What LiveArgyll does

LiveArgyll is a charitable Leisure Trust, established by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017 as a company limited by guarantee (registered charity SC047545), delivering an integrated portfolio of community services across the council area of Argyll and Bute in western Scotland. Its service portfolio spans five leisure centres (Aqualibrium, Dunoon Leisure, Helensburgh Leisure Centre, Mid Argyll Sports Centre, Rothesay Leisure Centre), 11 library branches plus one mobile library, four event halls (Victoria Halls Helensburgh, Victoria Hall Campbeltown, Queen's Hall Dunoon, Corran Halls Oban), three community education centres, Campbeltown Museum, and an Archives Service holding records dating to c.1400. Supporting programmes include Learn to Swim, Active Schools, Community Learning (youth and adult), Health and Wellbeing collections, Bookbug early-years literacy, sports-pitch hire, and wedding/event venue hire, with digital services (Spydus catalogue, BorrowBox e-lending, PressReader, SCRAN) layered over the physical network.

The revenue model is that of an arm's-length charitable trust: a core service payment from Argyll and Bute Council underpins operations, supplemented by self-generated commercial income. Pricing is positioned at the low end of the UK market, with single leisure membership at £28.99/month and family membership at £44.99/month, library membership free or low-cost, and per-session pricing for sports courts, soft-play parties and venue hire. Additional income streams include venue and function hire, holiday-camp and micro-grant programme fees (notably the 2026 Summer of Sport initiative co-funded by the Scottish Government and sportscotland), and charitable donations via the CAF Donate portal. The go-to-market motion is community-led, primarily through council and school partnerships (Active Schools, Oban High School, Skills Development Scotland), word-of-mouth, and a digital presence across Facebook, X, Instagram and liveargyll.co.uk, rather than paid acquisition.

The organisation reports it has absorbed £2.7M in inflationary costs and council service-payment reductions since 2021 while holding membership prices to only two small adjustments in eight years of operation. It has no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability disclosed, and serves a defined geographic constituency of c.88,000 residents across a dispersed mainland-and-island region where it operates as the primary provider of these services.

Name

LiveArgyll

Legal name

LiveArgyll

Website

https://liveargyll.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LiveArgyll is a charitable Leisure Trust, established by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017, operating 5 leisure centres, 11 libraries, 4 event halls and community education services across the Argyll and Bute region of western Scotland, serving residents with affordable leisure memberships, library access and community learning programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunoon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Leisure Memberships: Recurring membership fees for access to swimming pools, gyms, fitness classes, and sports facilities across leisure centres. Single membership £28.99/month, family membership £44.99/month. Since becoming a charity in 2017, LiveArgyll has grown self-generated income to absorb inflationary pressures and funding reductions.
2. Library Memberships: Library membership providing access to physical and digital collections, computers, printing services, and community programmes. Membership is free or low-cost, consistent with public library access principles.
3. Facility and Venue Hire: Revenue from hiring out sports halls, community centres, event venues (halls), function spaces, and sports pitches. Includes wedding venue hire and corporate/community event bookings at Victoria Halls, Queen's Hall, Corran Halls, and community education centres.
4. Charitable Trust Model and Council Funding: LiveArgyll was established as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity (SC047545) by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017. It benefits from tax advantages, commercial trading income, and access to non-recurring funding opportunities generally unavailable to local authorities. Since 2021, has absorbed £2.7 million in inflationary costs and annual service payment reductions from the council.
5. Holiday Camps and Programme Fees: Revenue from subsidised summer holiday camps and programmes for children and young people, including sports coaching and multi-sport activities, as part of the 2026 Summer of Sport initiative.
6. Donations: LiveArgyll accepts donations via CAF Donate online portal, supporting the continuation of community services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

LiveArgyll is a charitable Leisure Trust that operates community leisure centres, swimming pools, public libraries, halls, sports pitches, community learning programmes, archives, and museums on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council. It sells leisure memberships, swim lessons, venue/sports-pitch hire, library memberships, and digital content services to residents, families, and visitors across the region.

