Frequently asked questions about leisure services

On this page you will find some of the most common questions that Services staff are asked on a regular basis and the answers to those questions, or directions to the page where you will be able to find the answers.

Leisure Discount Schemes (e.g. Passport to Leisure)

Q. How do I get a leisure discount card?
A. Since 1 April 2009 Shropshire Council has operated one leisure discount system for the whole county called the Passport to Leisure. Follow the link in the Related Information section on this page for further details about the scheme, the eligibility criteria and the application process.

Leisure and Sports Centres and Swimming Pools

Q. When is my local centre or pool open?
A. Opening hours for Shropshire Council's leisure and sports centres and swimming pools can be found by going to the Leisure Centres section of this website. Here you will find an alphabetical list of the local centres. If you select the name of the centre you want to find out about, you will be taken to a page where you will be able to see opening days and times and lots of other information about that facility.

Q. How much do activities cost at my local centre or pool?
A.Prices vary at each of the different centres. To find out how much a particular activity costs at a centre or pool, for example a child or adult swim session, go to the Leisure Centres section of the website. Here you will find an alphabetical list of the local centres. If you select the name of the centre you want to find out about, you will be taken to a page where you will be able to see what the prices are at that facility. If details are not available on-line, contact details for the centre will be provided.

Q. What activities can I do at my local centre or pool and what days and times can I do them?
A.There are a variety of activities that you can do at Shropshire's leisure and sports centres and swimming pools and each centre offers different activities. To find out what activities can be done at Shropshire's leisure facilities, go to the Leisure Centres section of the website. Here you will find an alphabetical list of the local centres. If you select the name of the centre you want to find out about, you will be taken to a page where you will be able to see what activities are available and a timetable showing when they take place.

Holiday, After School and Play Activities for Children and Young People

Q. What activities are there for children to do in the school holidays?
A.There are a number of different activity schemes that run in school holidays in Shropshire. Some are run by sport and leisure centres and others are run by local Sports Development Teams. To find out what activities run in your area, go to the Holiday Activities page. Here you will find a list of local schemes. Select the name of a scheme to see more details about. You can also visit the Leisure Centres section of the website to find out what school holiday activities are taking place at the various centres.

Q. What leisure activities are there for a pre-school child to do?
A.Activities for pre-school children, or 'Play' activities, are available all around Shropshire. Some are organised by Sports Development Teams and others are run by leisure centres. For more details about what is available, go to the Activities for Children section and visit the Play Activities page. You can also contact local leisure and sports centres to find out what their crèche and play programmes are.

Clubs and Coaches, Volunteers and Athletes

Q. How do I become a sports coach or volunteer?
A.For details of how to become a sports coach or volunteer, visit the Clubs and Coaches section and go to the Be a Coach page. Alternatively you can telephone Leisure Services on 01743 255071.

Q. Is there any funding available for my club, coaches or volunteers?
A.Shropshire Council is currently developing a community sports grant scheme. More details will be made available as soon as the details of this scheme are confirmed. You can also find details of funding available to sports clubs by visiting the Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin website: www.energizestw.org.uk . Energize STW is the County Sports Partnership and can help clubs look for funding opportunities and support them when applying for funds.

Q. Is there any funding available for my child to help them to develop their sporting talent?
A.The Shropshire Schools Sports and Athletics Association (SSSAA) run a scheme called Pupils Gifted in Sport. This scheme is for athletes who go to a Shropshire school/college or live in the County, who excel in their sport. For more details of this scheme and to download an application form, go to the School Sport page, go to the SSSAA section and here you will find a link to a page about the Pupils Gifted in Sport Scheme. Alternatively you can call Leisure Services on 01743 255071.

Q. What coaching courses are going to be running and when will they be?
A.There are a variety of courses available for coaches and volunteers. To see what general courses will be running (for example, Safeguarding Children) and when please go to the Clubs and Coaches section and select the Be a Coach page. Here you will be able to download a list of courses available and a list of dates when they will be running. Alternatively, you can contact Leisure Services on 01743 255071, for details of sport specific coaching sessions.

Sports Development

Q. How can I get a job in sports development?
A.Getting a job in sports development is the same as any other profession; you need a combination of the right qualifications (for example a sport or leisure degree) and some experience of the environment. If you are beginning a course in sport or leisure, doing some work experience or volunteering at the kind of place you would like to work, this will help you when it comes to applying for jobs. For more advice about working in sports development, please contact Leisure Services on 01743 255071.

If you are looking for a Sports Development job, please check the Shropshire Council job vacancies page.

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