to budget availability. |
| Consider opportunities to increase 3G pitch provision across the borough at locations identified and funded by the Football Foundation in the Bracknell Forest Football Development Plan 2025. | By 1 April 2026 | Through pre-existing engagement with the Football Foundation. |
| As part of the corporate landlord model approach transition the responsibility of property related planned and routine maintenance matters and associated budgets relating to the 3 leisure facilities (Bracknell Leisure Centre, Coral Reef Waterworld, Downshire Golf Club) to the Property team | By 1 April 2026 | Through the existing budget process. |
| Where possible improve or replace plant and equipment with modern technology to decrease the council’s carbon footprint and minimise the impact on the environment. | 2025 to 2028 | As part of the Corporate Landlord model, access technology through existing procurement arrangements and funding opportunities. |
| Identify a network of community venues or spaces where informal activity sessions for mental and physical health can be delivered with key partners. | 2026 to 2027 | Link to existing community map and sports and physical activity liaison network. Include the expanding network of community hubs in the borough. |