Free membership for kids in care

Sports facilities owned by Derby City Council – including Derby Arena and Moorways Sports Village – are to be free for children in foster care thanks to a new membership offer.

From this month, children growing up in foster care in Derby can swim and enjoy the city’s leisure centres for free.

It means free leisure membership for facilities at Derby Arena and Springwood Leisure Centre for families who foster through the city council.

Everyone Active, which runs the new Moorways Sports Village for the council, is also offering free membership, including swimming, gym and soft play.

Councillor Evonne Williams, the city council’s cabinet member for children, young people and skills, said: “This is a fantastic offer for all our looked after children and their foster carers, and it couldn’t be better timing during the summer holidays.

“Finding some sort of activity you enjoy so you grow up fit and healthy is important for all children, but especially for our looked after children. We want them to have the best start in life.”