Medway athletics group lacking volunteers after leisure centre charges for entrance 

Medway and Maidstone Athletics Club are struggling to get volunteers now Medway Park Leisure Centre are charging parents to enter the building.

Medway and Maidstone Athletics is a club for competitive athletes, and they use the running track at Medway Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

All athletes have a membership which allows them to use the Leisure Centre’s facilities as they use the running track, but parents who do not have membership are now being charged an entrance fee just to walk their children through the corridor.

The Sports Centre Manager, Paul Johnson said: “Customers who do not hold a centre admission pass would need to pay a daily admission fee, currently priced at £1.95 for children and £2.70 for adults. This payment is required when entering the centre, even for spectating.”

Some of the athletic sessions run for an hour so parents used to sit and watch their children. Many would use this time as an opportunity to volunteer for the club and even become coaches themselves.

However now parents are being forced to pay to enter they are avoiding the centre altogether, causing a shortage of volunteers for the athletics club.

All staff at Medway and Maidstone Athletics work on a volunteering basis and this shortage is putting a strain on the people who do put a lot of time and effort into the club.

One of these people is Sarah Kenyon who is the Chairwoman of the club and also a coach. She took on this role in 2015 and has found she is spending more time than ever helping with jobs that do not come under her job description.

She said: “By charging for entrance it means we have very few parents come through to watch as they do not want to pay the admission fees. They tend to sit in their cars to wait. They do not get to understand the sport and see what’s involved. 

“The people who used to volunteer started as parent helpers and a number would then continue to Assistant Coaches or Officials. Sadly, that doesn’t happen anymore.”

This entrance fee also applies to all other connected Leisure Centres including Strood Leisure Centre as well as one based in Hoo. 

Members of Medway and Maidstone athletics have found that some of the staff at the Leisure Centre have become increasingly rude since the introduction of the fee, due to the fact there has been tension between parents and athletes entering the building.

Sean Rodwell is a long-distance athlete who regularly uses the running track. He said: “It very much depends on who you get at the front desk. For the most part the staff are pleasant and welcoming, but there are exceptions to this, with a few staff members acting like they’re offended by your presence.”

Mr Rodwell is one of many who do not feel the admission fee is needed and believes that the community should be encouraged to visit their local leisure centre.

“Whilst I appreciate local council money is tight, this seems completely unnecessary. In an area with high obesity levels and social deprivation, they should be making it as easy as possible to participate and be inspired by local sporting talent. I expect that the money made from spectators is insignificant, compared to the benefit that could be gained from encouraging more spectators,” he said.