Following the closure of MonLife Leisure Centres on the 20th March we decided to go digital to ensure our customers could continue their journey with us.
MonLife Active Fitness Instructors started recording Classes and Workouts such as Yoga, Tai Chi and HIIT and sharing them via the newly formed MonLife YouTube channel which now has more than 150 classes, and can be viewed at any time for FREE https://www.youtube.com/c/MonLife/videos
“Your well-being workouts have been a huge part of keeping me feel rooted and connected to our old lives. Thank you team”
The digital platforms started to develop quickly and enabled the
staff to use Zoom classes as the platform for customer interaction and coaching
element that both members and instructors enjoy so much, with 3 classes being
offered each day with a post-class Coffee Catch Up.
The MonLife Active NERS Team also wanted to support people in the local community by organising a fundraiser using Zoom classes to support people living with Mental Health in Wales during the COVID-19 Pandemic, which raised £619.00
Additionally, using the Technogym My Wellness App “Stay at Home” Physical Activity Challenge, which provided new workouts every day and a Walk/Run The Monmouthshire Way Challenges were created to provide support and motivation to over 200 members while they waited for our centres to re-open.
“Thank you guys, all of you at Monmouth leisure centre has gone above and beyond. Truly amazing people”
We look forward to finding new and innovative ways to stay in contact with the members of our community to keep supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing.
We have also launched our brand new MonLife App, keep up to date with news, time tables, activities and more, simply download it from the Apple or Play store. Your Leisure Centre in your pocket!
Autumn is upon us and it is time to relax and unwind at Serenity Treatment Rooms.
Indulge in a warming hot stone massage where muscles are deeply penetrated with warm rocks, and unwind whilst smelling the aromatic oils of elemis body oils and candles.
Or treat your hands and feet with Deep hydrating treatments, perfect for repairing feet after the summer, and dry, damaged hands from alcohol gel.
We also have a great range of skincare to bring your spa to your home.
There isn’t a better time to look after your skin.
Here at serenity treatment rooms, we offer a wide range of skincare products that are suitable for all skin types, whether you have oily or combination skin too dry, dehydrated skin. We have it all here for you. We have some exclusive gift sets ranging from £60 – £100, the perfect gift for that someone special, or perhaps you are in need of a skincare regime and it’s now time to invest in you.
And that’s not the only good news, we are excited to have a new member of the team, Abi. Abi has worked in beauty for 20 years. She is wonderful and will be a great addition to Serenity Treatment Rooms, bringing so much talent and experience. Abi cannot wait to start delivering our many treatments to you and giving you an outstanding experience. Vicki, who has been with us from the beginning has also shared the joy she has in being able to deliver outstanding treatments to our amazing customers.
Vicki and Abi have shared with us how customer’s health and well-being is at the forefront of what we do. Therefore, we are following all COVID guidelines delivered to us from the government, completed a COVID-19 course for beauty salons, and will continuously keep up with current guidelines. Link to a separate blog post!
After what has been a challenging
time for many during the last 6 months, there’s not a better time to come to
Serenity Treatment Rooms. Download our MonLife App by clicking here https://claritylive.myfitapp.de/a/8HRD?p=6
There is something for everyone
here. And we look forward to seeing you.
Leisure Providers in Gwent Join Together to Keep Customers Active
During Lockdown
Following the most recent announcement from Welsh Government, additional
lockdown restrictions have been put into place in several areas across South
Wales. The importance of physical activity has never been more important and with
this in mind leisure providers have joined together across Gwent to help keep
customers active.
Customers who have a membership with a leisure provider in counties across Gwent, which they will be unable to access due to local lockdown restrictions, will instead through this innovative partnership be able to attend their local gyms or leisure centre whilst the local lockdown remains in place.
This new initiative, called Active Gwent, includes Aneurin
Leisure (Blaenau Gwent), Caerphilly County Borough Council Sport & Leisure
Services, MonLife (Monmouth), Newport Live and Torfaen Leisure Trust.
This means that customers who live in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly,
Torfaen, Monmouthshire or Newport who are currently members of leisure
providers outside of their local area which they are now unable to access, can be
given an Active Gwent membership to attend leisure services in their own
county as part of this new partnership.
This will be available until 31st October 2020 initially and kept
under review following Welsh Government updates. Customers continue to pay
their existing membership fees and will remain members of their usual leisure
provider. When local lockdowns are lifted, they will be able to return to their
usual facilities. Members who are eligible for this will be contacted by their
local leisure provider with more details on how to gain access.
The Active Gwent initiative has been introduced to help support communities in Gwent with remaining physically active whilst restrictions remain in place. All of the leisure providers taking part remain committed to the safety of staff and customers with additional guidelines in place including enhanced cleaning regimes and social distancing.
Steve Ward, Chief Executive at Newport Live said “We are thrilled
to be joining with other leisure organisations across Gwent to strengthen the
Active Gwent partnership. It is important to be able to help people with
keeping active and to support their health and wellbeing, even more so during
these challenging times. This new initiative means that despite local lockdowns,
customers will still have seamless access to take part in sports and activities
in their local area.”
Phill Sykes, Director of Operations at Aneurin Leisure Trust added
“Our mission is to improve community life.
We’re delighted to work in partnership with Active Gwent to provide
members outside of the borough with the opportunity to continue their fitness
activity whilst the local restrictions are in place, through this reciprocal
agreement.”
Angharad Collins, CEO Torfaen Leisure Trust said “WE are delighted
that in the face of adversity in our sector that we have been able to
collaborate with other colleagues in Gwent for this ground-breaking
project. Our ultimate aim is to ensure
that the citizens of Gwent can continue to be physically active in our COVID
safe environments. I strongly encourage
you to get in touch with your existing provider to take advantage of this
unique opportunity.”
Cllr Richard John, Cabinet Member for MonLife said “This fantastic
news means that people can continue to keep fit and well at a local leisure
centre as winter approaches – regardless of their home address in Gwent. This
is a great example of how we are working in partnership across Gwent to support
people – I would like to thank everyone who has made this happen.”
Cllr Ross Whiting, the Caerphilly County Borough Council Cabinet
Member for Learning and Achievement commented “The collaboration between
leisure trusts and councils from across Gwent is a fantastic initiative that
will allow residents of Caerphilly and the wider Gwent area to keep active in a
time when customers need physical activity the most.
“I am delighted that leisure providers from across Gwent have come
together to find a solution that is in the best interest of the people that
matter – our residents. Thank you to all officers who have made this possible
and to our customers who have been patiently waiting to return to their
favourite facilities once again.”
We are pleased to announce that we are resuming children’s swimming lessons in our leisure centres week commencing Monday 28th September.
In order to ensure the safety of customers and staff, we will be operating a phased return to lessons. In the first phase, we will be inviting back swimmers aged 8 – 11 years who are currently in Wave 4, 5, 6, & 7 only. All lessons will run for ½ hour.
You will be contacted this week to discuss booking a place. Please do not ring the centre, with enquiries we have prepared a list of FAQ’s this will avoid unnecessary time on the call.
For this phase, we have built a new programme of classes completely independent of the programme that you were familiar with before lockdown. The Clarity Live Swim home portal is not available at this time therefore, you will not be able to view the progress of your child.
If possible, children should arrive at the centre “beach ready” wearing swimwear under their clothing. Parents/guardians/or the child themself will register with the meet and greet the host at the front of the building. The child will then be guided into the building shown how to use the sanitizer station and proceed to the changing room.
Parents/guardians will not be able to enter the building with the child.
There are no spectator facilities.
Children will be allocated a changing area and belongings will remain in
this area for the duration of the lesson. Lockers remain out of use.
A member of staff will escort the children to the poolside for the
lesson. All staff will be wearing masks. The teacher and the lifeguard will
remove the mask when the lesson is ready to begin.
Following the lesson children will be required to dress quickly or
better still, put on a dry robe or dressing gown over their swimwear and leave
via the front entrance. We do not have showers available at this time.
Parents/ Guardians must wait outside the Leisure Centre to collect their
child.
Swimming FAQ’s
Q:My child is 7 why can’t they come?
A: Once children are 8 years of age they can use the pool and changing area unaccompanied. This is the age recommended by CIMSPA.
Q:Why can’t I come into the changing area with my child? A: Due to the numbers attending, we cannot ensure social distancing in the changing areas.
Q:Can I watch the lesson
A: The spectating area is currently closed.
Q:Can I wait in the building?
A: No, the numbers of users within the building is limited and we do not have a waiting area available where we can provide social distancing.
Q: What if my child is ill or has a problem
during the lesson? A: Your child will be taken care
of by a member of staff and you will be contacted on the telephone number you
have provided on your child’s membership.
Q: What if my child needs medication? A: If your child carries
medication it must be placed in a bag, clearly labelled and brought onto
poolside. This should be discussed with a member of staff prior to the booking.
Q: Can my child bring goggles?
A: Yes goggles and hat. The leisure centre will not lend out any goggles.
