Belfast City Council has approved discounted memberships for single-parent families at leisure centres to promote accessibility and exercise.
Belfast: The city council has just made a great move for single-parent families. They’ve decided to offer discounted leisure centre memberships, which is a big win for many.
This idea came from SDLP councillor Gary McKeown. He noticed that single parents were paying the same fees as families with two parents, which didn’t seem fair at all.
During a council meeting, the motion got the green light. McKeown expressed his hope that this change would make leisure facilities more accessible and encourage everyone to get active without breaking the bank.
He mentioned how shocked he was to find out that only families with two parents could get discounts. It just didn’t sit right with him. Everyone should have the chance to enjoy these facilities at a lower cost.
McKeown emphasized that with so many families feeling the financial squeeze, it’s crucial to help them access exercise options that benefit both their physical and mental health.
Last year, there was a bit of a mess when kids were charged for a card that was supposed to be free, which allowed them discounted access to leisure services. That was a headache for many families.
He pointed out that this issue with single-parent families being treated the same as two-parent families is just another example of how families are feeling the pinch. He’s calling for more awareness to prevent these kinds of problems in the future.
McKeown also recalled how last year, the council’s leisure partner was charging for Junior Pay and Play cards, which should have been free. These cards help kids in Belfast get discounts on leisure activities, so it was a relief when that got sorted out.
Overall, it’s a positive step forward for Belfast, and many are looking forward to enjoying the benefits of this new membership plan.