Product overview

LiveArgyll is a charitable trust established by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017, providing integrated community services across Argyll and Bute. The organization operates a portfolio of leisure facilities (Aqualibrium, Dunoon Leisure, Helensburgh Leisure Centre, Mid Argyll Sports Centre, Rothesay Leisure Centre), community education centres (Moat, Kintyre), event venues (Corran Halls, Queen's Hall, Victoria Halls, Victoria Hall), 11 library branches, Campbeltown Museum, and an Archives Service. Supporting services include Learn to Swim programs, Active Schools initiatives, Community Learning (youth and adult), Sports Pitches booking, and Wedding Venue Hire. Digital offerings include BorrowBox ebooks, PressReader digital magazines, and Online Reference Collections. The membership model offers single (£28.99/month) and family (£44.99/month) leisure memberships plus library membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aqualibrium: Leisure centre featuring pool and gym facilities located in Campbeltown
• Dunoon Leisure
• Helensburgh Leisure Centre
• Mid Argyll Sports Centre
• Rothesay Leisure Centre
• Victoria Halls
• Corran Halls
• Queen's Hall
• Campbeltown Museum
• Moat Community Education Centre
• Kintyre Community Education Centre

Products and services

• Leisure Membership Subscription-based membership providing residents and families access to LiveArgyll's network of leisure centres, swimming pools, and fitness facilities, with tiered pricing for individuals, families, students, and concession groups.
• Swimming Lessons (Learn to Swim) Paid swimming lessons for children and adults plus free under-18 swimming, delivered across LiveArgyll's pool venues.
• Public Library Membership Free membership allowing residents to borrow physical books and audiobooks, access e-books and audiobooks via BorrowBox, and read magazines and newspapers via PressReader across library branches and via mobile library.
• BorrowBox Digital Library Free-to-members app-based service for borrowing e-books and audiobooks from the library catalogue.
• PressReader Digital Newsstand Free digital access for library members to a wide range of magazines and newspapers via the PressReader platform.
• Sports Pitches Hire Hourly hire of sports pitches for clubs, groups, and individuals, with 7,297 hours of pitch hire recorded in the 2024/25 reporting period.
• Wedding and Venue Hire Booking of multiple award-winning venues (including Inveraray and Queens Hall) for weddings, parties, and private events, with online enquiry and booking functionality.
• Active Schools Programme School-based sports coaching and physical activity delivery, funded by sportscotland and Argyll and Bute Council, supporting pupils' wellbeing and engagement.
• Community Learning and Development (CLD) Non-accredited adult learning courses, youth services, and family learning programmes for residents of Argyll and Bute.
• Holiday Camps and Soft Play Parties School-holiday activity camps for children and bookable soft-play birthday parties at the Kintyre venue.
• Bookbug Sessions Free early-years literacy sessions for under-5s and their families, delivered in LiveArgyll libraries.
• Clubtastic After-School Club After-school youth club for primary school children held at Inveraray or Tailors' Hall.
• Flash Fiction 500 Writing Competition Annual 500-word short-story writing competition open to library members, with published anthology.
• Health and Wellbeing Collection Curated library collection of books and resources focused on supporting mental and physical health and wellbeing for members.
• Local Studies and Archives Service Public archive service giving researchers access to local history records and the SCRAN heritage resource for the Argyll and Bute area.
• Campbeltown Museum Free public museum in Campbeltown operated by LiveArgyll, telling the local history of the area.
• 2026 Summer of Sport Free doorstep summer of sport and family fun activities delivered in partnership with the 2026 Summer of Sport programme, including the Summer Festival and Try A Sport Day.
• Furniture Lease Service (Café Connect) Social-enterprise café service (Café Connect) that leases surplus furniture to local community organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Absorbed £2.7 million in inflationary costs and funding reductions since 2021 while maintaining services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Argyll and Bute CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017LiveArgyll was established by Argyll and Bute Council in 2017 as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity (SC047545). The council transferred management of leisure facilities, libraries, and community services to the trust. The council remains the primary funder and commissioner of services, with LiveArgyll delivering services on behalf of the council under this arm's-length arrangement. The council provides ongoing funding while LiveArgyll supplements through self-generated commercial income.
• Scottish Book TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll is a local delivery partner for the Scottish Book Trust's national Bookbug programme—the Early Years literacy initiative for children aged 0-5. The Scottish Book Trust provides training, advice, and Bookbug bags of books. LiveArgyll runs weekly Bookbug sessions at all library branches and coordinates with local library and education services, the health service, and third-sector organisations for local delivery.
