Wealden’s leisure centres shine as Freedom Leisure marks nearly 25 years of partnership with national award

Freedom Leisure, one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit leisure trusts, originally formed from Wealden District Council’s leisure service in 2002, is celebrating a major national accolade as it approaches its 25th year of serving the Wealden community.

Created initially to operate Hailsham, Uckfield and Crowborough Leisure Centres on behalf of Wealden District Council, Freedom Leisure has grown from its Wealden roots into one of the country’s most influential leisure operators.

Its approach to community-focused delivery, environmental responsibility and partnership working, first established in Wealden, has since shaped and inspired leisure management models across the UK.

The organisation has now been awarded Energy Management Team of the Year at the Energy Managers Association’s national awards, recognition that reflects both its local impact and its wider national leadership in sustainable leisure operations.

This prestigious award honours teams demonstrating exceptional collaboration, technical expertise and measurable results in reducing energy use and carbon emissions. Judges commended Freedom Leisure for its strategic, data-driven approach and for embedding sustainability into everyday operations; a culture that took root in its earliest years working alongside Wealden District Council.

As Wealden Leisure Limited (t/a Freedom Leisure) prepares to enter its 25th year in partnership with Wealden District Council, the recognition stands as a testament to the trust’s long-term commitment to improving the district’s health, wellbeing and environmental future while championing sector-leading sustainability beyond Wealden’s boundaries.

For more than two decades, Freedom Leisure and Wealden District Council have invested in the district’s leisure centres, ensuring they remain vibrant community hubs while continuously reducing their environmental footprint. This latest national award reinforces how deeply the trust’s sustainability efforts, first pioneered in Wealden, are making a difference both locally and nationally.

Led by Chief Operating Officer Matt Wickham and Head of Environment and Sustainability Angela Brown, the winning team brings together environmental, energy and technical specialists working hand-in-hand with operational colleagues across the three centres. Their collaborative approach has created a culture where every member of staff contributes to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Freedom Leisure’s energy management programme in Wealden has already delivered 85.5 metric tons of CO₂ savings; equivalent to the annual energy use of 11 homes or the impact of planting more than 1,400 trees.