Belfast is to see discounted single-parent family membership at its leisure facilities, in what is believed to be a first for Northern Ireland.
At the January meeting of the full Belfast Council on Thursday night (January 9), the chamber approved a motion by SDLP councillor Gary McKeown for discounted single-parent family membership at the council’s 17 leisure facilities across the city.
It comes after it emerged that families with one parent are being charged the same as those with two parents.
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The full council ratified a decision made behind closed doors in a private session away from the public and press at the council’s People and Communities Committee last month.
Minutes published this week for that session state: “Further to its meeting of October 8, when the committee had requested that officers would create a family membership pricing category for single-adult families which would be set at a lower rate than the current package offering for two-adult families, the committee considered a report in this regard which had been prepared by the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services.
“The committee noted the introduction of a single parent family membership category for 2025/26, under the terms requested at the meeting. Arising from discussion, it was noted that the Director of Neighbourhood Services would liaise with the Director of Property and Projects in respect of a presentation to the committee on the planned future capital investment within the council’s leisure estate.”
No details of the new pricing have been provided. The minutes also reveal that in respect of the increase in cost to the family membership for 2025/26, a 5 percent increase would be applied, as opposed to the proposed 10.4 percent increase.
While Belfast Council owns and maintains leisure centres across the city, they are run by so-called “social enterprise” company GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. The council states: “GLL is a charitable social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the centres that it operates. It is the largest public leisure centre operator in the UK and manages over 150 leisure centres.”
After the full council meeting, Councillor Gary McKeown said: “I was shocked to discover that only families with two parents or guardians are eligible to apply for discounted family membership, while single parent families can’t get any discount and have to pay the same fee as families with two parents. This is wrong, as all families should be able to enjoy discounted access.
“Belfast City Council leisure facilities should be as open and accessible as possible, so I brought an urgent proposal to create a new discounted membership rate for single parent families so that more people can avail of council leisure centres and swimming pools at a reduced cost. I’m pleased that this has been passed by the council and will now be implemented.
“With many families under financial pressure, it’s more important than ever that we try to reduce the impact of this where possible, and help support people to enjoy the benefits that exercise can provide for both physical and mental health without it being cost-prohibitive.”
He added: “Last year I discovered that the council’s leisure partner GLL had been charging people for Junior Pay and Play cards, despite the fact that they are supposed to be free. These cards enable children living in Belfast to access discounts of up to 30 percent off leisure activities.
“This got sorted, but it’s another example of families being hit in the pocket when they should be supported, so it’s important that we remain vigilant to try to avoid issues like this arising again.”
At the council meeting, SDLP Councillor Carl Whyte said: “I think we are the first council in Northern Ireland to now offer a single parent membership option at its leisure facilities, in line with the National Trust and lots of other tourist organisations, holiday providers such as TUI and Thomas Cook. I would like to thank the Director of City and Neighborhood Services for the work he has done with GLL for putting this together.”
Alliance Councillor Jenna Maghie said: “I want to thank my party colleague Councillor Hedley Abernethy for raising the (issue) of the massive jump that was proposed for family membership. It felt very unfair to us that those parents who were seeking to get their children involved in sport really early in life were going to be met with the biggest increase. I am glad the committee agreed with the 5 percent uplift.”