Splashpoint Leisure Centre Wins Civic Trust Award

Worthing’s Splashpoint Leisure Centre has won yet another award.  It was voted ‘winner’ by the civic trust in last weeks awards ceremony due to its outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the build environment. 

The award, collected by Councillor Clive Roberts, recognises designs that demonstrate excellence in architecture or design, sustainability, inclusive design and provide a positive social, cultural, environmental or economic benefit to the local community.

The Civic Trust Awards Scheme was established in 1959 and is the longest standing built environment awards scheme in Europe.  During the last 55 years the scheme has continued in its objective to recognise projects that have made a positive contribution to the local communities they serve.  Worthing Borough Council and Wilkinson Eyre Architects were delighted to receive the news.

The external design of Splashpoint and the way it has been designed to complement its environment and location is what made it stand out from the competition. The shape of the building is designed to reduce the visual mass and mediates the change in scale from the terraced houses that line the coastal road to the expansiveness of the open sea. The sloping copper roof is intended to weather with the environment and compliment the natural surroundings.

The building has been raised so that from pool level, there is a powerful visual connection between the pool and the sea and praise was received from the judges in relation to the use of light in the main swimming areas. 

 
All these factors ensured Splashpoint again won an award having previous been voted winter by the World Architecture Festival in Singapore within their sports category.

Worthing Borough Council and Worthing Leisure are delighted with the award and all the positive publicity received.  Customers are flocking to Splashpoint, memberships are at an all time high and it is a success of which the whole town can be proud.

Parents reveal that sex stops after 3 children!

Top concerns of new mums revealed in survey

 Body confidence, getting sleep, sex and pelvic floor problems are key issues

TV fitness coach Jane Wake and Mother Nurture from Kegel8 are on-hand to help strengthen and tone pelvic floor muscles for more control and  better sex 

 

New research by leading women’s intimate health company, Kegel8, reveals sex stops for 1 in 4 couples, after having a baby, and only 13% surveyed feel their sex life has remained the same as before the baby’s birth.  New parents revealed that sex became the ‘elephant in the room’ with 1 in 5 men expressing difficulties initiating sex with their partner, and 44% of women feeling nervous about having sex for the first time after a baby.  New mums were concerned about pain and soreness during sex (38%) for the first time after birth, and over a third were worried that sex may not be as enjoyable as before.

“Having sex for the first time after having a baby can be a difficult conversation for many couples,” says Jane Wake, TV exercise coach - expert in pre and post natal fitness. “Dads don’t want to put pressure on their partners, and new mums may not feel ready yet.  So it’s good to communicate with each other and be open about your needs, worries and anxieties!”

Baby’s health and happiness was top priority for new mums, but key worries included getting enough sleep and regaining body confidence.  A quarter of new mums were concerned about toning their pelvic floor to avoid leaks – but 1 in 5 women thought pelvic floor exercises just didn’t work for them.  Kegel8 has evidence to suggest that 50% of women in the UK don’t know how to produce an effective pelvic floor muscle contraction, and may actually be working the larger muscles in error; putting additional pressure on the abdomen.  It’s no surprise that 63% of new mums want to know more about pelvic floor muscle exercises, and believe more information is needed. 

To help expectant and new mums gain confidence and control, Kegel8 has launched a revolutionary new product - Mother Nurture Pelvic Floor Toner, (RRP £79.99, available from www.kegel8.co.uk) a 3 in 1 electronic Pelvic Floor Toner and Labour TENS featuring a unique combination of pre-set programmes to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles before pregnancy, and re-build muscle strength after birth.  Even if manual Kegel exercises are done correctly, they target just 40% of the muscle group you need to work - an electronic pelvic floor toner can reach 90%! The Labour Tens also provides natural pain relief during labour by sending a gentle electric current through the body, helping to stimulate the release of endorphins.

Dedicated to helping new mums, Kegel8 has teamed up with TV exercise coach and expert in pre and post natal health and fitness, Jane Wake, to create Kegel8Mum – an easy to follow guide to help build core muscle strength and stability through a range of simple exercises.