• Community Leisure UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll is a member of Community Leisure UK, the national membership body representing charitable leisure and culture trusts. The membership provides best practice support, benchmarking, and advocacy for the trust model of service delivery.
• Culture, Heritage & Arts Assembly, Argyll & Isles (CHARTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll works in partnership with CHARTS to support Campbeltown Museum development initiatives. CHARTS coordinates museum-related projects, events, exhibitions and workshops at Campbeltown Museum. CHARTS also provides curatorial and development support.
• Explore CampbeltownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCampbeltown Museum is a member of Explore Campbeltown, a local tourism and visitor information partnership that promotes attractions and events in the Campbeltown area.
• Oban High School (OHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Learning in Oban Lorn and the Isles works in partnership with Oban High School to deliver Wider Achievement Awards, Dynamic Youth Awards, Youth Achievement Awards, and Qualifications Scotland Modules, targeting both mainstream pupils and those who may be struggling with mainstream subjects.
• Oban Youth Café / H2OcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll's Community Learning team partners with Oban Youth Café and H2O on the Friday Night Project (football at OHS and drop-in at 'The Well'), Summer Sensations transition programme, and the GIVE youth volunteering programme. H2O is a co-delivery partner for youth activities.
• Active Schools (Argyll and Bute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Schools works in partnership with LiveArgyll to deliver the Summer Sensations transition programme (P6/P7 to secondary), Friday Night Project, Healthy Me! programme, and holiday camps across Argyll and Bute.
• Scottish Fire & RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish Fire & Rescue joins the Friday Night Project football sessions in Oban, contributing to positive youth engagement alongside LiveArgyll, Active Schools, and other partners.
• Police ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice Scotland participates in the Friday Night Project in Oban, engaging with young people in a positive context and building relationship opportunities in the community.
• Skills Development ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll's Community Learning team works with Skills Development Scotland on an employability skills programme for learning support students in schools. The programme uses a youth work approach to help young people identify and develop their employability skills.
• South Kintyre Active SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Kintyre Active Schools co-delivers the Friday Night 'Street Sports' project in Campbeltown, which supports P7 pupils transitioning to secondary school through mixed sports activities with S1-S2 pupils and multiple supporting organisations.
• Campbeltown Grammar School / SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll's Kintyre Youth Work team supports pupils at local secondary schools through outdoor education programmes, accrediting and celebrating their wider learning achievements. Also supports the Friday Night Street Sports transition project for P7 pupils moving to secondary school.
• Mairi Semple Cancer FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Kintyre Youth Music Group released a charity single online to raise money for the Mairi Semple Cancer Fund, demonstrating community engagement and charitable outreach through youth creative work.
• Hebridean PursuitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHebridean Pursuits has funded activities within the Friday Night Project in Oban and provides outdoor pursuit experiences as part of youth engagement programmes, contributing to the GIVE reward trips and Summer Sensations events.
• Lochside Day CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult Learning in Mid Argyll works with the Lochside Enterprise Group (supporting people with additional needs) to develop skills, improve wellbeing, and build enterprise for their social fund.
• Snowdrop Centre, MS ArgyllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Give Back Group is based at the Snowdrop Centre (MS Argyll) where participants create and make items for a pop-up shop, volunteer for food share, and participate in centre activities and events.
• Ardfenaig Elderly Care HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Let's Grow Group (Adult Learning, Mid Argyll) volunteers at Ardfenaig elderly care home, working in the garden and designing a wall mural with residents to improve wellbeing and brighten the garden space.
• Playlist for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll Libraries works with Playlist for Life, a music and dementia charity that provides resources to help those living with memory loss and the families and carers who support them. Library staff can provide information about Playlist for Life resources.
• The Reading AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll Libraries' Health and Wellbeing book collection was curated with recommendations from The Reading Agency's reading list, ensuring high quality and relevant reading material for mental health and wellbeing support.
