Free activity memberships set to ignite young people to be active across Wakefield
Wednesday, March 04, 2026
Thousands of young people are set to benefit from free access to Wakefield Council’s Aspire leisure facilities.
Launching this April, 16 to 24-year-olds will be able to access a programmed range of activities by signing up for a free Aspire Ignite membership.
As part of the 2026/27 budget, the new membership will be funded by £620,000 from the District investment Fund. The £4.3 million fund will also support families with school uniforms and childcare, help young people access training and leisure opportunities, and give a winter payment to qualifying pensioners.
“We know that young people in Wakefield often face real barriers to being active – including cost, confidence, and lack of options. Aspire Ignite removes those barriers and opens the door to a healthier, happier future.
“Active young people are more likely to feel happier, perform better in education, and build habits that last a lifetime, so we want to inspire a generation of young people to enjoy healthy and active lifestyles.
“A range of activities at varying times will be available across all of our Aspire leisure centres as part of the free membership including swimming, tennis, climbing, gym sessions and golf.”
Cllr Hannah Appleyard
Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport
A third of 16 to 24-year-olds in the district go at least a week without any exercise. Whether it’s the gym, swimming, tennis, golf, climbing, fitness classes, or just a space to move and feel good, Aspire Ignite is here to make activity accessible for everyone.
Those using the new membership will be able to access a specific timetable of activities at Pontefract, Sun Lane, Featherstone, Minsthorpe, Normanton and Thornes Park leisure centres. And it will be completely free.
Alternative memberships will still be available for young people that want to access all of the classes and activities on offer at the Council’s Aspire leisure centres at all times and days.
Cllr Appleyard added: “We’re helping young people find fun, social ways to stay active — on their terms. Igniting their passion to build healthier active lifestyles, now and for the future.”
Those signing up for the new membership will benefit from a recent programme of upgrades to the Council’s leisure centres including the newly upgraded all-weather outside running track and Athletics Village at Thornes Park Stadium which includes state-of-the-art LED floodlighting for evening and winter training.
Thornes Park Stadium will also soon be benefitting from a £1 million upgrade indoors too. The gym is being expanded, bringing in new equipment and dedicated HYROX areas. There will also be an improved village-style changing room and new spaces for additional classes and groups to use. Normanton Leisure Centre will also be getting an upgrade later this year.
Find out more about Aspire Ignite, and the other memberships available, at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/aspire-memberships-and-prices
For information
The Council’s District Investment Fund is reinvesting the profits after the winding-up of Bridge Homes, a Wakefield Council and Vico Homes affordable housing joint venture, now supplemented with additional one-off Government funding. It will:
• Provide £2 million of support to local families with school age children to help with the cost of school uniforms
• Give a one-off winter payment of £100 for pension aged recipients of Council Tax support
• Provide £100,000 to support 16 to 18-year-olds to access training and education
• Respond to a shortage of accessible childcare provision
• Help make activity more accessible by providing new, tailored free Aspire Ignite memberships for 16 to 24-year-olds
• Provide £200,000 to fund police staff and two enforcement officer posts to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour