THE future of Highworth Recreation Centre was secured this week when it joined in partnership with Halo Leisure.

The partnership means the Board of Trustees will still own all its leisure buildings and facilities and have a big say on how they are run and developed, especially when it comes to what’s on offer but Halo a social enterprise will be responsible for managing and maintaining the leisure centre for the next ten years.

Halo is a registered charity which means that they don’t have shareholders and any surplus money is put straight back into community leisure services and facilities.

Scott Rolfe, Halo’s Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to be selected by the Board as the operational partner in the delivery of their leisure services. Our social enterprise business model and registered charity status allows us to trade for social purposes and ‘not for profit’, something the Trustees recognised as a sign of quality and strength.”

And he added: “This new way of working has taken a long time to develop.

“Some time ago the Board approved a business case. This said the best way to create healthier and more active communities amongst the people of Highworth – something really important to the Board - would be to work with a partner organisation, a leisure specialist. Before a partner could be appointed there were many months of planning, interviewing and testing to be sure the right organisation was selected.“

Mary Martin, Cabinet member for Communities at Swindon Borough Council said: "We are really pleased to see that the future of Highworth Recreation Centre has been secured and we are confident that the Trustees and Halo have got a good plan for maintaining the Centre as a leisure destination for people to enjoy. It’s taken us a long time to get here but we believe this partnership is the right one to take the centre forward."