Thursday October 16th 2025
Members of West Lothian's Xcite gym
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian’s Xcite gyms have reported a 46% increase in memberships over the last two years.
The gyms, run by West Lothian Leisure, have fought back after a gruelling few years which saw increased competition from commercial operators and the Covid lockdown.
The surge in memberships reflects the charity’s growing success in making physical activity more affordable and accessible for West Lothian residents who need it most.
It includes a 21% increase in the last year alone, with over 118,000 concessionary visits recorded in 2024/25. The Access Xcite scheme provides reduced-price opportunities for groups such as older adults, people with disabilities and those on low incomes.
Alongside this growth, the charity’s latest Impact Report 2024/25 shows West Lothian Leisure received over 2.6 million visits to its venues and generated £20.2 million in attributable social value, a 40% increase on the previous year.
In addition, West Lothian Leisure experienced a 26% increase in health (exercise) referrals to its health and well-being programmes.
West Lothian Leisure is a registered Scottish charity and a Community Leisure Trust. Established in 1998, as an arms length charity to manage the council’s sports and leisure facilities, the organisation is dedicated to providing health, fitness, sport, and cultural facilities and services to the West Lothian area.
The charity’s work supports outcomes across physical health, mental well-being, reduced social isolation and enhanced community cohesion.
In specific health areas, the organisation’s activities contributed to £160,858 of value from reduced GP visits, £689,306 of value linked to reduced depression, £659,115 from reduced Type 2 diabetes risk and £227,767 from reduced psychotherapy needs.
West Lothian Leisure operates on a not-for-profit basis, reinvesting income into community programmes, facility improvements and innovative new services such as AI-powered gym equipment and family friendly fitness initiatives.
Ben Lamb, CEO of West Lothian Leisure, said: “We’re incredibly proud that more people than ever are being active with us, particularly those who benefit from our Access Xcite membership and concessionary access schemes. Working closely with West Lothian Council, our mission is to make sure that cost is never a barrier to good health. Every visit represents a step towards a healthier, happier, and longer life, and together, those visits are creating millions of pounds of social value for our communities.
“This growth shows how vital our work is in supporting both individual well-being and wider public health across West Lothian.”
Looking ahead, as part of its new 2025-2027 strategy, the charity plans to continue working towards its goal of healthier, happier, and longer lives for communities in West Lothian by expanding its membership, investing in its people and partnerships and innovating with new products and services.
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