FOI 9-26: A request relating to the provision of 'wellness' or 'wellbeing' activities held within Parliament Buildings

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our ref: FoI 9-26

18 March 2026

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 17 February 2026 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Your request was as follows:

‘…I am requesting information regarding the provision and funding of "wellness" or "wellbeing" activities (such as Pilates, yoga, health checks, or similar initiatives) held within Parliament Buildings or funded by the Assembly Commission.

Specifically, please provide the following information from 01 February 2024 to date:

  • A list of all wellness or physical activity classes (e.g., Pilates, yoga, etc) currently advertised or provided within Parliament Buildings.
  • The total annual expenditure by the Assembly Commission on these activities, broken down by category (e.g., instructor fees, equipment, promotional materials).
  • The eligibility criteria for these activities. Please specify if they are open to: MLAs; Assembly Secretariat staff; Contracted staff (e.g., catering or security); MLAs’ constituency staff; Members of the public
  • Are these activities funded by the Assembly Commission, or are participants required to pay a fee to attend?’

 

Our response

1. A list of all wellness or physical activity classes (e.g., Pilates, yoga, etc) currently advertised or provided within Parliament Buildings.

The Assembly Commission has provided a range of Pilates activity classes to staff within the period of this request.  These classes take place every Friday lunchtime (excluding Recess periods) within Parliament Buildings. The Assembly Commission also support a continued programme for ‘Wellbeing Walks’ within the Stormont Estate each Wednesday lunchtime.

Well Checks were provided by Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) in June 2025 to 135 Assembly Commission staff. The NICHS Well Checks are a cardiovascular health check that identify early warning signs and hidden risk factors for chest, heart and stroke illnesses.

 

2. The total annual expenditure by the Assembly Commission on these activities, broken down by category (e.g., instructor fees, equipment, promotional materials).

There are no costs incurred by the Assembly Commission on the Pilates classes or Wellbeing Walks. The Pilates classes are paid for by the Assembly Commission staff who attend and the Wellbeing Walks are free.

The NICHS Well Checks amounted to £4,050.

 

3. The eligibility criteria for these activities. Please specify if they are open to: MLAs; Assembly Secretariat staff; Contracted staff (e.g., catering or security); MLAs’ constituency staff; Members of the public

The classes and NICHS Well Checks are open to Assembly Commission staff only.

 

4. Are these activities funded by the Assembly Commission, or are participants required to pay a fee to attend?

All staff pay for the Pilates classes themselves directly to the instructor in advance of each course taking place. 

The NICHS Well Checks were funded by the Assembly Commission.

 

Further Information

You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

 

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised. 

 

Yours sincerely,

INFORMATION STANDARDS