Edinburgh Leisure impact report shows significantly improved financial position and increased engagement

Edinburgh Leisure moves close to underlying break-even, supported by record membership

The charity’s 2025–26 Impact Report shows almost 6 million customer visits during the year

It has reached an all-time high of 38,383 active members

Chief executive, Jen Holland, said it marked a turning point financially

Edinburgh Leisure has emerged from a difficult period of financial pressure to move within £18,000 of underlying operating break-even, while increasing participation and taking membership to an all-time high.

The charity’s 2025–26 Impact Report shows its additional one-off support from the City of Edinburgh Council fell from £4.2m in 2024–25 to £1.868m in 2025–26, with no further additional support expected during the current financial year.

This funding is separate from the £8m annual management fee Edinburgh Leisure receives from the council to deliver leisure services across the city.

Jen Holland, chief executive of Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Financially, 2025–26 marked an important turning point. Through careful management, innovation and the dedication of colleagues across the organisation, we closed our financial gap and entered the new year on a more stable footing.

“Being financially stronger helps us keep doing what matters most: opening up more opportunities for people across Edinburgh to be active. As a charity, every step towards sustainability means we can better support our communities now and plan with confidence for the future.

“Behind every number is a person: someone learning a new skill, feeling stronger, meeting familiar faces or taking a step towards better health,” said Holland. “The challenge now is to build on this progress, so more people across Edinburgh can access the support, spaces and opportunities they need to be active.”

The charity reported an unrestricted surplus of £2.315m before actuarial pension losses. After adjustments for non-cash pension accounting, sinking-fund treatment and expenditure from designated funds, it recorded an underlying operating deficit of just £18,000 – broadly equivalent to break-even.

The improved position was supported by rising participation and stronger operational income. Customer visits increased by 4.2 per cent, from 5.7 million to 5.976 million, while active membership reached an all-time high of 38,383.

IMPACT REPORTING

• Unrestricted income from leisure facilities was 5 per cent ahead of budget and membership income increased by around 11 per cent, driven largely by full fitness and golf memberships.
• Edinburgh Leisure’s Community Access to Schools programme also returned to surplus, generating £447,000 and returning £415,900 to the council.
• During the year, Edinburgh Leisure supported 15,764 people facing barriers to physical activity – an increase of 16 per cent – through programmes addressing low income, poor health, social exclusion and other inequalities.
• A total of 9,846 people on low incomes accessed free or subsidised activities, while 3,351 people made 36,204 visits through the Community Access Programme.
• The organisation also received 9,415 health and exercise referrals from primary care, health and social care and charity partners. Healthy Active Minds supported 979 people experiencing mental health challenges, while tailored activities for people with additional support needs were used by 50 families each week. Ageing Well sessions reached 674 older adults a month.
• The charity expanded its falls-prevention work with the launch of Balanced Life, delivered in partnership with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. The programme increased its weekly classes from 34 to 65, with annual participation rising from 1,152 to 2,232.
• Edinburgh Leisure also invested almost £1m across five projects. These included a £329,000 indoor cycling studio at Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre, a £261,000 upgrade of the Tumbles soft-play facility and café at Portobello and a £138,000 café redevelopment at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
• A further £196,000 was spent resurfacing the Meadows tennis courts and installing LED lighting and a smart-access system, while Craiglockhart received a £55,000 Trackman golf simulator.
• Environmental measures resulted in a reported 13.7 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and an 8 per cent reduction in electricity use. The charity also diverted 20 tonnes of waste and reported £30,000 in waste savings.