Everybody Health and Leisure CEO, Thomas Barton has been appointed as Community Leisure UK’s new Regional Director for the North of England.
Thomas has led the Cheshire-based Charitable Trust since 2022 and has held numerous roles within the charity, after joining as Head of HR in 2014.
Community Leisure UK is the members’ association for Charitable Trusts and Social Enterprises delivering public leisure and culture across Wales, Scotland, and England.
Thomas has 25 years of experience working in the public & charity sectors, starting out in the council offices in Macclesfield before working his way up to senior HR roles. He was part of the original Senior Management Team when Everybody was formed in 2014. He is a fellow of the CIPD & holds a degree in Business Management, a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and an Executive MBA.
Thomas said: “I am proud to lead our growing community Leisure Trust here in Cheshire and it will be my privilege to represent the interests of CLUK members in the North of England. Leisure Trusts are crucial lynchpins in so many communities in this country, providing opportunities for sport, movement and activity, and a place for friends, teams, families and community groups to socialise be active and have fun.
Trusts are proven to collaborate closely with the local authorities and health services to provide much needed services and reinvest all profits into their delivery, and to support local communities. We must work together to protect the trust model and keep these services in the hands of organisations that can work sustainably for the public good”.
Thomas will represent the views and interests of Community Leisure UK members in the North of England, as well as advocating for the work of CLUK and its members.
He will also play a key role in strategic development of the members’ association and work to enhance to hugely beneficial role CLUK of charities delivering public leisure and culture.
Kirsty Cumming, CEO of Community Leisure UK, said: “We’re thrilled that Tom has joined our Board of Directors. His experience, passion and energy will ensure a significant contribution to achieving shared goals, supporting others and promoting the work of all our members, especially those in the North of England.”
Huge thank you also to Andy Brooks, from George Carnall Community Hub, for his support and guidance in this role previously. Andy remains on the Board as the new Director for Single Sites.
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Notes for Editors
Image – Thomas Barton
Community Leisure UK (CLUK) is the members’ association that specialises in representing charitable leisure and culture trusts across England, Scotland and Wales. All CLUK members are leisure and culture trusts, which are either registered charities or registered charitable societies. Trusts do not distribute profit and instead reinvest every pound generated into the provision of quality leisure and culture services and facilities.
About Everybody Health & Leisure
Everybody Health & Leisure is a not-for-profit organisation based in Cheshire East. Committed to improving health and wellbeing across the region, it operates more than 18 leisure centres, sports facilities and park cafés and supports communities through inclusive fitness, sports, and wellbeing programmes.
