Who we are

Tone have been operating leisure facility management contracts with six leisure facilities in Taunton Deane and four facilities in South Hams, both with sport and health development services included. The Taunton Deane contract commenced in August 2004, with the South Hams contract beginning in December 2006. More recently Tone have also taken on the management of a dual-use leisure facility on behalf of North Somerset Council.

Our Values

We believe our mission and vision have a very strong 'fit' with many local South West Council's priority goals to create 'Stronger, safer and healthier communities'. Tone currently manage facilities in rural and semi-rural areas of Somerset and Devon, working closely with partner district authorities to improve life chances with a particular focus in areas of high economic and social deprivation. We actively seek to work with County and District Councils on projects that target and add value to key issues such as rural isolation, crime prevention and reduction and substance misuse.

Within the Health and Well-being priorities shown in many Council's Strategic Priorities, Tone have a shared vision and philosophy to be a provider to reduce health inequalities, improve opportunities for the community to make healthy choices and promote active leisure.

In our Taunton Deane and South Hams contracts we operate with community outreach sports and health development teams alongside our facility teams. We also manage programmes on behalf of Active Devon to encourage Active Villages in Mid Devon, North Devon and South Hams.

Tone are one of the few leisure trusts who deliver sports and health development initiatives as part of their portfolio of services. We have been running these services since 1986 (initially as part of a Direct Services Organisation). We work closely with local NHS and primary care teams in a range of programmes delivered through our Community Development Team comprising of a Health Development Officer, Play Development Officer, Sports Development Officer and Active Lifestyles Officer. Programmes include MEND (children and family obesity management programme), falls prevention, GP Referrals, cardiac rehabilitation, elderly care home programmes (Flexercise), parent respite and children's inclusion services, health walks and Active Villages.

We also run health walks programmes in three districts in Somerset and Devon, as well as a number of other health improvement programmes across the region. Tone focus on increasing participation and opportunities for all to create improvement in health and well-being across key target groups. Priority groups will include older people, young people, disabled, disadvantaged, rural and means tested low income.

Quality Standards

Tone is committed to continuous improvement using the Quest standards as a framework for improvement. Seven of our leisure facilities have achieved Quest accreditation to date, with three facilities achieving the 'Highly Commended' status. Also, our entire group has achieved Investors in People accreditation for the past ten years and Taunton Swimming Pool has achieved the National Swimming Pool Safety Award for the past three years.

Tone have external and internal assessment against quality management processes under the Quest framework at each site every year.

Tone place the highest importance on the management of health and safety and is committed to promoting a health and safety culture which supports the adoption of health and safety practice in all areas of operation and continuous improvement.

Tone aim to apply a planned approach to the health and safety management practices within all leisure facilities we operate. This approach includes the ongoing review and development of the policy, consistent planning, implementation, checking and corrective action through an ongoing review process led by the Managing Director and Operations Director, with guidance from a specialist Health and Safety Consultant.

Social Enterprise

Social Enterprises are proving to be a great way for local authorities to develop their services and create sustainable future business. Tone was one of the first Leisure Trusts and registered Charities in the UK to become a recognised Social Enterprise with Chartermark status.

A Social Enterprise is a business that principally re-invests its profits to benefit the environment, the community or its staff, rather than providing increased profits for shareholders or owners.

Tone is proud to be leading the way in the South West as a Social Enterprise leisure trust.