Be Well membership boost reveals fitness focus among 'NEXT GEN' of Wigan Borough residents

Be Well membership boost reveals fitness focus among 'NEXT GEN' of Wigan Borough residents

Be Well member Sophie Archer (front left) at a NEXT GEN fitness class

A rapid rise in leisure centre memberships among young people in Wigan Borough is evidence of a growing shift away from body image obsession to holistic wellness, according to experts in the field.

The council’s BeWell service has revealed Gen Z and Generation Alpha are their fastest-growing demographics, with around 5,000 junior or student members now signed up across its seven locations.

That figure is almost double what it was three years ago – and while major council investment in facilities during that time has contributed to increased memberships in all age brackets, industry voices say the trend among young people reflects a significant shift in how they view health and wellbeing.

Jamie-Lee Bowden, from health and fitness coaching experts Future Fit Training, said: “Rather than seeing fitness as purely performance or appearance-driven, many young people now view exercise as an essential part of their physical health, mental wellbeing and long-term lifestyle. 
This aligns with wider industry trends showing increased participation in fitness activities and growing demand for wellness-focused formats. As youth participation in fitness continues to grow, there is an increasing need for qualified professionals who understand child development, safeguarding and age-appropriate exercise delivery. 
Creating positive early experiences is key to helping young people build confidence, physical literacy and lasting exercise habits that can continue into adulthood.”

The UK health and fitness sector is currently achieving record growth, with around 12.2 million people now members of a health or fitness club.

Growth is particularly strong among young people, with a report by ukactive earlier this year revealing three-quarters of ‘Gen Z’-ers take part in strength training at least twice a week – more than any other generation. 

And with that trend mirrored locally, Be Well has responded by launching its NEXT GEN range of group exercise classes designed specifically for young people and families.

The range includes classes for high school and college ages that focus on building technique, form and confidence. There are also fitness, dance and mindfulness classes suitable for families with children aged 3-10.

The development of NEXT GEN has been welcomed by Dr Ashley Gluchowski, a clinical exercise physiologist and behaviour change specialist at the University of Salford, who says the increased focus on fitness in young people “is likely a mix of curiosity, tangible benefits and social influence”.

Dr Gluchowski said: “We know from a ukactive survey that young people want to be more physically active than they currently are, and providing positive physical activity experiences – with structured support, alongside friends and other people they know, in a safe, familiar environment – are ways young people have told us we can help them to enjoy physical activity. 
Whatever the explanation, we need to ensure we’re fostering those positive experiences with things like: a safe space for meaningful social engagement, encouraging a sense of belonging for all members, the availability of structured support to facilitate physical activity competence, and allowing young people to choose the activity that feels right for them, promoting autonomy.
We also know that young people who have positive experiences with being physically active are far more likely to be physically active as adults and older adults, improving their lifelong health, social and mental wellbeing, and quality of life. 
The fact that young people are the fastest growing membership sector for Be Well is something that Be Well must capitalise on and continue to enable, so it’s great to hear about NEXT GEN, which provides a variety of physical activity opportunities for young people in the Wigan Borough to get active.”

Sophie Archer, a member at Ashton Leisure Centre, says NEXT GEN classes have helped her improve performance and grow in confidence.

Sophie, aged 12, said: "I love coming to the NEXT GEN classes at Be Well because they're fun, friendly, and make me feel stronger every week. I've made new friends, learned new skills, and always leave feeling proud of myself. I keep coming back because every class helps me build confidence and achieve something new, I have even started to win all the fitness tests at my rugby team which is great!”

Young people like Sophie now make up a quarter of Be Well memberships, which have recently reached record levels by surpassing 20,000.

It follows major council investment across the borough’s seven leisure centres: Ashton, Hindley, Howe Bridge, Leigh, Robin Park, Standish and Wigan.

Councillor Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “It’s encouraging that growing numbers of young people are placing greater importance on their wellbeing, with less of a focus on body image and more emphasis on the longer-term, holistic benefits of being active. That’s exactly what Be Well is all about. By investing in top class facilities and new NEXT GEN classes designed specifically for young people, we’re investing in Wigan Borough’s future.”

New Be Well Fitness members can currently get two months half price on their membership using the code "BEWELLAUTUMN". You can also explore membership options via BeWell Wigan (external link).

Visit the Be Well website to find out more about NEXT GEN (external link).