"Splash & Smile"™ the new fun session for children with disabilities

29th January 2010

Children with disabilities and their families are now able to swim for free in a new session at Keswick Leisure Pool thanks to £2882 of funding secured from the Cumbria Community Foundation’s ‘Together we Can’ fund and Cumbria Youth Alliance.

This new session which is called ‘Splash and Smile’ was the idea of Centre Manager Steve Hamer who felt that the environment and facilities at the pool were ideal for such a session.

The funding has enabled the purchase of floating toys, rafts and specialised flotation stations. Buoyancy jackets are also available for older children.

The sessions will run every Saturday until the end of March from 10am to 11am and Steve is urging people to come along and give it a try.

“The sessions are perfect for children with learning difficulties and disabilities as the pool here at Keswick is a lovely temperature and has a nice sloping beach area for easy access. The new equipment that we’ve been able to purchase allows children and their parents or carers to enjoy the water safely.”

The cost of the session from April 1st will be just £1.50 per child, with parents and carers free of charge. Thanks to this funding the session is available free of charge for everybody until 31st March 2010.

“Children and their families are welcome to stay on after this session into the general swim session that follows”, adds Steve. “I hope to welcome as many children as possible in the coming weeks.

Keswick Leisure Pool is an accessible centre, with disabled shower facilities, toilet room, and large family change cubicles which have wide benches. There is also a pool access chair for those requiring assistance entering the water.

As per the pools admission policy, all children under the age of 8 must be accompanied in the water by an adult at all times. One adult may supervise two children between the ages of 4 and 7 years or may supervise one child aged 3 and under.

For further details about the session please contact Steve Hamer at Keswick Leisure Pool on 017687 72760