Groups in Charlton desperate for a sports hall to use for classes, practices and anything else will have the chance to rent out a local academy’s facilities.

Charlton Park Academy is renting out its sports and performing arts facilities on evenings, weekends and during school holidays.

The academy is joining with School Lettings Solutions (SLS) who will manage the venues to let out to groups such as fitness classes, dance workshops and craft groups.

Facilities include a hydro pool, sports hall, main hall and a fitness suite and can host swimming groups and football classes.

Mark Dale-Emberton, principal at Charlton Park Academy, said: “We’re really excited to be opening up the academy to the wider community.

“We’re proud of the facilities we offer our students, such as our hydro pool and fitness suite, and it makes sense to us that they are available to use during evenings and weekends as well.

“We’ve already got some great partners signed up to use our facilities, and we’re looking forward to getting more on board. This can only be a positive thing for our students and people in the area.”

Jackie Latu, managing director of SLS, said: “It’s great to welcome Charlton Park Academy as our latest partner.

“The academy has got some brilliant facilities and we’ve already had lots of booking enquiries. We’re passionate about ensuring people have access to opportunities that boost their health and wellbeing, so we’re keen to provide local groups with marketing support to make sure their clubs thrive and are well attended.”

“There is huge potential to provide more places like this for people of all ages to come together, which will be really positive for the area. At the same time, our partnerships provide a new stream of income for schools as their budgets come under more and more pressure.”