A powerful milestone for Belgravia Leisure has been achieved with the highest attendance ever recorded at the company’s Community Network Forums (CNFs).
In March of this year, 620 local voices gathered across our venues – a remarkable 57% increase from September last year – to share their unique needs, preferences, priorities, opportunities and challenges. This growing turnout is a powerful indicator of the deepening relationship between our venues and the communities we serve.
Held twice a year at each year-round operating venue, CNFs are a cornerstone of Belgravia Leisure’s best practise community engagement approach.
They provide a space for meaningful conversations between our teams and diverse (sometimes underrepresented) community stakeholders, where we look, listen, learn and collaborate to co-design pathways to participation that are accessible, inclusive and relevant to local needs. This feedback is critical in helping shape the future of inclusive, welcoming leisure spaces.
“Our forums are about real conversations and working together to help us collectively break down barriers and build happier, healthier, more connected communities,” says Emma Lowe, National Access and Inclusion Coordinator.
“This growing turnout is a powerful indicator of the deepening relationship between our venues and the communities we serve.”
Insights from the latest CNFs point to three key areas for focus:
- Social connection and social engagement
- Affordability of programs
- Accessible health and fitness options
Feedback collected during these forums directly informs planning, programming, team member training and resource allocation at both local and national levels.
Already, many venues are acting on community input by developing more inclusive programs, introducing flexible pricing and strengthening partnerships with local support services.
For example, Moree established a new relationship with Maayu Mali Rehabilitation Centre to support participants in adopting healthy physical activity habits in a safe and welcoming community venue through group fitness sessions and gym use. Similarly, WaterMarc introduced Wheelchair Boccia to fill a gap in social activities for people living with a disability, a clear response to community calls for more inclusive and engaging programs.
Nationally, Belgravia Leisure is reinforcing its ongoing commitment to social inclusion in many ways and will also sponsor and align with Loneliness Awareness Week (August 2025) in partnership with Ending Loneliness Together.
“We’re proud of the trust our communities place in us as we continue to grow our commitment to community engagement,” says Kara Monaghan, Belgravia Leisure Senior Business Operations Manager (Vic/Tas).
“Our CNFs are one of the most authentic ways we stay accountable to our vision of ensuring everyone has access to leisure, recreation and connection, and the changes we regularly make because of these forums reaffirms the importance of this regular consultation and engagement.
“CNFs ensure we are not just delivering services to the community, but with the community, and as we move into the second half of 2025, we’ll continue to respond to what we’ve heard because when communities lead, everyone benefits,” concluded Mrs Monoghan.
If you’d like to participate in a local Community Network Forum or learn more about Belgravia Leisure’s access and inclusion initiatives, contact your local venue. You can find your local Belgravia Leisure venue here.
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