Community Impact
Chanctonbury Community Leisure is committed to ensuring that it serves the local community and provides wellbeing opportunities that are open to all. Driven by the WSCC Wellbeing strategy.
Start Well Live Well Age Well
Chanctonbury Community Leisure consistently looks to deliver activities and services that provide significant Community Impact. These services are often delivered in partnership with local providers and take place across our catchment.
The regular Community Impact activities that are delivered by Chanctonbury Community Leisure include:
Community Activities
Refill not Landfill
We’re proud to host a Refill & Return Service at Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, making it easier to cut plastic waste and shop more sustainably while you’re here for a class, activity, coffee or catch-up.
What you can refill
Bring along your clean, empty containers and top up on:
- Dry foods – porridge oats, rice, muesli, pasta and Oat Milk powder.
- Household products – laundry liquid, fabric conditioner, washing-up liquid, hand wash, body wash and multi-surface cleaner.
- Personal care – shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hand soap.
Refills are priced fairly and competitively and you only pay for the amount you need. For current prices, ask at reception or visit Sussex Green Living.
When you can refill
Every day !
Why refill?
Refilling is a simple way to:
- Cut plastic waste – reuse the bottles, tubs and jars you already have.
- Save money – only buy the amount you need.
- Support your health and the planet – fewer single-use plastics, less waste, more mindful choices.
- Strengthen community connections – shop alongside neighbours, swap tips, and share in reducing waste together.
Who it’s for
The refill service is open to everyone – whether you’re dropping children at the crèche, joining a fitness class, attending a community group, or stopping by for coffee.
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
About this project
The household and personal care refill station is run by Chanctonbury Leisure Centre and already available during opening hours.
The Dry Food Refill Service was set up by Sussex Green Living thanks to funding from the West Sussex County Council Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund, delivered in partnership with Biffa. If you would like to explore setting up refill services as part of your own establishment, community project or hub, please contact Sussex Green Living ».
Citizens Advice in West Sussex has run an Outreach service for local residents at the Chanctonbury Leisure Centre since the Autumn of 2023. Funded by Horsham Council, the project aims to provide an advice service for those residents who cannot get to Horsham town centre or who are not able to access information online. With the support of the Leisure Centre, Citizens Advice has provided a fortnightly service, offering booked appointments to residents.
The work has been mainly focussed on cost of living issues, and many service users have sought advice on money worries, including benefits, debt, managing daily living expenses and crisis support. Other key enquiry areas have been housing and energy advice. Chanctonbury Leisure Centre has always provided a warm and generous welcome to service users. In providing Citizens Advice with a confidential space for appointments, the Leisure Centre has ensured that community-based advice is available in the village.
This support is most needed by vulnerable members of the community, who are at risk of social and digital exclusion. Further, the Leisure Centre has acted as a vital hub for community groups, fostering connections and improving the level of support available to vulnerable Storrington residents.
Contact us – Citizens Advice in West Sussex
Aimed at targeting those living in social isolation this monthly session, in partnership with the Neighbourhood Wardens, continues to grow with up to 25+ participants each week. A local minibus is used to pick up participants, thus providing an invaluable resource to those living in isolation.
Contact Reception on 01903 681220 for more details
his new addition for 2025 has seen excellent attendances for the first sessions. Based in West Chiltington Village Hall and in partnership with Age UK we have provided a number of sporting and creative opportunities including bowls, archery and Zen Doodling.
Contact Reception on 01903 681220 for more details
This monthly event focusses on limiting food waste going to landfill. It also assists those in need with a full bag of shopping being provided for a nominal donation. In partnership with UK Harvest this monthly event attracts upwards of 100 visitors.
For those living with degenerating eyesight this group meets monthly and continues to see increased attendances.
MACULAR MEETINGS 2025
Storrington Support Group – Macular Society
- 25th February
- 25th March
- 22nd April
- 27th May
- 24th June
- 22nd July
- 26th August
- 23rd September
- 28th October
- 25th November
We now see two local groups meeting monthly in the Centre’s café.
Please contact Reception on 01903 681220
The Centre continues to welcome local traders, High Street shop owners, financial advisors, local authors etc into the Centre to place a stall in Reception and meet our customers.
