A huge increase in usage of local health and leisure programmes and a multi-million pound investment in facilities are a great way to mark a first anniversary in Bridgend County Borough, says the social enterprise.

This Spring the not-for-profit social enterprise Halo Leisure is celebrating its first anniversary in Bridgend County Borough, where it now manages eight leisure/life centres across the region as part of an innovative Healthy Living Partnership. The anniversary coincides  with the unveiling of the first phase of its multi-million pound refurbishment of the Recreation Centre in Bridgend, an initiative that will be fully completed by early next year. Halo is also just completing a refurbishment of nearby Garw Valley Life Centre which now houses the town's library as well health, leisure and culture services.

"These new facilities demonstrate our commitment to providing the finest and most affordable facilities for sport, leisure and culture in the area," says Jon Argent, Halo Leisure's chief executive. "We've spent the last ten years developing our leisure centres and services across Herefordshire and have had extraordinary success there, so we are really excited about what we can achieve in future years in South Wales too."

Argent says his organisation is especially celebrating  the increasing numbers of people visiting the centres. "We all know the role physical activity plays in keeping us well, fighting stress, preventing heart disease and promoting wellbeing" says Argent.

"When the economy is struggling it's too easy for people to neglect their health, but the steps we take to make health and fitness accessible and affordable has ensured that participation remains buoyant. In our first year in Bridgend we've clocked up over 1.2 million visits including a quarter of a million gym workouts, a quarter of a million swims and 18,500 swimming lessons. We're especially proud of the work we're doing with the county's GPs as part of the National Exercise Referral Scheme. So far GPs have referred over 1600 people for support with health related concerns and for discounted use of our pool and gym facilities as part of a programme to improve their health and wellbeing."