Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) is proud to announce that its Chair, Valerie Mills, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her outstanding services to the community in Barnsley.
The honour acknowledges Valerie’s exceptional contribution over two decades, during which she has played a pivotal role in transforming BPL into one of the UK’s most successful charitable leisure trusts. Her leadership has not only ensured the sustainability of vital leisure services but also driven a bold shift towards tackling health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy across the borough.
Since joining BPL 20 years ago, Valerie has gone far beyond the traditional role of Chair. She has become a visible and approachable leader, regularly engaging with colleagues across all sites and championing a culture where staff feel valued, heard and empowered. Her passion for community wellbeing has been central to BPL’s evolution into an organisation that delivers both high-quality leisure provision and impactful health programmes.
Under Valerie’s leadership, BPL has been transformed from a charity facing significant financial challenges into a thriving organisation employing over 650 people, generating £22 million in turnover, and reinvesting millions back into facilities and community initiatives. Major developments such as the transformation of the Metrodome into a regional destination, alongside innovative programmes supporting over 12,000 people to improve their health, reflect the scale of her impact.
Valerie has also been a long-standing advocate for women’s leadership and opportunity in sport and education. Her work with Barnsley College, including the development of the Barnsley Sports Academy, has helped create pathways for young people while promoting lifelong participation in physical activity.
Valerie Mills said: “I am deeply honoured and absolutely thrilled to be awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This is something I never imagined would happen and I am genuinely overwhelmed. This is a huge honour, but more than that, it’s a reflection of the incredible people I’ve been lucky to work alongside from my commencement as a Trustee in 2006 and then from my appointment as Chair in 2017. From my family and friends to Barnsley Premier Leisure colleagues, our local partners in Barnsley Council and Bassetlaw District Council, as well as our wider community, every bit of support, encouragement and teamwork has made this possible. Every project, every challenge and every success has been a team effort. It’s a powerful reminder that when we come together with passion, kindness and determination, we can create real and lasting change. I accept it with gratitude and renewed commitment to keep moving forward, to keep making a difference and to inspire others to believe in their own ability to create change. I hope this encourages others to believe in the power of community to transform lives and that they, too, can achieve extraordinary things.”
Michael Hirst, CEO of Barnsley Premier Leisure, commented: “I’m so pleased that Val has received this recognition, not only for her work at BPL, but also her strong advocacy for women’s sport and leadership. On behalf of everyone at BPL, past and present, I would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations on this award. It is fitting recognition of your outstanding dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment over the last twenty years to our purpose of helping people feel good. Now this really is something to feel good about.”
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Drowning Prevention Week
Helping children and families build confidence, understand water safety and feel safer around water this summer.
Your Swim Academy is proud to support RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week, helping families across our communities learn simple, important messages that can help everyone stay safer around water.
Taking place from 13–20 June 2026, Drowning Prevention Week is an annual campaign led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to raise awareness of water safety and help prevent accidental drownings.
As we move towards summer, more families will be spending time near pools, beaches, lakes, rivers and other open water. That makes it the perfect time to talk about the Water Safety Code and encourage children, young people and adults to understand what to do in and around water.
The Water Safety Code
At Your Swim Academy, we help swimmers remember water safety through four simple steps:
Spot the Dangers
Check for hazards such as tides or currents, consider what could be hidden under the water, and stay away from unsafe banks or edges.
Take Advice
Always read the signs, only swim where there is a lifeguard, and wear buoyancy aids or life jackets where needed.
Go with a Friend
Swim with friends or family, never swim alone, and make sure someone can get help if needed.
Emergency
Find the nearest phone and call 999 or 112, shout loudly to attract attention, and never enter the water to save someone.
At Your Swim Academy, we believe swimming is more than a weekly lesson. It helps build confidence, supports safety around water and gives children and adults a life skill they can carry with them well beyond the pool.
What children will be learning during the week
During Drowning Prevention Week, children across our Your Swim Academy sites will be learning about:
The dangers of open water
Beach flags and safety signs
The Water Safety Code
Float to Live advice
What to do if they or a friend ever get into difficulty in the water
These important water safety messages will be delivered as part of lessons throughout the week, helping children build knowledge and confidence in a safe, supportive environment.
Whether you’re heading to the pool, beach, lake or river this summer, take a few moments to learn the Water Safety Code and help keep each other safe.
