Redbridge Sports & Leisure

For more than 50 years, Redbridge Sports & Leisure has been at the heart of community sport, health, and wellbeing in Redbridge.

Since opening in 1972, the centre has grown from an ambitious volunteer-led sports project into one of the area’s leading multi-sport and leisure facilities, serving generations of local residents, schools, clubs, and community organisations.

Today, we remain committed to the same founding vision that inspired the organisation more than five decades ago:

To provide accessible, inclusive, and affordable opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport and physical activity.

As a charitable trust operating within the principles of The Trust Model by Community Leisure UK, we exist to benefit the community rather than shareholders. Every membership, booking, and programme helps us reinvest back into facilities, grassroots sport, youth development, and community wellbeing initiatives across the borough.

Our Story

The origins of Redbridge Sports & Leisure can be traced back to 1967, when members of North Ilford Tennis Club faced losing their existing facilities. Rather than allowing local sporting opportunities to disappear, a dedicated group of volunteers and sports enthusiasts came together with a bold idea; to create a purpose-built multi-sport centre that would serve the wider community for generations to come.

At the time, the vision was considered highly ambitious. The proposed centre would include indoor racket sports, outdoor courts, social areas, and community spaces - something rarely seen within a charitable sports organisation during that era.

The project was driven almost entirely by determination, fundraising, and community support. Early fundraising initiatives included sponsored walks, local events, donations, grants, and support from sporting organisations, local authorities, and businesses. Volunteers dedicated countless hours to helping secure funding, land agreements, and planning approval to bring the vision to life.

Opening in 1972

Redbridge Sports Centre officially opened on 20th March 1972 and was formally opened later that year by H.R.H. Princess Alexandra.

The original facilities included:

• Four indoor badminton courts
• Squash courts
• Table tennis facilities
• Outdoor tennis courts
• Multi-purpose sports spaces
• Changing facilities and social areas
• Parking and landscaped outdoor areas

From the very beginning, the centre was designed to be a true community sports hub - somewhere local people could play, compete, socialise, and stay active regardless of age, experience, or background.

The centre quickly became a focal point for local sport and recreation, hosting competitions, coaching programmes, social events, and club activity throughout the borough.

Growing With The Community

Over the following decades, Redbridge Sports & Leisure continued to expand alongside the needs of the local community.

Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the site saw significant development and investment, including:

• Additional squash and tennis courts
• New fitness and gym facilities
• Activity studios and exercise spaces
• Floodlit outdoor courts
• Improved reception and social areas
• Expanded football and outdoor sports provision
• Infrastructure and parking improvements

The organisation developed a strong reputation for racket sports, junior coaching, community participation, and accessible sport. Schools, clubs, and local organisations became regular users of the centre, helping establish Redbridge Sports & Leisure as one of the borough’s most important sporting destinations.

Importantly, these developments were made possible through continual reinvestment back into the organisation - a principle that still defines us today.

Olympic Legacy & The Jean Brown Indoor Arena

A major milestone in the centre’s modern history came in 2012 with the opening of the Jean Brown Indoor Arena on 2nd January 2012.

Built to meet increasing demand for badminton and netball, the £7.6 million arena represented one of the most significant investments in the organisation’s history. The development was part-funded by LOCOG so the facility could serve as an official Games Time Training Venue for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

The arena provided a lasting Olympic legacy for East London and surrounding communities, significantly increasing the centre’s ability to support both grassroots participation and performance sport.

Today, the Jean Brown Indoor Arena continues to:

• Host badminton and netball activity at all levels
• Support local clubs, schools, and community organisations
• Provide high-quality indoor sporting facilities
• Expand opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity
• Strengthen the centre’s role as a leading community sports venue

The development reflected the organisation’s continued ambition to invest in facilities that create long-term community impact.

Community First

More than 50 years after opening, community remains at the centre of everything we do.

Unlike commercial leisure operators, Redbridge Sports & Leisure operates as a not-for-profit charitable trust, meaning any surplus generated is reinvested directly back into:

• Facility improvements
• Community sport initiatives
• Youth programmes
• Grassroots development
• Health and wellbeing activities
• Accessibility and inclusion projects

We work closely with:

• Schools and colleges
• Local sports clubs
• Community organisations
• Health and wellbeing partners
• Families and young people across Redbridge

Our aim is not only to improve physical health, but also to strengthen confidence, social connection, mental wellbeing, and lifelong participation in activity.

Supporting Future Generations

Supporting young people through sport has always been an important part of the organisation’s identity.

Our Academy of Sport holiday programme continues this tradition today, offering professionally coached sessions in:

• Football
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Badminton
• Netball
• Table tennis

Led by qualified coaches in a safe and supportive environment, these programmes help children and young people develop confidence, teamwork, technical skills, and a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Many families who use the centre today are second- and third-generation members of the local community who have grown up with Redbridge Sports & Leisure as part of their lives.

Looking Ahead

In 2022, we proudly celebrated 50 years of Redbridge Sports & Leisure, recognising the volunteers, staff, members, and local residents who helped shape the organisation from 1972 to 2022.

As we continue beyond our 50th anniversary and into the future, our mission remains clear:

• To improve lives through sport and physical activity
• To provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for all
• To support healthier and more connected communities
• To inspire future generations to stay active
• To continue investing in community sport and wellbeing

From a volunteer-led vision in the 1960s to a trusted community leisure organisation serving thousands of people every year, Redbridge Sports & Leisure remains proud of its history, proud of its community, and excited for the future.