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Leisure centres in Essex offer free showers in a new ‘Ask for Tommy’ scheme

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An initiative to provide free showering facilities to those unable to shower at home has been rolled out in leisure centres across mid and south Essex.

Partners from across Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System have teamed up with various local partners working as part of ICS health teaming up with local authorities across the area to help deliver the initiative called ‘Ask for Tommy’.

All local residents are able to access a free shower by asking for ‘Tommy’ at the reception of the leisure centres that are taking part. There will be no criteria or judgement required to access ‘Ask for Tommy’.

The leisure centres taking part include:

Basildon:

  • Basildon Sporting Village (SS14 3GR)
  • Eversley Leisure Centre (SS13 2EF)
  • Wickford Swim and Fitness Centre (SS12 0AG)

Brentwood:

  • The Brentwood Centre (CM15 9NN)
  • The Hartswood Pavilion at King George’s Playing Fields (CM13 2FD)

Southend:

  • Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre (SS2 4FA)

“We’re really happy to be supporting the ‘Ask for Tommy’ scheme at Basildon Sporting Village, Eversley Leisure Centre, and Wickford Swim and Fitness Centre, whereby the person asking will be able to access a hot shower.

“It is a great initiative for those in the local community that are struggling in the current economic climate and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. We have had over 25 members of the local community use our facilities for a shower through the scheme so far, which is fantastic. Please share this service with someone that you know is struggling at the moment.”

Shaun Beagle, area contract manager at Everyone Active

The ‘Ask for Tommy’ scheme is a great way for the local health service and local authorities to assist the local community this winter.

We realise the challenges that our residents are currently facing in this economic climate and it is vital that we do what we can to help them keep up good levels of health and hygiene, access to hot showers will allow people to do this. The benefits of a shower also don’t stop at getting clean, showering has many benefits for mental wellbeing also.

I am delighted to see that we have various locations already willing to assist with the scheme and I look forward to seeing more leisure centres join in the coming days and weeks.

Tiffany Hemming,Interim Executive Director Oversight, Assurance and Delivery at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board