Age 16-18
New Community Sport and Wellness Centre
New £7m Epping Forest Wellness Centre Officially Opened by Spurs Legend Ledley King
In a launch event on Saturday 20 January, New City College officially opened their latest New City Fitness facility, the new Epping Forest Wellness Centre in Loughton. Former Tottenham Hotspur club captain, Spurs Legend Ledley King cut the ribbon to officially open the centre.
In a short address to the group, King said: “Sport and recreation are a big part of many young people’s journeys through to adulthood, and centres like this really help to provide the community with the highest quality facilities in a safe space. My hope is that this centre will help to build a healthier, stronger, and more connected community, where the pursuit of fitness becomes a shared endeavour that transcends age, background, and ability.”
Over 200 visitors attended throughout the day, and were able to tour the new £7m building and facilities, meet the personal trainers in the gym for a free discussion and assessment, and claim exclusive discounts on membership fees. Visitors were also treated to an exhibition Basketball game put on by the London Lions Pro Women’s team.
The Epping Wellness Centre is the latest New City Fitness Centre, an exciting new venture from New City College. New City Fitness now boasts centres in both Hoxton and Loughton, which aim to provides affordable, welcoming, high-quality sport and fitness facilities for local communities. The Epping Forest centre also includes a café open to non-members, with views across an open park.
Janet Smith, New City College Principal with responsibility for Sport and commercial fitness activity welcomed the group of VIP guests and said “Epping Forest campus has a highly successful and expanding sports provision. We have a highly successful partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and many graduates from that programme are now working as Spurs coaches around the world. Along with a similar partnership with pro basketball team London Lions, we are developing the instructors of the future through our own NCC facilities, and staff here are graduates of our sports programme.”
Narzny Khan, Principal of New City College’s Epping Forest campus, also addressed the guests and said: “The building brings together state of the art design and materials, and has been celebrated in several architectural and respected trade publications for which we would like to offer a massive thank you to architects Scott Brownrigg and main contractors Neilcott. This brilliant, efficient design that contributes to the college’s journey to net zero also promotes physical activity and wellbeing – supporting two of the college’s important strategic objectives.”
“I’d also like to extend my sincere gratitude to our local community partners for supporting and believing in this project from the outset. The former Loughton town mayor Cllr Barbara Cohen, and Epping Forest District Council Chairman Mary Sartin and other local councillors were on this spot in June 2022 as we celebrated the start of the project. And I’m delighted to see local friends, partners and councillors here with us today. This is truly a centre for the local community and we look forward to working with you to make sure the centre and activities develop with this in mind.”
VIP guests included:
- Ledley King, Tottenham Hotspur Legend
- Cllr Michael Stubbing, Town Mayor of Loughton
- Cllr Carol Davies, Fairmead Ward
- Cllr Barbara Cohen, St Mary’s Ward
- Cllr David Wixley, Roding Ward
- Cllr Sebastian Fontenelle, Fairmead Ward
- Cllr Richard Bassett, Lower Nazeing Ward
- Cllr Stephen Murray, Roding Ward
- Mary Vine-Morris MBE, Director London Region, Association of Colleges
