Future of Leeds Roller Derby club under threat due to significant venue price change
“The survival of the club has got to take priority”
A women’s roller derby club is “trying everything” to secure its future after its venue significantly increased hiring costs.
Leeds Roller Derby is a volunteer-run skating club centred on roller derby, a fast-paced, full-contact team sport which is played on skates.
Their sessions are based at Rothwell Leisure Centre in Oulton; however, as the venue has increased their hiring costs, Leeds Roller Derby has been placed in a difficult financial position.
Lydia Hague, skater and board member at Leeds Roller Derby said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, we only have a finite amount of money in reserve and that is quite quickly being depleted.”
Leeds Roller Derby say that the price to hire Rothwell Leisure Centre for training sessions rose by about 50% at the start of the financial year and that this has led to increased pressures on the club.
As a result, Leeds Roller Derby has reduced training hours and increased some membership costs, and is also considering moving to a more affordable venue.
Rothwell Leisure Centre is owned and operated by Leeds City Council as part of the Active Leeds network across the city.
According to Lydia, the leisure centre has been “lovely” to Leeds Roller Derby and the pricing increases are “beyond their control”.
Lydia said: “Rothwell have been great with us. We’ve been trying to work together to have a transitional plan and they’ve been really good at giving us a bit of time to catch our breath.
“It’s been a really good home for us for the last ten years and it’d be a shame to have to change venues, but the survival of the club has got to take priority.”
Leeds Roller Derby was first created in 2016 following the merger of Leeds Roller Dolls and Hot Wheel Roller Derby.
The club offers competitive play for experienced skaters, and an academy for those who are new to the sport.
For Lydia, who began roller derby 13 years ago, it’s an activity she has “fallen in love” with and is desperate not to lose.
Lydia said: “I didn’t play sport before I started playing roller derby. I didn’t consider myself sporty, it wasn’t something that I’d have thought was for me but I’ve found this community.
“It’s a great leveller because nobody played roller derby in school so it is one of few things that everybody comes to on a completely level playing field.”
With amateur training programmes, a membership model inclusive of transgender and non-binary people, and a hardship fund for lower-income skaters, Leeds Roller Derby prides itself on its accessibility and inclusivity.
Through merchandise and ticket sales, fundraising activities, and grant applications, the Leeds Roller Derby board are “trying desperately hard” to raise as much money as possible.
They highlight that the best way for the public to help is to get involved, either through sponsorship or joining Leeds Roller Derby as a member.
Lydia said: “If any businesses want to sponsor us, we would love to have a chat, whether that be with our kits or to help us with our ongoing costs.”
“Other than that, if people want to come along, have a go, and maybe join the team, then that is another way to help.
“Come and find out why we all love it so much.”
A spokesperson from Leeds City Council said: “The club's hire charges had not increased for some time and were not aligned with the council's agreed pricing structure.
“The revised charges bring the booking into line with the standard rates applied consistently to clubs hiring comparable facilities across the city."
They continued: “We recognise the financial pressures facing community sports clubs and, following discussions with Leeds Roller Derby, agreed to introduce the increase in phases rather than applying the full rate immediately.
“We have also worked with the club to help reduce its overall costs and will continue to engage constructively with them going forward."