The Centre has formed partnerships with both MIND and AgeUK to provide space for both group and 1:2:1 sessions on a regular basis.
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove
Lavinia House
Dukes Square
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1GZ
Tel: 0800 019 1310
Welcome to Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
To contact us for mental health support:
Call our Help Point
Monday to Friday, 10am until 4pm on 0300 303 5652
or email helppoint@westsussexmind.org
The Charity delivers regular free Menopause Workshops, Blood Pressure Workshops, Nutrition and Diabetes Workshops. A number are run in partnership with HDC’s Wellbeing Team and are offered free of charge to members and non-members alike.
The Centre regularly delivers free First Aid / Defib Training Course for the local community, traders and businesses as well as First Aid at Work courses. The Centre also delivers Save a Baby’s Life courses free of charge (these are ideal pre the Summer holidays for parents and grandparents)
View our first aid courses here
The Centre continues to work with local organisations including the local Tennis Club to assist with their membership drive, West Chiltington Cricket Club and HDC’s Communities Team, Wellbeing Team and Sports Development Team.
Sport Activities
In partnership with the Neighbourhood Wardens we provide a weekly (term time) session in the main hall for young people and their families. Including table tennis, soft play, arts & crafts, bouncy castle and sensory dome these session are delivered free of charge, providing the young people with a physical outlet and families able to meet and engage.
These sessions run from 4.00pm – 5.30pm every Wednesday during term time and are Free !
In conjunction with Horsham District Council’s Sports Development Team we have weekly trampolining for children with additional needs, delivered by 4 qualified Instructors from the QE11 School in Horsham.
Bookable at Reaching Higher Project arts and sports programmes | Horsham District Council
The community facility is now home to over 25 local junior football teams and the Centre offers out both free and discounted usage during the school holidays. usage.
The Centre delivers junior fitness opportunities 7 days a week and twice a day during all school holidays. The Centre now has over 180 junior gym users aged 11+ actively using the facility on a regular basis.
The Centre, with funding from Sussex Police, provides free junior memberships to those young people in need, as highlighted by local Neighbourhood Wardens.
Chanctonbury Community Leisure provides free Level 2 Fitness Qualifications to young people highlighted to us via the neighbourhood Wardens and other local agencies. From the latest cohort all 8 participants passed their final examination and three have already secured jobs within the leisure industry.
The fastest growing sport in America now has three drop in sessions at Chanctonbury attracting 60+ participants a week, with the most mature being 95 years old.
From an initial pilot this session has now grown to over 30 participants weekly.
The Centre has worked hard to ensure that there are opportunities for all ages and abilities and Chanctonbury currently offers weekly female sessions in Walking Netball (25+ players), Gymnastics & Parkour (120+ participants), Netball (140+ players), Women & Girls football (20+ players). There are also mixed sessions in martial arts, table tennis, darts, racquet sports, roller skating.
The Centre ensures that the facility is open to all schools. A twice weekly session is in partnership with Chichester / Brinsbury College and provides whole halls access for a group of disengaged young people to take part in a variety of sports.
The Centre works in partnership with the Village Hub to deliver a weekly Youth Club (average 30 – 40 attendees) and an Under 5’s Toddler sessions (average 130 attendees). The Community Church also delivers a service on Sundays and has grown its congregation from 85 to 250+ since 2021.
Chanctonbury Community leisure are proud partners of ACE Football Academy, a professional football coaching organisation dedicated to providing a fun, safe, and inspiring environment for children aged 3 to 13 years. Their mission is to deliver top-quality coaching that helps every player develop their skills, confidence, and love for the game.
Their coaching team is made up of experienced, highly qualified professionals who are passionate about helping young players reach their full potential. Through a well-structured and supportive approach, they ensure that every child — regardless of ability — has the opportunity to learn, improve, and enjoy their football journey.
Every member of their coaching team holds an Enhanced DBS check, is trained in Emergency First Aid, and regularly attends Safeguarding Children workshops. All coaches are FA Licensed and committed to maintaining the highest professional standards in youth football coaching.
At ACE Football Academy, they believe in more than just football — they believe in developing confident, respectful, and motivated young people who play the game with passion and joy.
