A BOURNEMOUTH leisure centre has been praised for its customer service, diverse programme of activities and making a “positive impact” on the town. 

Sport England’s trusted trade body, Right Directions, has given BH Live’s Littledown centre a ‘very good’ Quest status accreditation. 

Benchmarking centres in the sport and leisure industry, Quest assessors look at factors such as cleanliness, how the centre is run and people skills.  

They recognise centres and teams for their commitment to making being physically active an inviting, rewarding and safe pastime.  

A 2023 report generated from DataHub’s social value calculator shows that Littledown was the highest-performing centre in Bournemouth in terms of generating social value.  

The Quest assessor stated that it was “refreshing to find such a diverse range of specialist health programmes taking place at the facility” and that there was an offering “for all”. 

BH Live was also recognised for its community outreach work with partners such as Active Dorset, Dorset Mental Health Forum and the James Fisher Medical Centre. 

Sam Roberts, manager at Littledown, said: “I am incredibly proud of the team for achieving an exceptional assessment.  

“By participating in Quest’s assessments, we are continuously improving the experience of our customers and employees.  

“The team works so hard to make the centre a safe and fun environment for people to work, play, learn and visit.  

“To be recognised for our commitment to delivering great customer service, improving sustainability and making a positive impact on the local community is absolutely fantastic.” 

Over the last year, BH Live invested more than £100K into energy-saving initiatives across its centres and venues to improve sustainability.

The assessor noted several investments at Littledown such as pool covers to reduce heat loss, more efficient boiler replacements and destratification fans which redistribute heat and reduce overall energy consumption.  

Sarah Lobo, head of external accreditations at Right Directions, added: “The facility is extremely popular with the local community - there is a buzz as soon as you step through the doors. There are activities on offer for all ages and abilities.  

“The team is professional, presentable, and knowledgeable and their hard work to encourage more people across the BCP region to stay active is clear to see.” 

Rich Herrett, BCP Council’s cabinet member for leisure and commercial operations, said: “It’s great to see the team at Littledown rewarded for their hard work with this certification; a clear reflection of the effort put in, and external confirmation of a positive impact in the local community with the range of programmes they have on offer.”