Osprey Leisure Centre, situated in Castletown on Portland, is run by a charity, (South Dorset Community Sports Trust), that offers a wide range of facilities. Such amenities include: a 25m swimming pool, four specialised and fully equipped gyms, as well as a spinning classroom. Additionally, there is also a large sports hall, where a multitude of different sports can be played.

There are also daily exercise classes to suit all ages and abilities, and an on-site café, where you can grab a hot drink! To find out more about the various classes available, please visit the website using the link below, where a full timetable can be found.

With regards to the history of the centre, it was built in 1985 and was previously known as the Boscawen Centre, which provided a training centre for the Royal Navy, who were situated on Portland. From 2007, as Osprey Leisure Centre, it has been a key asset to Portland, giving the local community a safe and enjoyable place to exercise, or to simply meet friends for a light bite in the café.

We are all fully aware of the cost-of-living crisis, which has placed financial burden and struggle upon us all. In particular, self-funded organisations such as this leisure centre are struggling to make ends meet, due to the high costs of electricity and heating bills. To raise funds towards the cost of solar panels, the centre in conjunction with Brutal Events, have held Christmas fun runs, with all proceeds going towards helping the centre stay running during this energy crisis.

As the centre is a non-profit and self-funded organisation, it needs your help in order to ensure its sustainability and future continuation. You can help by regularly attending classes, or by donating – details can be found on the website online: https://www.ospreyleisurecentre.co.uk. Donations and memberships are a vital source of income to the centre, so it is crucial that we all continue supporting this organisation.

Local member Lucy describes the centre as “very welcoming and it has a great sense of community for all. I’ve been using the leisure centre for the past five years since moving to the area, and there is a great choice of group exercise classes during the day and evenings. If you need motivation to exercise with others, you can use the gym or swimming pool, working out at your own pace. It has been an excellent way for me to get to know people who live locally and are like minded when it comes to keeping active and fit.”

If you wish to join and become a member of Osprey Leisure Centre, then there are multiple plans and subscriptions, all of which are tailored to make the cost as affordable as possible. We need to ensure that we are helping our local organisations, and by visiting the centre, you can exercise, have fun, and support a local business all at once!