Q: Can my child use the showers? A: Showers will not be in use throughout the sites.
Q: Will the toilets be open? A: Yes
Q: Are the lockers available? A: Lockers will not be available. Personal belongings may be left in the
changing room, in your designated area DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN THE CHANGING
ROOM
Q:Will I be able to use the hairdryer?
A: No, hairdryers and hand dryers are out of use.
Q:Will my child have the same teacher?
A: Possibly not. This is a temporary new programme. Some teacher has left and others have been moved around for organizational reasons.
Q:Why has my class time changed?
A: This is a temporary programme, just to accommodate waves 4 – 7. We have to allow half an hour cleaning time between each class therefore class times will differ.
Q:Will I still have a place in my lessons if I do not return now?
A: Yes, we are keeping the lessons programme that was in place prior to lockdown. All children will still have a place in their original class when they return unless you have cancelled the direct debit.
Q:Can I change the class time/day I have been given?
A: Yes, we will do our best to accommodate any changes.
Q:My child was waiting to move up to the next wave prior to lockdown can this still happen?
A: Yes, we can arrange this, however, if your child has not swum for 6 months they may want to gain confidence and stamina before moving. We can discuss this in the booking process.
Q:Will the lessons follow the same plan for lesson content?
A: Yes we will be following the same plan. Initially, though, children will be recapping the skills, water safety, and building stamina. Six months is a long time out of the pool
Q:Why can’t I see my child’s progress on the home portal?
A: This is a stand-alone programme. We are not using currently using Clarity Live Swim (CLS). All records of progress will be recorded manually. These records will then be updated on CLS when we resume the full programme.
Q: How can I book? A: We have allocated you a place in a class. You will be contacted to
confirm the details. If you wish to accept this place your Direct Debit will be
reinstated to commence on the 15th October. (Lesson will start week
commencing September 28th)
Q:What happens to my Direct Debit if I don’t start the lesson in phase 1 A: Direct Debits for those who do not take up a place in phase 1 will remain frozen
Q:Can I book 1-2-1 swim lessons?
A: We are not offering 1-2-1 swim lessons at this time.
Following on from the recent announcement made by Welsh Government, please be advised that customers and staff using all MonLife facilities will have to wear a facemask from Monday 14th September.
If you have visited one of our MonLife facilities, you will see that we have put measures in place to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. More than ever, we need to ensure that everyone is adhering to these measures, especially the 2-metre social distancing rule and washing your hands.
Take a look at the video below of Monmouth Leisure Centre, this will give you an idea of what to expect in all of our MonLife facilities.
These are very different times for us all and we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.
It is recognised that there may be a variety of reasons e.g. physical or mental illness, disability or impairment that prevents someone from being able to wear a face covering. In such circumstances, the Welsh Government advise people to carry information, which demonstrates, why they are unable to wear a face covering, e.g. a prescription or hospital letter relating to a medical condition.
Following the Welsh Governments announcement on Friday 31st July, we are thrilled to announce all 4 MonLife Leisure Centres in Monmouthshire will begin to reopen on Monday the 10th August. We are working hard to mobilise our teams and open facilities and welcome our valued customers back.
Our staff are working tirelessly preparing your facilities, we want to make sure that you feel safe and comfortable. We will share these plans with you in the coming days so that you can see exactly what we have been doing and what to expect on your next visit.
We look forward to seeing you very soon.
“We are delighted by the Welsh Government‘a announcement today giving our hardworking MonLife team the green light to begin reopening our leisure centre facilities from Monday 10th August.
“The lockdown has really taken its toll on people’s mental and physical health so the ability to take part in a wide range of leisure activities will be welcomed by many of our residents.
“I’d like to thank our leisure centre customers for their patience and support during this difficult time and we look forward to welcoming you back.”
Quote from Richard John, Monmouthshire elected member for Leisure and Education.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) to #MakeYourComeback. Click the link to find out more.
Today MonLife launched their new website that allows you to take a look at the proposed multi-million pound re-development plans for Caldicot Leisure Centre. This site gives you the opportunity to have your say via our online survey and also answer any questions you may have.
The consultation will take place from the 10th June and we want to hear your feedback. By completing the survey or signing up for our regular updates you will also be entered into a prize draw for a chance of winning a MonActive Annual Membership worth £335 or a Fitbit charge 4.
Here at MonLife we are committed to investing in projects which will benefit the health and wellbeing of our community, not only for now but also for our future generations. Our Leisure Centres provide a vital hub to support physical and emotional wellbeing across all age demographics. MonLife is excited to be focusing on the re development of Caldicot Leisure Centre and look forward to developing the project to provide state of the art facilities for our existing and future customers.