Find out more about Drowning Prevention Week and RLSS UK’s water safety advice at
rlss.org.uk
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COMMUNITY leisure trust BPL has officially achieved The Active Standard, a certification that allows fitness and leisure operators to demonstrate the safety and quality of their facilities.
By becoming certified to The Active Standard, BPL is demonstrating its commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and high-quality service to its customers.
The standard was designed by ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, with support from leading standards professionals and organisations across the UK and Europe.
It aims to support all gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools and other sport and fitness facilities to raise standards and welcome more people to be active.
It means BPL has been assessed on its health and safety practices, professional standards, safeguarding procedures, and data protection processes, helping to give visitors and customers greater confidence when using its facilities.
The assessment was conducted by Right Directions, an independent third-party assessment body, against strict criteria. If an operator is running multiple sites, then a sample of these is assessed. For BPL, this was its Barnsley Metrodome, Dearneside, Pontefract and Worksop leisure centre sites.
The certification will last for three years before re-assessment is required.
The Active Standard has been carefully aligned with the industry’s other major schemes, FITcert and Quest, to ensure the sector continues to improve and grow.
SHEQ Manager at BPL Mick Daley said: “We’re really proud to have achieved The Active Standard.
“This accreditation reinforces our commitment to delivering a safe, inclusive and high quality service to our customers.
“The process was also a great opportunity for operations managers and team leaders to learn and collaborate with each other at their respective sites and with colleagues across other sites to achieve the standard.”
CEO of ukactive Huw Edwards added: “Demand for our nation’s fitness and leisure facilities is growing rapidly as more and more people across the UK prioritise physical activity for their health and wellbeing.
“The Active Standard will help more people to feel confident that they can enjoy all the benefits of being active in a safe and inclusive environment.”
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Your Space Worksop welcomed Radio 1 presenter Greg James as part of his Longest Ride Challenge for Comic Relief.
Radio 1’s Longest Ride with Greg James for Comic Relief will see Greg attempt 1000kms cycling on a tandem over eight days, starting in Weymouth on the south coast and ending in Edinburgh.
Worksop was one of the community moments along the route – with BBC Radio 1 broadcasting live from Your Space Worksop.
Staff and customers also got into the fundraising spirit, with a bake sale, raffle and indoor cycling challenge to raise money for Comic Relief.
Facility Manager at Your Space Worksop Sam White said: “We’re really proud to welcome Radio 1’s Longest Ride with Greg James to Your Space Worksop.
“Helping people feel good is at the heart of everything we do, and events like this go hand in hand with that.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity to bring people together, create a real community moment and be part of something so positive for Worksop, while also supporting Comic Relief.”
Greg is undertaking this challenge to raise money for Comic Relief who support vital projects that support people facing incredibly tough times, both here in the UK and around the world.
Looking for a gym where you can train with a friend, stay motivated and feel supported?
At Your Space, we believe fitness works best when it’s shared. Whether you’re just starting your journey or building on momentum from January and February, training together can be the difference between stopping and sticking with it.
And this spring, there’s never been a better time to bring someone with you.
Why training with a friend helps you stay consistent
Research and real-life experience tell us the same thing: people who train with someone else are more likely to stay active long term.
When you work out with a friend, you’re more likely to:
Show up consistently
Try new gym classes
Push yourself safely
Feel more confident
Enjoy the experience
It’s not about competing. It’s about accountability, encouragement and shared progress.
Everything’s easier with someone by your side.
A community gym built around support
Your Space is more than just a gym.
We’re a local, community-focused gym with no contract memberships, flexible options and supportive teams who genuinely want you to feel good for life.
Whether you prefer the gym floor, group exercise classes, swimming or simply building confidence at your own pace, training with someone makes it easier to get started and easier to keep going.
That’s what being stronger together really means.
Refer a friend and feel good together
If you know someone searching for a “gym near me” or thinking about joining a no contract gym, invite them to Your Space.
With our Refer a Friend offer:
Your friend can join for free
There’s no long-term contract
When they stay, you enjoy a free month as a thank you
It’s simple. It’s flexible. And it’s designed around real life.
Because progress feels better when it’s shared.
Start your spring stronger
March is a fresh chapter.
Refer a friend today and discover how much stronger you can feel – together!
