An Eastbourne leisure centre is starting a weekly subsidised zumba class aimed specifically at teenage girls.

Thanks to funding from Active Sussex's Olympic Legacy programme Sportivate, the Hampden Park Leisure Centre will be offering its most popular keep fit class to teenage girls for just £1 per class.

Working closely with Eastbourne Academy, the leisure centre has timed the weekly classes to fit in with the end of the school day, to make it easy for students to attend.

"We found that boys tended to be more physically active, and much of the stuff already on offer in the area caters for boys," said Hampden Park's Development Manager Ellie Pike. "We suggested zumba to the girls at school because it's mainly women that go to our existing classes, and they said 'yeah, that would be brilliant!'"

Zumba, a high energy combination of latin dancing and traditional keep fit class, originated in Colombia in the 1990s when fitness instructor Alberto "Beto" Perez was forced to improvise a class using tapes of South American salsa and merengue, after he'd mistakenly left his keep-fit soundtrack at home.

"Everyone who takes part feels like they're dancing, having a party," said Ellie. "It doesn't even feel like keep-fit."

Sportivate Teenage Zumba commences week beginning 6 February at Hampden Park Leisure Centre, Eastbourne. Full event details

Are you serious about running? Ever thought about setting up your own running group for friends or colleagues? Half price places are availble on a one-day course that will give you all the training required by Run England and England Athletics to set up your own casual running group for beginners. 

Once you're completed the day training and registered with Run England, you'll be ready to go. What you do with the group after that is entirely up to you. You can collect subscriptions, plan schedules, regular runs and trips – even start entering competitions.

The Leadership in Running Fitness Course will be of interest not only to individuals who want to share their love of running, but also to community organisations, employers looking to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff, and running and athletics clubs looking to engage with beginners in their area.

Leadership in Running Fitness Course, 26 February, at Falmer Sports Centre, University of Brighton. £90. 8:45am-5:30pm. 

To register for half-price subsidised place priced at £45, contact Diane Farmer on dianefarmer@btinternet.com

Read more at www.runengland.org/leader

Active Sussex Gold Tier Partner Freedom Leisure is to invest a total of £7m in the four leisure centres it runs on behalf of Wealden District Council, following a new 10-year management agreement.

Freedom Leisure has operated four centres across the East Sussex district since 2002.

The new contract with Wealden for the Crowborough and Hailsham Leisure Centres will be for 15 years, while the contact will last for 10 years at Uckfield and Heathfield, where the buildings are owned by East Sussex County Council. The contracts start from 1 April.

Jeff Hart, Managing Director at Freedom Leisure, said: "Freedom Leisure was formed to operate the Wealden District Council contract ten years ago so we are delighted that the Council felt we should be appointed for another term. 

"As well as a substantial investment in facilities, we have committed to increasing participation year-on-year through affordable and accessible community based schemes."

Scheduled improvements include 17 new spin bikes and other studio equipment at Crowborough leisure centre and 66 new pieces of kit including weights, bars  and spin bikes at Hailsham.

A wet-side refurbishment at Crowborough Leisure Centre is also planned, with WDC to provide funding. A further £100,000 will go towards energy efficiency improvements.

Freedom Leisure

Brighton based training centre Swim UK is offering individuals free training to get a foot onto the career ladder.

If you are receiving job seekers allowance and are over 19 you could be eligible to a free RLSS Pool Lifeguard course enabling you to become a fully trained lifeguard. The qualification will allow you to apply for jobs as a lifeguard within the leisure industry, for example at leisure centres and swim schools. The course would normally cost £169.

Swim UK will be running three Lifeguard courses in Brighton, one per month, with the first five-day course starting the week beginning 20 February.

Paul Smith, Swim UK Director says: "This is a great opportunity for those seeking employment. It will give individuals the opportunity to gain industry recognised qualifications helping them to gain work in the leisure industry."

The free places have been made possible by support from the Skills Funding Agency.

For more information and to apply call 01273 414214 or visit www.swimuk.co.uk