Centre Facilities & Accessibility

Activities & Facilities

This leisure center has both a swimming pool with a range of swimming and aqua classes and a wellbeing suite a dedicated exercise studio featuring a power-assisted exercise circuit.

There are updated changing facilities, including a dedicated Changing Places facility, as well as lockers, showers, and toilets.

Additionally, the swimming area is well-equipped with a viewing gallery for spectators and multiple accessibility options, such as a pool pod, pool lift, and graduated steps, ensuring the pool is accessible to all.

Customers can also take advantage of free on-site parking.

Askern Country Park Cafe

Our café is open at weekends and Bank Holidays from Easter through to late September.

The cafe pod inside the centre remains open for drinks and snacks.

Accessibility

We are committed to providing an accessible, welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors.

Our facilities include a range of accessibility features to help you make the most of your visit, whether you’re swimming, taking part in activities or spending time with family and friends.

Getting around the centre

We offer a range of accessible features to help you move around the centre, including:

Accessible parking spaces.
Step-free access throughout the building.
Automatic entrance doors.
Lift access and wheelchair-friendly routes.
Assistance dogs welcome.
An accessible pool viewing area.

Accessible toilets and changing facilities

We provide accessible toilet and changing facilities to support a range of access requirements.

Facilities include:

Accessible toilet facilities.
A Changing Places toilet. - linked to the poolside for ease of access
Accessible changing and shower facilities.

These facilities are designed to help visitors feel comfortable and supported during their visit.

Changing Places facility

Our Changing Places facility is located on the ground floor and linked to the poolside. The spacious facility provides additional space and specialist equipment to support visitors with additional access and personal care needs.

Facilities include:

A height-adjustable changing bed.
A shower, sink and toilet.
Accessible changing and shower facilities.
Motion-sensor lighting.
An emergency alarm that alerts reception when activated, providing added safety and reassurance.

Accessible swimming

We want as many people as possible to enjoy swimming at Askern Leisure Centre.

The pool can be accessed via steps into the water, and a pool pod is available to support visitors who require assisted access.

Our team can also provide assistance with entering and exiting the pool whenever required. If you have specific requirements, please contact us before your visit so we can discuss how best to support you.

Decarbonisation Project

The refurbishment of Askern Leisure Centre was not just about updating infrastructure but also about enhancing community well-being.

The centre re-opened in February 2023 and the £6m investment in the centre has seen the old coal heating system replaced with a more environmentally friendly and sustainable water heating solution, as well a new roof, windows, and doors to make the venue more energy efficient.

You can read here how the country’s last coal-fired leisure centre was developed into a wellbeing centre for the local community, integrated within a country park and powered by green energy.

Environment Sustainability Statement

Leaving the world a better place

We are committed to limiting our environmental impact so that those who come after us inherit a cleaner, safer, and more viable sustainable world.

We aim to become carbon neutral by 2040, with carbon offset as the last option.

We strive to reflect, improve, and innovate to reduce our environmental impact and to manage our operations in ways that are environmentally sustainable, economically feasible and socially responsible and will encourage our partners, contractors, and wider communities to join us in this effort.

We recognise the key impact areas for us are the following:

Energy and Emissions	Chemicals and Materials	Landscape and Habitat
Waste	Contractors	Food
Procurement	Waste use

Everyone at Doncaster, Culture & Leisure Trust has a responsibility to consider their own actions to cut our energy use. We pledge to consider every aspect of our energy consumption in order to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

We aim to eliminate/reduce the need to use fossil fuels in our venues, strive to reduce our energy demand as much as possible, and prioritise efficiency measures.

Our vision

A portfolio that is actively managing its carbon footprint, reducing waste and energy usage.

Using innovation to reduce our energy use and our environmental impact

Educate our people and influence our local communities to make conscious environmental decisions

Environment Statement - What have we achieved?

At Askern Leisure Centre we have done the following that has contributed towards saving 264 tonnes of carbon each year.

Removed the use of fossil fuels that would otherwise make a significant contribution to the release of carbon dioxide
Two Air Source Heat Pumps installed to improve heating efficiency
Improved insulation in the roof to reduce heat loss
Installed energy efficient LED lighting throughout the centre
Installed new air handling to support heating in areas of the centre
Installation of heat pumps to recycle warm air, used to heat water for hand basins and showers
Removed use of paper hand towels making significant impact to reducing carbon footprint.
Installation of hand dryers that can dry hands quicker, reducing carbon emissions (by up to 88%) and running costs.
Installation of motion sensors in certain areas so lights turn off when the area is not occupied, such as toilet areas.
Radiators are fitted with thermostatic controls so temperatures can be controlled within an area & minimised as much as possible.
Pool covers installed to be used overnight helping reduce heat escaping from the pool water into the environment.
Installation of controls to reduce overnight pool water circulation positively impacting use of energy when the pool is not in use.
Controlling the temperature of our swimming pools.
Reducing by just one degree can save a significant amount of energy.
Ongoing support to manage water loss as a result of maintenance issues.
Optimising water use: We install showers and push button taps that reduce running times and therefore minimise excess use.
Two electronic vehicle charging points for customers and staff to use.
Additional cycle storage to encourage people to use alternative transport.
Improved pedestrian access to the centre, with connectivity to neighbouring Campsall Country Park.
Review the effectiveness of our recycling bins: We are working with our customers to raise awareness of recycling.

DCLT is committed to improving the environment for all, and driving this is our dedication to plant trees wherever possible. At Askern

Leisure Centre almost 600 trees have been planted improving local air quality and providing new habitats.

Over the next five years we will:

Reduce our consumption of single use plastics or reuse where possible.
Utilise waste collection that can recycle our waste
Reduce utility consumption.
Ensure our policies and suppliers help support the removal of single use plastics and waste.
Ensure our company car and fleet vehicle are all electric when renewing.
Continue the roll out of EV charging for our customers and fleet.
Manage carbon reduction through lifecycle management best practice.
Increase staff knowledge through training and ownership of responsibilities.
Work towards best practice and achievement of leisure industry quality assurance

What can you do for us?

We all need to play a part to reduce our impact on our environment so please help us by following the guidance below.

Before swimming, use the toilets and take a shower. Showering before you swim helps to remove dirt, sweat and personal care products from your body that would otherwise end up in the pool requiring more chlorine to disinfect the water.
If you are attending with your baby, ensure they are wearing a swim nappy.
These steps will help us to use less chlorine resulting in reduced purchasing costs and a more pleasant environment to swim in.
Recycled waste: we separate our waste so certain items can be sent away to be recycled. Please help us to use the recycling bins around the centre.
If using the showers, try to limit your time to help reduce water consumption and the energy it takes to heat the water for you.
If travelling to our venues why not use the bike storage facilities or arrive by public transport. Bus routes stop close to the centre.