A state-of-the-art second 3G pitch, changing facilities and Dug Out Cafe has been officially opened at
Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Cudworth, Barnsley.
The project has benefited from a combined grant of £965,706 from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation,
as well as an additional £250,451 from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, plus investment from Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre’s
operator Barnsley Premier Leisure.
Supported by Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA, the centre will provide a base for several local
England Football Accredited (EFA) clubs.
It will also facilitate programmes delivered by Barnsley FC Community Trust, recreational opportunities including male and female
flexi-leagues, Wildcats, Squad Girls, walking football, accessible pay and play opportunities, targeted inclusion sessions and formal
and recreational disability provision.
The facility will be used by Elite FC; Pinfold Pumas; Staincross Rangers; Monk Bretton FC; Redfearns FC;
Athersley Rec; Barugh Green; Brierley Cubs; Junior Tykes; Williams Bar, Barnsley Women and West End Terriers
and Barnsley Schools FA.
Facility Manager at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre Martin Prest said:
“Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre is a much-loved community facility and we already have great links with clubs and schools.
“Now with these fantastic new facilities, we will be able to strengthen those links, further supporting pathways in sport
from grassroots through to academies and beyond.
“A big thank you to all our partners. Thanks to the Football Foundation grant, plus additional investment from Barnsley
Metropolitan Borough Council and BPL, we can offer even greater sporting opportunities for our local community to enjoy.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the
quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role
in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“We’re delighted that the local community in Cudworth and Barnsley will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to
the new facilities at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre.”
Councillor James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council added:
“I am thrilled to see the opening of this fantastic new facility, which will make a real difference to grassroots sport
in Cudworth and across Barnsley.
“Our investment, alongside the Football Foundation grant, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality
spaces that support the growth and sustainability of grassroots sport.”
The new facilities were showcased at an event, which brought partners and invited guests together for a tour.
Attendees included Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Sir Steve Houghton, the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnsley,
Dorothy Hyman and representatives from the Football Foundation and Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.
Guests also had the opportunity to take a look around Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre’s recently refurbished fitness facilities.
Improvements include the addition of new Technogym equipment and two new studio spaces, including an indoor cycling studio.
On the day, the studios hosted a themed aerobics through the decades class and 12-hour charity Bikeathon Challenge,
which raised over £2,100 for Weston Park Cancer Charity.
About The Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots
facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.
The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring everyone has a great place to play regardless of gender,
race, disability or place.
Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested £1.3 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country –
including 1,300 3G pitches, 15,000 grass pitches and 1,700 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.5 billion
of partnership funding – totalling over £2.7 billion investment in grassroots football so far.
In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football
Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football
facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.
Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and
view the Plan for your local area.
About BPL
BPL is an award winning community leisure trust, which operates facilities across Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, including
Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Cudworth and its flagship facility, Barnsley Metrodome.
It’s been an exciting couple of months as we rounded off 2025 in style with a top fitness industry award win and a successful swimming event at Your Space Worksop Leisure Centre.
We’ve also started the new year with a bang, launching some amazing new facilities at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre and showing our support for local charities close to our hearts.
Now that’s something to feel good about – read on to find out more!
Good for Employees
A warm welcome to all our new starters who have recently completed their inductions. These include Andy and Georgia, who have joined the team at Dearneside, a new team at Adventure Reef and Leionie and Harrison who will be working at the Metrodome.
There’s so much fun on offer at Adventure Reef, not just at half term, but all year round!
Our underwater themed soft play area for children aged 0-12 years old offers safe and stimulating play and an adventure zone packed full of exciting challenges. We also have an interactive sports court, games room and on-site cafe suitable for all ages.
A successful event, which attracted over 300 swimmers and hundreds of spectators over a weekend of competition, rounded off a great year for hosts Bassetlaw Swim Squad; the performance squad system of the BPL Your Swim Academy.
We finished 2025 in style by picking up an award at the National Fitness Awards in Leicester.
We were delighted to receive the trophy for Best Membership Campaign, in recognition of our summer ‘win a holiday’ campaign, which saw us give away dream holidays to four lucky Your Space members
Our ongoing commitment to sustainability has been strengthened with the completion of two energy saving projects at Barnsley Metrodome.
Thanks to a grant worth £500,000 from Barnsley Council via Sport England, solar panels have been installed across three major roof areas, reducing the building’s reliance on grid electricity.
