BPL Newsletter – Autumn 2025

Welcome to your Autumn BPL newsletter where we round up all the latest news and happenings across the organisation!

It’s been a busy time with some exciting awards’ success, welcoming new starters to the team with their inductions and spreading the important message of water safety to young people across Barnsley and Bassetlaw.

We’re also gearing up for Christmas and New Year, with tickets on sale now to join in all our festive fun! Read on to find out more.

Good for Employees

Our commitment to celebrating and rewarding our employees has been recognised with an award.

We took home Silver at the Employer Brand Management Awards 2025 and this win is a reflection of all the effort and hard work which goes on across the organisation.

A big thank you to everyone who makes our culture feel good, every day.

Our swimming teachers and coaches enjoyed a fun day of learning at BPL’s annual aquatics conference.

The group came together to celebrate successes and share ideas and, for the first time, the conference even included a session delivered in the pool.
A warm welcome to all our new starters who have joined us recently and completed their inductions.

Welcome to the team!

Good for Customers

Excitement is building around Barnsley Metrodome’s newest attraction – Adventure Reef.

This new adventure play area will offer fun for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, with features including a sensory room, separate play zones for younger and older age groups and a sports court for ages 8 – 19.

Visit Adventure Reef – Metrodome Lesiure Complex to find out more!

Looking for something to do over the festive season? Check out our Christmas events!

Whether you’re looking for a party night, festive afternoon tea or a magical festive breakfast with the kids, we’ve got you covered.

Take a look at Celebrate Christmas at the Metrodome – Metrodome Lesiure Complex for full details of what’s on offer and to book your place.

Great Delivery

Thousands of children across Barnsley and Bassetlaw learned more about the importance of water safety this summer, thanks to sessions led by BPL staff.

More than 17,000 children from 70 schools took part in our Swim Safe assemblies and during Drowning Prevention Week, we delivered sessions across our sites, engaging a further 6,000 children.

Feedback from participants and schools was really positive, with plans already in the pipeline to build on the success of this year’s events in the future.

We’re delighted to have been shortlisted across four categories at two of the leisure industry’s biggest awards’ schemes.

BPL has been named as a finalist for two awards at the 2025 ukactive Awards; up for the Marketing Campaign Award for the Let’s Get Going campaign and the Organisation Innovation Award for our Let’s Get Going Healthy Mums initiative.

Let’s Get Going Healthy Mums is also shortlisted at the National Fitness Awards in the Community Involvement category, while our summer ‘win a holiday’ campaign is shortlisted for the Best Membership Campaign Award.

Good for All

Staff and members from Your Space Dearneside took on a one mile sponsored swim and strength and endurance based gym challenges for National Suicide Awareness Day.

Their efforts raised over £400 for PAPYRUS – a charity which focuses on the prevention of young suicide.

A huge thank you to all our amazing bakers at Your Space Metrodome.

Their Macmillan Coffee Morning raised over £150 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

We were proud to welcome Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock MP and ukactive CEO Huw Edwards to Your Space Dearneside to celebrate National Fitness Day.

They met with the team and saw first hand how Your Space and BPL are helping to power physical activity and support healthier communities.

It was a fantastic way to showcase the role our sector plays in helping people move more and feel good.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we lent our support by turning the gym at Your Space Metrodome pink!

A big thank you to everyone who got involved by wearing pink and buying raffle tickets; raising awareness for such an important cause.