We’re delighted to share some exciting news. Oldham Active has been shortlisted for three national awards at the Seriously Social Awards 2026, recognising the impact our colleagues, programmes and communities have made and continue to make across Oldham and beyond.

The shortlist places Oldham Active alongside organisations from across the UK that are helping to improve lives through public leisure, health and wellbeing.

What Are the Seriously Social Awards?

Organised by Community Leisure UK, the Seriously Social Awards celebrate the outstanding contribution that charitable leisure and culture organisations make to communities across England, Wales and Scotland. The awards recognise projects, individuals and organisations that are improving health, wellbeing and opportunities for local people through innovative and impactful work.

 More than 120 entries were submitted this year. Finalists were selected by an independent judging panel that included representatives from organisations such as Sport England, Public Health Scotland and the Office of the Future Generations.

Now in only their second year, the awards have quickly become an important opportunity to showcase the positive difference being made across the community leisure sector.

Seriously Social Awards 2026 Shortlist

We are proud to have been named finalists in three categories:

• Community Award
• Outstanding Employee Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

The Community Award recognises the positive difference our programmes and partnerships make in supporting healthier, more active communities.

The Outstanding Employee Award celebrates Rachel Holloway. For more than 20 years, Rachel has dedicated her career to supporting people recovering from heart conditions, helping them regain confidence, improve their health and rebuild their lives through the REACH Exercise Referral Scheme. The nomination shows how her dedication and commitment has made a significant impact on the people we support.

The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges our CEO, Stuart Lockwood, who has devoted over 25 years to improving opportunities, experiences and outcomes for others through their work within the leisure sector.

Together, these nominations reflect the passion, innovation and people-first approach that sits at the heart of everything we do.

Celebrating Social Impact in Oldham

Oldham Active is committed to making physical activity accessible to all; from supporting children and families to helping adults become more active, improving wellbeing and creating inclusive opportunities for everyone.

These nominations are not only a recognition of individual achievements, but also of the collective effort that goes into creating healthier, happier and stronger communities across Oldham.

Looking Ahead

The winners will be announced at the Seriously Social Awards 2026 ceremony in Glasgow on 25 November 2026. Excitingly, organisations from across the UK will come together to celebrate the social impact of community leisure.

We would like to congratulate everyone involved in reaching this stage and thank our colleagues, partners and communities for their continued support. We really look forward to celebrating alongside fellow finalists later this year.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this possible, and good luck to all of the nominees.🎉