• Glenorchy & Isle of Bute CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveArgyll's Glenorchy & Loch Awe Youth Action Group is a newly established youth-led community group in a rural area 25 miles from Oban. The group carries out local community projects, volunteer activities, and represents young people's views through regular meetings, focus groups, and large-scale youth consultations. The group also participates in an Argyll and Bute youth group exchange programme.
• Mid Argyll Community Pool (MACPool)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMid Argyll Community Pool in Lochgilphead is a partner venue in the 2026 Summer of Sport programme, offering free swimming and family fun sessions for under-18s from 1st July to 16th August 2026. It operates as a separate entity but participates in LiveArgyll-coordinated programmes.
• Atlantis Leisure (Oban)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAtlantis Leisure in Oban is a partner venue in the 2026 Summer of Sport programme, offering free public swimming for under-18s from 1st July to 16th August 2026. Operates as a community leisure facility separate from LiveArgyll.
• Mactaggart Leisure Centre (Isle of Islay)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMactaggart Leisure Centre on the Isle of Islay is a partner venue in the 2026 Summer of Sport programme, offering free child swimming during public sessions.
• Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa (Pool)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa pool is a partner venue in the 2026 Summer of Sport programme, offering free family float sessions on specified days during July-August 2026.
• The Hub, CampbeltownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hub in Campbeltown provides delivery support for the Friday Night 'Street Sports' project, alongside South Kintyre Active Schools, CGS, KADAS, Police Scotland, and other organisations.
• KADAS (Kintyre Area)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKADAS (Kintyre Alcohol and Drugs Service) supports the Friday Night 'Street Sports' project by providing delivery support and engagement with young people in the Campbeltown area.
• CGS (Kintyre Area)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGS (likely Campbeltown Grammar School or a community support group) supports the Friday Night 'Street Sports' project in Kintyre alongside other partners.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Glasgow Life: Charitable trust (formerly Glasgow Cultural Enterprises) delivering sport, leisure, libraries, museums, and community programmes on behalf of Glasgow City Council. Same trust-based operating model as LiveArgyll but at much greater urban scale.
• High Life Highland: Charitable trust delivering leisure, culture, libraries, and community learning across the Highland Council area in Scotland. Closest structural peer to LiveArgyll in terms of integrated service mix, rural geography, council-arm's-length trust model, and reliance on public-sector commissioning.
• Halo Leisure: UK charitable leisure trust operating leisure centres and community facilities across Herefordshire and surrounding areas. Directly comparable charitable operating model delivering council-transferred leisure services to rural communities.
• Life Leisure (Stockport): Charitable leisure trust delivering sport and recreation services in Stockport and surrounding areas. Comparable charitable trust model serving a defined geographic catchment with council partnership.
• Everyone Active (SLM): One of the UK's largest leisure operators managing public leisure facilities on behalf of local authorities through long-term contracts. Comparable in delivering community leisure at scale under council partnerships, though operating on a contract rather than trust basis.
• Brio Leisure: Charitable leisure trust operating leisure and wellness facilities in Cheshire West and Chester. Comparable charitable operating structure delivering community leisure with local authority partnership.
• GLL (operating as Better): Charitable social enterprise operating leisure centres, libraries, and community facilities on behalf of UK local authorities. Direct structural parallel as a charitable/community-focused leisure operator, though at significantly larger scale.
• Fusion Lifestyle: Charitable leisure trust operating leisure and cultural facilities across the UK for local authorities. Direct peer in the council-commissioned community leisure space.

Regional players

• East Lothian Leisure: Scottish leisure trust operating facilities on behalf of East Lothian Council. Closely comparable regional operating model in Scotland, though focused purely on leisure rather than LiveArgyll's integrated leisure/libraries/community learning mix.

Others

• Community Leisure UK: National membership body representing charitable leisure and culture trusts across the UK, of which LiveArgyll is a member. Provides benchmarking, advocacy, and best practice for the trust model that LiveArgyll operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LiveArgyll
• Facebookfacebook.com/liveargyll
• Instagraminstagram.com/liveargyll
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liveargyll

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LiveArgyll