Who can apply

Leisure Keys come in bands. Each band has different costs and eligibility requirements.

Band A

The Band A card is valid for one year. It costs £2.65 for the first year.

You can apply for a Band A card if you receive:

  • Pension Credit: you must provide a recent benefit letter or bank statement showing these payments
  • Universal Credit, if your earned income from the last assessment period is below £616.67 or £7,400 per year: you must provide a screen-print of the award breakdown from your online account
  • Housing Benefit: you must provide a recent Housing Benefit notification letter
  • Council Tax Support: you must provide your current bill showing the reduction, or a support notification letter
  • Working Tax Credits: you must provide an award letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), or a recent bank statement showing these payments
  • Child Tax Credit, if your household income is £17,005 or below: you must provide an award letter from HMRC

You can also apply:

  • for a child in the care of the local authority or a foster carer: you must provide a letter from our family placement team showing the full names of the children and confirming that you're their foster carer
  • if you're a parent or guardian for adoptive children: you must provide a letter from Social Services with the full adoption certificate and proof of Child Benefit, if you receive it
  • if you're an asylum seeker: you must provide a letter from our asylum seekers team confirming your current asylum status
  • if you're on a training scheme for young people such as a modern apprenticeship or work based learning: you must provide your training agreement with the Learning Skills Council

Band B

The Band B card is valid for one year. It costs £6.45 for the first year.

You can apply for a Band B card if you're:

  • aged 60 or over: you must provide your bus pass, birth certificate or passport
  • on long term sick leave: you must provide an Incapacity Benefit or Employment Support Allowance letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or a bank statement showing these payments
  • disabled: you must provide an award letter or a bank statement showing payments for:
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Personal Independent Payment
    • Severe Disablement Allowance
    • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
    • War Disablement Pension
  • a carer: you must provide a Carers Allowance letter from the DWP showing entitlement to the Carer Premium or a bank statement showing these payments
  • a full-time student aged 18 years old or over: you must provide a letter from your college, valid at the time of your application. We cannot accept an enrolment card or student union card
  • a student nurse, including nursing diploma and degree students: you must provide a letter from your college or university, valid at the time of your application

Free companion card

The companion card allows you to take someone with you to help with your activities. They'll also be entitled to discounts and, in some venues, free admission. You can apply for a free companion card if you have a current Band B Leisure Key card and you:

  • have a disability
  • are in receipt of a disability benefit
  • require support to use a facility

You can also apply for a free companion card if you have a current Band A card and you receive disability benefits.

You do not need to name the companion on the card and they do not need to apply separately.

Band D

The Band D card is valid for one year. It costs £6.15 for the first year.

You can apply for a Band D card if you’re a serving member of the armed forces. You’ll need:

• a Council Tax bill, utility bill or driver's licence with your name and address on
• a recent passport-sized photograph
• a letter from your Commanding Officer to prove you're still serving in the armed forces

Band E

This is a family card for a serving armed forces member, their partner and dependant children aged up to and including 18 years old. When using the Band E card, children must be accompanied by an adult named on the card.

The Band E card is valid for one year. It costs £10 for the first year.

You can only apply for this card at Stockport Central Library.

You can apply for a Band E card if you’re a serving member of the armed forces. You’ll need:

  • a Council Tax bill, utility bill or driver's licence with your name and address on
  • a recent passport-sized photograph
  • a letter from your Commanding Officer to prove you're still serving in the armed forces
  • proof that you receive Child Benefit or proof of access rights for any children who will be included on your family card