20 hours Ago
If you’ve been thinking of getting out and about this half term, or need some inspiration for keeping the kids moving during the holidays, here’s a flavour of what’s going on in our city. It’s no secret that being active is one of the best things we can do for our health and wellbeing. And in a city as vibrant and diverse as Brighton & Hove, staying active has to be affordable, accessible, and, most importantly, fun.
As a council, we listened to what our communities told us loud and clear through our Let’s Get Moving Strategy . People said they wanted more low-cost activities in local spaces, support for mental health through physical activity, better access to facilities, and help to build their confidence to get started. And we’ve been acting on that.
With 147 parks, 53 playgrounds, 13,000 acres of city and 13km of seafront, there are so many opportunities to enjoy being outdoors, moving more and connecting with nature. As part of the Let’s Get Moving programme , our Healthy Lifestyles Team is running free activities for the whole family, including community healthwalks, exercise and dance classes, and sports activities in places like Moulsecoomb, Hangleton, and Queen’s Park. These inclusive sessions, run by qualified and experienced coaches and instructors, welcome beginners and support those living with long-term conditions.
Free swimming is also available for everyone aged 18 and under, who lives in the city or attends school here, at pools operated by Freedom Leisure. Swimming 25 metres is such an important skill, not just in terms of staying healthy and active, but also for safety, especially in our seaside city. Or if you prefer to stay on land, Brighton & Hove have some amazing skate parks, including the brand-new facility at Hove Beach Park, with our team offering “Learn to Skate” sessions to help beginners gain skills and confidence.
And if the weather doesn’t hold out on us, check out our new indoor soft play facility at Withdean Sports Complex. Level Up combines a game-themed zone for older kids, alongside a sensory toddler zone, with supervised and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sessions. Whatever your age, being more active will bring huge benefits.
Our Stay Strong, Steady and Independent campaign is also running from 23 April to the 7 May, with a programme of free and affordable taster sessions across the city to help people over 50 improve strength and balance. The truth is, while many people in Brighton & Hove are active, too many of us are still missing out. The council’s most recent data shows that 25% of adults in the city do less than 30 minutes of activity a week – that’s classed as inactive .
And among children and young people, only 45% are meeting the recommended 60 minutes a day. Financial pressures make it even harder for people to prioritise health and fitness, especially families. That’s why offering free, local, and accessible activities has never been more important.
People also told us they wanted to feel part of something, not be preached at. They wanted group activities where they felt welcome and supported. They wanted mental health to be taken seriously – and they wanted support close to home.
We're responding. We know this isn't just about exercise – it’s about community, connection, and confidence. We’ve not just been talking about it – we’ve been investing in it too.
Through our 10-year Sports Facilities Investment Plan, we’ve already delivered major improvements to existing sports facilities as well as new facilities. Our new FIFA standard pitches at Withdean Sports Complex are helping to meet increased demand for women and girls’ football, with 15,000 additional visits in the first 7 months. While our refurbished seafront basketball court will enable wheelchair basketball to ensure everyone has access to high quality facilities.
Down at Hove Beach Park, which was led and co-designed with the community, 6 traditional tennis courts and four padel courts have been created, and a skatepark, pump track and roller area opened to the public for free. And we’re not stopping there, we’re installing a new state-of-the-art pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre this summer, as well as scoping additional new facilities across all of our leisure centres. This includes improved pitches and more Padel tennis courts, gymnastics provision, and a new swimming pool – which will be the first new public pool in Brighton & Hove for forty years.
We are also approaching another key milestone in the redevelopment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre, which will provide a new modern flagship leisure facility for the city in the coming years. This half term let’s get moving together – take a friend, bring the kids, try something new, or just show up and give it a go. To find out more about what’s on near you, head to the Brighton & Hove City Council website , or for extra support with making healthy changes, call 01273 294 589 or visit www.
brighton-hove.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for Sports and Recreation.
