West Lothian centre wins ukactive Award for second consecutive year at Birmingham ceremony.
Xcite Linlithgow, operated by Xcite (West Lothian Leisure), has been named Scotland’s Public Club/Centre of the Year for the second year running at the ukactive Awards 2026. The prestigious awards ceremony was held on 8 October at the ICC in Birmingham. The centre received recognition for its community engagement and inclusive approach to health and wellbeing, aiming to help more people get active through programmes shaped by local needs and customer feedback.
The ukactive Awards highlight organisations and individuals across the UK that are working to get more people active more often. Xcite, which manages health, sport, and leisure services on behalf of West Lothian Council, was the sole Scottish Community Leisure Trust to win an award this year, having been shortlisted for three categories.
Xcite Linlithgow’s success is attributed to its commitment to inclusive health and wellbeing. The centre serves almost 5,000 members and recorded 538,897 annual visits, an increase of more than 34,000 on the previous year. It also reported a 95% customer satisfaction rating. Its diverse programme caters to all ages and abilities, including offerings such as Learn to Swim, Stronger Together 60+, women’s weightlifting, and neurodiversity-friendly gym sessions.
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In response to community feedback, Xcite Linlithgow has introduced sold-out Weightlifting clinics, Men’s Only Yoga, and expanded youth Hyrox sessions. Partnerships, including one with the Scotland Cerebral Palsy Football First Team, demonstrate the centre’s commitment to making physical activity accessible to everyone. The ukactive award win supports Xcite’s wider vision for West Lothian, which aims for everyone to live a healthier, happier, and longer life. This mission is reflected across its venues, outreach programmes, and partnerships with schools, community groups, and health providers.
Karen Wernham, Head of Operations for Xcite, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Xcite Linlithgow has been recognised as Scotland’s Public Club/Centre of the Year, for the second year running at the ukactive Awards! Once again, it is an incredible achievement and testament to the passion, creativity and hard work of our entire team. This award recognises our commitment to listening to our communities, removing barriers to participation and creating innovative, inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get active. As a charity, we’re about much more than gyms and swimming pools. We’re creating welcoming spaces where people can build confidence, make friendships and improve their wellbeing. We’re incredibly proud of this recognition and remain committed to helping more people across West Lothian live healthier, happier and longer lives.”