“During pregnancy, our bodies go through a massive transition.  Hormonal changes can loosen your pelvic floor muscles, which, as the growing baby presses on the bladder, can lead to weakened control, and potential leaks.  The good news is there are many kegel exercises you can do before and during pregnancy to build core muscle strength and prepare for childbirth. Getting fit ‘down there’ can tighten and lift your pelvic floor meaning better bladder control and an easier birth - not to mention increased sensation during sex.” 

To download Jane Wake’s FREE & exclusive guide to Getting Your Pelvic Floor Fit, visit www.kegel8.co.uk/mothernurture

 

DISNEY’S THE LION KING TO PRESENT SECOND DEDICATED AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE

Sunday 4 May 2014 at 1.30pm at London’s Lyceum Theatre
Following the success of THE LION KING’s first dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance last year, Disney’s THE LION KING is set to present a second Autism-Friendly Performance on Sunday 4 May 2014 at 1:30pm. Tickets are now on sale.

THE LION KING staged the West End’s first-ever dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance in April 2013. Working closely with The National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for people with autism and their families, and following a highly successful programme at THE LION KING in New York, The Walt Disney Company adapted the performance to make it more suitable to those affected by autism.

Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition, affecting children and adults. As a ‘spectrum’ condition it affects each person in a different way, but people with autism tend to experience common social difficulties understanding and relating to other people, and the world around them. Sudden changes in routine or environment can be incredibly frightening and stressful. Sensory issues can also prove problematic: for example a person may dislike bright lights, or may have very sensitive hearing and find noise, including background noise intrusive, distracting or even painful.

Understandably, a visit to a musical on the scale of THE LION KING, in London’s busiest theatre, could prove an overwhelming experience for a significant number of people in the UK who have autism; over 500,000 are thought to have the condition.

This dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance will include modifications to the booking process, performance and the theatre environment, including:

• The theatre’s foyer will include designated quiet and activity areas; staffed by experts in autism throughout the performance should anyone need to leave their seats  
• Slight adjustments are made to the performance itself, including the reduction of jarring sounds or strobe lighting that face the audiences 
• The cast of The Lion King along with Lyceum Theatre box office and front of house staff will be given training to understand the needs of an audience of families and friends with children and adults who have an autism spectrum disorder
• An autism-friendly website and booking system has been set up specifically for this performance

“Our experiences of presenting Autism Friendly Performances on Broadway have been extremely moving; not only for the audiences but for our casts and companies as well,” said Thomas Schumacher, Producer and President Disney Theatrical Productions. “We are so proud to now be presenting the second of our dedicated Autism Friendly Performances in the West End, enabling new audiences to enjoy the thrill of musical theatre. We thank our creative staff whose hard work and dedication helps make it all possible.”

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of The National Autistic Society, said:
“For people of any age with autism, getting out and about can be difficult. Day-to-day activities such as shopping or using public transport can cause immense confusion and anxiety. Under usual circumstances, a trip to the theatre would simply be impossible for some families. But training staff and making adjustments to the performance and theatre environment can make a huge difference. Following the success of last year’s performance, we’re delighted to continue our work with Disney so that more people affected by autism can access the entertainment opportunities that many of us take for granted.”

In November 2013, the sold-out UK tour of THE LION KING presented a dedicated Autism-Friendly Performance at the 3000 seat Edinburgh Playhouse, making it the largest dedicated Autism-Friendly performance ever to take place in Scotland. An Autism-Friendly performance of the Australian production of THE LION KING will take place in Sydney in June 2014.

Friends and families can find out more information and buy tickets at www.lionkingautismfriendly.co.uk.  Tickets are sold at a specially discounted rate and can be selected on a virtual map of the auditorium. A social story is available to download from the website to help people with autism understand the process of a visit to the theatre, thus aiding their comprehension of the experience and reducing anxiety by explaining each step from arriving in the foyer to the final curtain call.