Bicester families are set to benefit from new opportunities to get active together thanks to the extension of Cherwell District Council’s FAST scheme. FAST which stands for, Families Active Sporting Together, helps to improve access to leisure facilities and activities by offering free or significantly reduced physical activity opportunities to local families. Over 500 Banbury families in Ruscote, Hardwick, Neithrop, and Grimsbury have benefitted from the scheme over the past year.
Sport England, whose £215,000 grant kickstarted the Banbury project, has hailed it one of the most successful of its kind in terms of participation rates. So much so the Council has now received a further £375,000 to expand the scheme to Bicester and Kidlington.
From next Monday, 20 January, heavily discounted offers on a range of sports activities will be made available to those signing up to a FAST card in Bicester, including;
- A family swim at Bicester Leisure Centre for £3 instead of £13
- £3 a game at Bicester Bowl instead of £12.30
- Free family sports sessions at Bicester schools
- 15 percent off Clip ‘n Climb for Monday to Friday 'open' sessions (term time only)
- Bicester Boxing Club - Tuesdays 4:00pm to 5:00pm, family circuit £1 instead of £5
- Bicester Leisure Centre Gym offer of £2 for adult and up to 2 children together Monday – Friday 3:30pm to 5:30pm and anytime at weekends (children must be aged 11 and over to use the gym)
- Bure Park Sunday Circuits only £2.50 (child goes free) normally £5 per adult
More than 3000 residents will be eligible to take part in the new extended FAST scheme with applications open to families living in the Wards of Bicester East, Bicester West, Bicester Town, Kidlington East, and Kidlington West.
The extension of the FAST scheme is an important step in helping to improve the activity levels of residents in the Cherwell District, offering families the chance to improve their wellbeing together, and in an easy and affordable way.
To find out if you are eligible, and to apply for your own FAST card, visit: www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/3/leisure-and-culture/107/be-active-more-often/3.