Upgrades have also been made to the facility’s AHU system and Building Management System.
Good for All
The launch of our fantastic new facilities at Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre was celebrated at an event with partners Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the Football Foundation and Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.
Thanks to funding from the Football Foundation and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council – plus investment from BPL – visitors can now enjoy an additional all weather pitch, new changing facilities and Dugout cafe.
The fitness offering has also been significantly expanded with a full gym refurbishment, new Technogym equipment and two new studio spaces, including an indoor cycling studio.
A massive thank you to everyone involved in creating such a great space for our local community.
A special shout out to everyone who took part in Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre’s 12-hour charity Bikeathon and themed aerobics class.
Participants raised over £2,100 for Weston Park Cancer Charity in an unforgettable day filled with energy, enthusiasm and community spirit.
We were proud to support Weston Park Cancer Charity by turning the pool at Barnsley Metrodome purple on World Cancer Day. The purple theme also extended across our sites to raise donations and awareness for the incredible work the charity does for patients and their families.
Fantastic news for our water wellbeing programme!
Bassetlaw District Council has funded new Good Boost tablets for all our Your Space sites in Bassetlaw, increasing the number of participants from 12 to 20 for Retford and Worksop, as well as an extra 12 tablets for our Bircotes site.
As always, our staff and members showed their generosity over Christmas, with fundraising events taking place across our sites.
They got involved in everything from a toy drive for Bluebell Wood Hospice to raffles and chocolate bouquets for Weston Park Cancer Charity.
The total raised for the chocolate bouquets was a fantastic £1,513.72.
A big thank you to everyone who donated.
We were proud to support the recent Women’s Health Matters event in Barnsley.
During the event, we signposted women to our Healthy Mums Programme and funded pathways to the Work Health Referral Programme.
It was great to stand alongside the Cancer Champions and Age UK to deliver for our local communities through Barnsley Libraries.
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A SUCCESSFUL event, which attracted over 300 swimmers and hundreds of spectators over a weekend of competition, rounded off the year in style for hosts Bassetlaw Swim Squad; the performance squad system of the BPL Your Swim Academy.
The Jingle Bell Splash Meet took place at Your Space Worksop Leisure Centre and was an end-of-year celebration for swimmers of all abilities – from early stage competition up to performance swimming – creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere.
As well as welcoming spectators to the centre, for the first time, the event was also livestreamed on BSS’ official YouTube channel; opening it up to an even bigger audience.
BSS Performance Swimming Coach Liam Marshall said: “Events like the Jingle Bell Splash give swimmers, especially younger ones, a chance to experience competition in a low-pressure, joyful environment.
“This builds confidence, encourages participation and gives pride in their achievements beyond times and rankings.
“For the wider community, it’s a chance to come together, support local talent, not just in the county but up and down the country, and showcase the sport in a welcoming way.”
Hosting events is also a great way to raise the profile of the BPL Your Swim Academy performance squads and Your Space locally and the perfect opportunity to promote the benefits of swimming.
Staff and volunteers can also gain valuable experience working on them.
Liam added: “These events encourage greater retention in the sport, help with recruitment and give volunteers, coaches and swimmers something exciting to work towards.
“Staff and volunteers gain real-world experience in event planning, poolside management, officiating and swimmer support.
“It’s a chance to refine organisational skills, develop leadership and work collaboratively in ways that training sessions don’t always allow.
“Many of our team also step into assistant roles they wouldn’t normally do, helping them grow both professionally and within the swimming community.”
Over the past few months, Liam and his colleagues have been working to build even stronger links with the community to further highlight local swimming opportunities and grow participation.
He added: “My role has expanded into areas of community engagement, event leadership and programme development.
“I’ve worked on building stronger communication channels with families, creating opportunities for wider involvement and ensuring our sessions and events cater to a broad range of abilities.
“What’s worked particularly well is focusing on relationships, listening to swimmers and parents and creating experiences that feel meaningful and fun for everyone involved.”
Planning is already underway for additional events throughout 2026, including themed swim meets and a swim camp in Spain.
Liam added: “The aim is to build on the momentum from 2025 and make swimming even more visible, accessible and enjoyable across Bassetlaw for all.”
A big thank you to everyone who was involved in the event and to Blind Man Media (Callum Kettlewell) for some incredible photography.
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February doesn’t have to be about going it alone.