The Centre continues to deliver a thriving Referral Initiative that takes patients from HDC’s Wellbeing Team, local GP’s, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Worthing Hospital and St. Richard’s Hospital. The Centre demonstrates a 78% conversion rate for all referrals to full membership. Such is the success of the scheme that CCL have integrated an extended service to include Cancer Rehab, Cardiac Rehab and Pre & Post Natal classes.
Find out more about Exercise Referrals here
Fall Prevention
The Centre delivers two Gentle Fit classes per week with Lisa, a Personal Trainer and Cancer Rehab specialist and Paulina, a registered NHS & Private Physiotherapist. This year these two classes have seen just over 4000 attendances in 12 months. 85% of the attendees have a mobility aid when attending ranging from a walking stick through to full mobility vehicles.
These Gentle Fit sessions have proven to be hugely successful, attracting consistent attendance and providing a valuable wellbeing outlet to a more mature market. The immediate benefits of these classes include improved overall strength & coordination, enhanced balance and core stability, which are crucial for maintaining mobility and independence. Additionally, the supportive and social environment fosters a sense of community, reducing isolation and enhancing mental well-being. The sessions have also proven to enhance the overall confidence of many of the participants. The continued popularity of these sessions highlights the positive impact on the health, wellbeing and quality of life of all participants.
Supporting Charities Connecting Communities
The Centre also supports other local charities and not for profit organisations. The Easter Egg Campaign for 2024 saw the Centre collect over 150 boxed eggs to present to Ten Little Toes, a charitable Baby Bank operating throughout West Sussex. The Centre has also held a collection point for donations of clothes for the Baby Bank and a collection of used trainers for less privileged communities. CCL also hosted a Christmas Wrapping event for the same charity. In the Autumn of 2024, the Charity provided one Tree for every Membership sold. 115 Trees were donated to the Parish Council for planting locally.
Inspiring women & girls to be active
The Centre works tirelessly to ensure that there are opportunities for all ages and abilities and Chanctonbury currently offers weekly female sessions in Walking Netball (25+ players), Gymnastics & Parkour (120+ participants), Netball (140+ players), Women & Girls football (20+ players) and Ladies That Lift. We also deliver female only Skateboarding tuition There are also mixed sessions in martial arts, table tennis, darts, racquet sports, roller skating.
We age when we stop playing, not the other way around.
30% of the Charity’s Members are over the age of 60 and 47% over the age of 50. To ensure that there are opportunities for all the Centre offers Walking Football, Walking Netball, Short mat Bowls, Drop In Badminton, Short Tennis and Pickleball, Over 50’s Table Tennis, Cuppa & a Chat, Gentle Fit, Tai Chi, Falls Prevention, Menopause and Blood Pressure Workshops. All promoting health, fitness, social interaction and all-round wellbeing.
Our Partnerships
The Charity benefits from a strong partnership with Storrington & Sullington Parish Council and is extremely grateful for their ongoing support.
The Centre continues to enjoy a strong partnership with the Rotary Club and is delighted to have been awarded a Service Recognition Award. The Rotary continue to support the Charity and have provided funds for numerous projects.
The MADL Charity, the charitable arm of NISA Local, has regularly assisted with activities for children with additional needs and has awarded the Centre £800 to facilitate the latest SEN & Autistic session.
The Charity is fortunate to have extremely pro-active Neighbourhood Wardens and the community benefits from joint ventures including the free Darts & Archery, the SEN Journey sessions, Cuppa & a Chat, SEN & Autistic Drop-in sessions, Storrington’s Family Fun Day, the free Junior Gym initiative and much more besides.
Horsham District Council
CCL continues to work closely with Horsham District Council and benefits from partnerships with the Wellbeing Team, in terms of free workshops, WOW Sessions and the Exercise on Referral project, and the Sports Development Team with Rebound Therapy for children with additional needs and regular community activities.
Environmental Impact
Environmental responsibility remains a priority for us. We’ve generated 49,000 kWh of solar energy, saving 14 tonnes of carbon, introduced water-saving measures with Ecoprod, and installed LED lighting across all Chanctonbury buildings. Our commitment also includes responsible recycling (including batteries and disposable vapes), a UK Harvest partnership to reduce food waste, and the local planting of 115 trees.