The proposed new facilities will include:
Children’s Adventure Play
Extended Fitness Suite
Power Assisted Exercise Studio
Spin Studio
Fitness Changing
Studio / Community Room
Changing Village for the pool
Outdoor Changing Facilities
Café
New Reception Area
Viewing for the pool
New Skatepark
Additional Parking spaces
Light refurbishment to the pool
This development follows the successful completion of the project at Monmouth Leisure Centre, which was completed in 2019. Councillor Richard John, Cabinet member for MonLife “We want the new Leisure Centre in Caldicot to be at the heart of the community and that’s why we’re proposing this multi-million pound investment in exciting new facilities. We now want to hear the views of as many people as possible before we make any final decisions about the new Leisure Centre. I’d urge everyone in Caldicot and surrounding communities to have their say.”
Richard John Cabinet member for MonLife and Monmouthshire Elected Members are committed to investing in and developing Leisure facilities across our county to support the health and wellbeing of our citizens. The continued investment in to Leisure facilities will have a significant impact on wellbeing for not only now, but also for our future generations.
To help you and others have a safe and enjoyable visit to our countryside sites, or using public rights of way, please remember this guidance and follow these rules:-
Always observe social distancing;
Be vigilant with hand washing and hygiene;
Stay at home if you or anyone you live with has Coronavirus Symptoms;
Please be respectful of other people’s space and wait at a safe distance in places such bridges, kissing gates, or steps, until it is safe for you to continue on your walk;
Please do not leave litter and be a responsible dog owner following the Dog Walking Code
If our car parks are full or busy please come back another time and do not park on access roads or surrounding roads;
Please do not linger in car parks so that others can safely come and go.
Many footpaths and bridleways cross private land and in some cases working farms are close to private homes. Please keep to the paths, follow the countryside code, keep your distance from landowners and continue to follow the restrictions and measures in place to protect you and others.
Thank you for following these rules
By virtue of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 the following restricted byways are closed, from April 2020, until further notice:-
All of our countryside car parks and sites are now open
All closures are kept under weekly review and any amendments will appear here.
Closures on paths due to flooding, dangerous bridges etc. can be found here.
For information on where to walk, or to report issues, please use our Countryside Access Map information on locally promoted routes can be found on Visit Monmouthshire.
The decision has been made to close all 4 MonLife Leisure Centres from Friday 20th March at 10pm
This was not a decision that has been taken lightly, over the last few weeks staff have been working relentlessly to provide a safe environment for you and we would like to thank you for the support that you have shown them.
Our customers and staff as well as the community are our priority. Due to staff shortages, protecting health, and redistributing resources to support priority areas across Monmouthshire County Council, we have to close until further notice.
Memberships
We would like to reassure you that there will be no direct debit payment taken during the period that the Leisure Centres are closed and we will be automatically freezing your membership from tomorrow. You do not need to do anything we will arrange any alteration to your direct debit payment when we are back open to ensure you have not lost out during the time of closure.
Swimming Lessons
As with the memberships your swimming lesson membership will be automatically frozen. If you have a direct debit with us then we will not be taking any payments during the time that we are closed. As soon as we know when we will re-open we will let you know so that you can restart your swimming lessons at MonLife.
If you have any bookings with us then please bear with us as we will be in touch with you, however if your query is urgent then please call the relevant Leisure Centre
Your health and wellbeing is very important to us and we have been exploring opportunities for you to carry on with your wellbeing journey at home. We have created a MonLife YouTube channel click here where we will be regularly posting videos. As well as this click the following link and you can have free access to World Class Les Mills https://watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at-home-workouts
As a valued customer we would like to thank you for your continued support, we will be dealing with a high volume of calls please bear with us. For further updates please follow is on social media or visit www.MonLife.co.uk
Please be advised that as of tomorrow 19th March 2020 all Monmouthshire Museums will be temporarily closed. The grounds of Abergavenny Castle will remain open for you to use and enjoy but please follow the advice from Public Health Wales.
The Country Park only at Caldicot Castle and the Old Station Tintern walk will be accessible to public.
The Guided Walks programme has also been cancelled until further notice including the walk this Sunday 22nd March from Wern Y Cwm Forestry Car Park.
Also following Public Health Wales measures all NERS Programmes have been suspended, all customers that are currently part of this scheme have been notified.
The DofE Programme has also been cancelled until further notice.
Further updates will be given as and when we receive them. We would like to thank you for your support and apologise for any convenience caused but our priority is our customer and staff safety.