At Your Space, we believe feeling good is easier and more enjoyable when you do it together. Whether that’s with a partner, a friend, a family member or someone who helps you show up, February is all about shared motivation, support and feeling part of something.
That’s why this February, we’re inviting you to feel good together.
Our February open weekends are running across all Your Space gyms, giving members the chance to bring a friend for free to enjoy the gym, fitness classes and swimming throughout the month.
Open weekends. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February
Throughout February 2026, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Your Space is an open weekend.
That means members can bring a friend for free, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout February.
A chance to:
• train together
• try something new
• enjoy the gym, classes or swimming
• and see how good it feels to move alongside someone else
It’s the perfect way to introduce someone to Your Space or to make showing up a little easier for yourself.
Together looks different for everyone
“Together” doesn’t have to mean couples.
• friends keeping each other accountable
• gym buddies starting something new
• family members moving more together
• or simply knowing you’re not doing it alone
Our spaces are local, welcoming and designed for all walks of life, so everyone feels comfortable from day one.
Feel Good Together – February Challenge
Alongside our open weekends, we’re also running the Feel Good Together challenge on the Your Space app throughout February.
It’s all about:
• staying consistent
• supporting each other
• and celebrating every move, big or small
Whether you’re joining with someone else or cheering each other on, it’s a reminder that progress feels better when it’s shared.
Just friendly teams, flexible facilities and support that fits around real lives. Whether you come alone or together, you’ll find encouragement, guidance and the freedom to move in a way that feels good for you.
And if February is where you start, that’s okay too.
Feel good together. All February.
Every Friday to Sunday.
Bring a friend.
No contract. Join for free and feel the difference.
As the days get shorter and the weather turns cooler, staying active can feel more challenging, but winter is also a great time to build consistency, mix up your routine, and try new ways of moving that feel good.
Whether you prefer running outdoors, training indoors, or a bit of both, Your Space offers flexible ways to stay active all season long. This winter, we’re also bringing everything together through our new Your Space Gym Club on Strava, helping members stay motivated, connected and supported – wherever they choose to move.
Take Your Runs Outside This Winter
Outdoor running is a brilliant way to stay active during the winter months. Fresh air, changing scenery and quieter routes can make runs feel refreshing and rewarding, even on colder days.
Using Strava, you can discover, save and follow outdoor routes, helping you explore your local area and add variety to your runs or walks. Having a route planned can be a great motivator, whether you’re heading out for a steady jog, a longer weekend run, or a simple walk to clear your head. Seeing your activity logged and progress build over time can make winter training feel more purposeful and satisfying.
Stay Active Indoors with Technogym Sessions
Not every session needs to be outdoors. On colder, wetter or darker days, Your Space gyms provide a warm, welcoming environment to keep moving comfortably.
Our Technogym equipment features smart consoles and guided training sessions across treadmills, bikes and other cardio machines. These sessions are designed to make indoor training more engaging and tailored to your goals, whether you’re working on cardiovascular fitness, building endurance, supporting strength, or simply adding variety to your routine.
Many members enjoy using Technogym Sessions as part of their regular training, helping them stay consistent, try new workouts, and make the most of their time in the gym – all at a pace that suits them.
Replay Your Outdoor Strava Routes on the Treadmill
Indoor running can feel even more motivating when it connects to your outdoor training. With Technogym Live, compatible treadmills allow you to replay your Strava routes indoors.
This means you can select a route you’ve previously run outdoors on Strava and experience it again on the treadmill. As you run, the screen displays a satellite view of your route, while the treadmill automatically adjusts speed and incline to match the real-world conditions of that run. Hills, flats and changes in pace are all recreated, helping indoor runs feel more immersive and purposeful.
It’s a great way to revisit favourite routes, maintain outdoor training habits during winter, or prepare for future runs – all while staying warm and comfortable indoors.
Bring It All Together with the Your Space Gym Club on Strava
Whether you’re running outside, training indoors, or combining both, Strava helps bring everything together in one place and our Your Space Gym Club adds a sense of community to every session.
By joining the club, members can share activities, give encouragement, celebrate progress and feel part of a supportive, feel-good community. There’s no competition, just people moving more, supporting each other, and building healthy habits together.
From winter walks and indoor treadmill sessions to outdoor runs and gym workouts, every activity counts.
