August Venue Circular!

Download our August Venue Circular as a PDF or read all news articles below (Mobile friendly option) - forthcoming news and events occurring at Venue 360.

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School Holiday Activities at Venue 360

If your children are getting bored or you’ve had enough of them already this summer holiday, we have the answer!

We are already well into week 2 of the school holidays and the football and tennis camps held here are going down a storm, with great numbers attending.

Our resident head tennis coach; Danny Pymont of DP Coaching and head football coach; Ryan O’Toole of J&R Coaching have been running courses here for many years now and your child/ren are guaranteed to have a great time.

There are still a few spaces remaining on their courses, please visit our news page for dates, prices and how to book with them.

venue360.co.uk/post/kids-activities-at-venue-360-this-summer

Busy Month in the Riverside & Balcony!

The Events & Hospitality team have had another busy month with some great events taking place in the Riverside and Balcony café bar.

We have had the BT Excellence awards night, conferences, training days, birthday parties, weddings, funerals, saree ceremonies, school sports awards, school proms, jazz music and Mick Foster soul nights to name a few!

We were also delighted to be the host venue for Music 24’s 10th Anniversary celebration night which took place in our Riverside Suite.

Music24 is a leading community music charity, working to support people affected by ill-health and/or disability. They use the power of music to transform lives by reducing loneliness and isolation, improving wellbeing and building confidence, whilst providing vital social support networks. They specialise in working with people living with mental health issues, learning disabilities, the elderly and frail, and people living with dementia and their carers. Music24 currently make live music with 450+ people every year across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Further details of their amazing work in the community can be found on their website, music24.org.uk

Hospitality Employee of the Month

This month we take great pleasure in naming Ana as ‘Employee of the Month’. Since joining us in May she has shown great dedication to her job. Always smiling and eager to help our customers, Ana has slotted into our team perfectly.

Ana works many different shifts, both on our

Balcony Bar and in the Riverside for our events. She has shown a willingness to learn every part of her job and always performs to the highest standard. A little bullet behind the bar she keeps everyone upbeat and motivated.

A few words from our members;

“Ana is a lovely girl, she always smiles – nothing is too much trouble. When ever I ask for service behind the bar, Ana to me is the person to help.” Martin R

“Ana is very customer focused, hardworking and a pleasure to deal with. She is very professional running the bar and constantly trying to give her customers the very best service. Ana is a great employee and a breath of fresh air.” Eddie B

We appreciate your dedication and hard work Ana, so well done and keep up the good work!

Gary walking 300 kilometres!

Good luck to Lifelines member Gary, who is about to embark on a well-known walk to Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain.

Although the Camino de Santiago has traditionally been a religious pilgrimage, many people choose it as a walking holiday for other reasons. Some walk The Way of St James for fitness and as a personal goal in their journey to better physical health. Others choose to walk the Camino for the mental benefits of unplugging from their daily lives, allowing them time for peace and self-development.

Gary plans to complete the over 300-kilometre trail in 35 days by walking 10 to 18 miles a day.

In other news...

Opening earlier at Weekends

We are opening earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. Join us in the Balcony Bar from 9am* for a coffee and some breakfast.

* 8 week trial.

Investment in class equipment

Recently we have invested in new class equipment in the shape of adjustable bar bell weights, these can be used for a variety of different exercises working every muscle group. The weights are currently being used in the circuits, body blast, seniors and lift classes, with members giving great feedback regarding the

new purchases.

Top Scorer for the Euro’s winner!

There were 6 equal top scorers for the Euro’s with most of them not even in the original list, so we had two members left who win 1 months free members so well done to Usman and Paul for entering with Harry Kane and Cody Gakpo.

Two lower back exercise to try!

Glute Bridge

The glute bridge works a person’s gluteus maximus, the largest of the gluteal muscles, or glutes, that form the buttocks. This muscle engages when a person extends their hips, such as when they stand up out of a squat. It also helps with both external rotation, which is when the knee and hip open away from the body, and abduction, which is when the leg lifts away from the body.

The glutes help stabilize the lower back by acting as both a stabilizer and a mobilizer. Strong glutes can stabilize and support the lower back and hips, and they can also help stabilize the knees when they are extended.

Step 1: Lie on the back with the knees bent and the feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Place the arms down by the sides of the body with the palms of the hands facing downward.

Step 2: Tighten the abdominal muscles and squeeze the gluteal muscles.

Step 3: Lift the pelvis off the floor. Continue to lift so that the body forms a straight line through the shoulder, hip, and knee.

Step 4: Hold the position for at least 2 seconds.

Step 5: Slowly return to the start position. Repeat 8-10 times.

Bird-Dog

The bird-dog works the gluteal muscles. It also exercises the back extensor muscles, which attach to the back of the spine and allow a person to stand, bend, and lift objects.

Step 1: Begin the exercise on the hands and knees with the shoulders directly over the hands and the hips directly over the knees.

Step 2: Tense the abdominal muscles and stretch the right arm straight out in front of the body.

Step 3: Hold the position while staying balanced.

Step 4: Slowly lift the left leg and extend it straight out behind the body.

Step 5: Hold the position for 15 seconds.

Step 6: Slowly return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side. Repeat 8-10 times.

August Olympic Challenge

Now the Olympics are in full swing, why not try our 400-metre run challenge for the month? The 400-metre race is regarded as one of the hardest events in track and field due to the right amount of speed and endurance that you need in order to be successful in this event, it is practically a sprint, not just for 100 metres but for the full 400! Everyone that has a go will be entered into our lucky dip at the end of the month to win a Venue 360 water bottle. No pressure but the current world records are an incredible 43.03 secs for men (Wayde Van Niekerk) and 47.6 secs for ladies (Marita Koch). We are not expecting anywhere near these times of course but give it a go and see if you can improve on your time as the month progresses…

Welcoming Sacha

On the back of Marian retiring last month, it is a pleasure to announce Sacha as our new receptionist!

Sacha is well and truly an advocate for Venue 360 already after joining as a gym member last November. Sacha joined Lifelines after some gentle persuasion from her son Harvey and has not looked back since, so much so that she is attending the gym 6 times a week and loving leading a healthier lifestyle.

It is fair to say that Sacha is still hungry to work and keep herself busy, but after running a successful traffic management software company for many years, she is very happy to take on this role for a more stress free and enjoyable work environment.

“Since joining the gym in November I have seen a significant improvement in my general health and fitness. Having never been to a gym before, I really appreciate all the guidance I’ve received from all the Lifelines staff members, I think it’s made a big difference to what I have got out of my time in there. On the back of this and part of my fitness goals, I am also aiming to get back to completing park runs”. Sacha

Away from the gym and work, Sacha is a keen reader for relaxation, she also enjoys going to the theatre and anything related to true crime.

Sacha has settled in and picked up things very quickly and we are delighted to have her on board at Venue 360.

Basketball Tournament

Mid July we hosted Luton Eagles Basketball in our sports hall for a basketball tournament. Luton Eagles are a close-knit basketball group that has been around for over 10 years.

They welcome all basketball enthusiasts to join them on Saturdays to play the game they love. In addition to their regular sessions, they organise tournaments to boost the confidence of their players and to teach the next generation how to run such events. These tournaments help enhance players’ skills and knowledge of the game, ensuring a bright future for their community.

Luton Eagles express a big thank you to Venue 360 for featuring their club and giving them the opportunity to hold their tournament here!

Children’s Term Time Tennis Coaching

Are you looking to get your child into interacting with other children and playing sport?

Has your child played a bit of tennis at school and wants to take it to the next level?

Our term-time coaching courses are available for all ages and abilities with progressive pathways through the coaching groups, into teams and then potentially county squads.

We have tots sessions starting from the age of 4, through to our U18s Aces sessions, with various day and time options to choose from throughout the week.

All courses are overseen by our head coach Danny Pymont who has seen numerous attendees go right through the ages groups over the years with many representing the county and in some cases even playing at Wimbledon in junior tournaments.

These courses are available now online for you to book onto, or if you’d prefer, please come into reception and discuss things further. It really doesn’t matter what ability level or age your child is at, there will be a course suitable for them.

For details of the full coaching programme and link to book online, please visit venue360.co.uk/post/kids-tennis-coaching-courses