What is the Leisure Card?

The Leisure Card is a discount card that has been launched by Braintree District Council and Braintree District Leisure Community Association.

You can apply for you Leisure Card at any of our leisure facilities today and feel the benefits of leading an active lifestyle.

What are the benefits?

1.   Reduced entry charge for all Leisure Card holders on casual pay and play sessions.

2.   Reduced charge between opening and 5.00pm, also 9.00pm till close Monday to Friday and after 12.00 noon at weekends for pay & play activities. 

3.  Discounts made against the adult standard rate.

4.  The Leisure Card can be used at any of the participating Leisure Centres.  For opening times please contact the relevant Leisure Centre.

Who Can Apply?

The Leisure Card is open to all Braintree District residents that meet the Membership criteria, as specified in the Leisure Card concessions.

Carers accompanying a person who qualifies under the disabled category are entitled to free access to assist the person with the disability. It is the carer's responsibility to support the individual whilst undertaking the activity.

The cost will be £4.00 per annum. Those qualifying under the Balance for Life category will have an expiry date of 6 months.

To upgrade from a free swimming card to a Leisure Card will cost £2.00. (This fee will return to £4 after one year).

Non residents of Braintree District Council can obtain a Leisure Card at a charge of £50 per annum.

How do I get my Leisure Card?

The card will be renewed annually with the exception of those receiving benefit or unemployed who will need to re-validate their card after six months.  After this period, proof of eligibility is again required to be inspected, before a further 6 month Leisure Card is re-issued.

Cards under the Balance for Life category will expire after a period of six months and are not renewable.

Complete an application form, cut off and together with:

1.   Proof of eligibility

2.   £4.00 (cheques made payable to Braintree District Leisure Community Association Ltd).

Then either post to the address shown on the application form or take it to your nearest participating Leisure Centre.

Your new Leisure Card will then be sent to you by post within 21 days of receipt of the application.

You will need to take your Leisure Card with you on each visit to the Leisure facilities to gain your discount.

NB - If you wish to use the Gym at your chosen centre, you will need to arrange for an induction at that centre, to show you how to use the equipment, for which there will be a charge. 

Leisure Card Concessions

The Leisure Card applies to qualifying persons for pay and play activities at  Braintree District Leisure Community Association Ltd run facilities.  The following people are entitled to a Leisure Card and discounts:

People in receipt of Benefit (any of the following, Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit) - 50% discount

Disabled people and their carer(s). (People in receipt of the following benefits, Disabled Persons Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Invalid Care Allowance) - 50% discount.

People aged 60 and over - 50% discount

Unemployed people in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance - 75% discount

Children aged 4-15 inclusive - 50% discount

Balance for Life (valid for 6 months after GP Referral completion - 50% discount

Students aged 16-23 inclusive in full-time education - 30% discount

People that qualify for the County Wide FANS Scheme - FREE

Proof of eligibility will be required

Balance for Life

The Balance for Life category is for those that have completed the GP Referral Scheme or the Cardiac Rehab Scheme.  The Leisure Card can be applied for on completion of these schemes at a cost of £4.00 and will last for a single period of six months.  Applicants under this category may not re-apply after the six months has expired unless they are eligible under another category.

FANS Scheme

What is Fans?
Fans stands for Free Access for National Sportspeople and is a scheme designed to provide support to the county's leading talented sports performers.  The scheme provides nationally ranked sports people with free access to participating local authority leisure & sports facilities at designated times, for personal training and development.

Who is eligible?
People who are currently members of a national team or squad or listed in the top 10 nationally within their sport and are residents, or belong to a club, within the 11 participating Boroughs and Districts in the county of Essex for the majority of the year.

How do I apply?
Individuals apply by completing the application form, which can be downloaded from Sport Essex and submitting evidence or confirmation of their performance  level, which must be endorsed by the appropriate governing body of sport, along with 2 recent passport photos of themselves.  This should be sent to sportessex,c/o ExDRA, Aquila House, Waterloo Lane, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1BD.

For full terms and conditions and eligibility please contact Sportessex  Tel: 01245 702495