Young children with disabilities in Swindon are gaining life-changing opportunities to swim, thanks to a pioneering partnership between Level Water and leisure operator GLL. Level Water is a UK-based swimming charity that contributes funding towards swimming lessons for children with disabilities, helping them to gain confidence and eventually join mainstream swimming lessons. The charity works with local swimming providers, subsidises smaller group and one-to-one lessons, and trains teachers to offer the necessary specialist support to children aged 4–11.
Through an innovative new partnership, two ‘Inclusion Specialist’ roles have been recruited by GLL to work across Dorcan Recreation Complex and the Link Centre in Swindon. These specialists provide adapted swimming lessons and support for children with additional needs to ensure every child has the chance to learn this essential life skill. The partnership is already transforming community access, with forty-five children with disabilities currently enrolled in these weekly swimming lessons.
Local parents have praised the impact of the programme. One explained “Thank you so much for your support, without level water Eddy definitely wouldn’t be able to access swimming lessons and would still be unable to swim. Cheryl really understands what he needs to access the lessons and how to get the best from him. I’m so grateful for her patience and for making Eddy’s lessons fun. All children deserve to learn to swim and Level Water can give access to swimming lessons for those children who are currently missing out.”
The partnership is especially significant in areas with high need. Swindon is home to over 4,500 children receiving SEND support. By collaborating, Level Water and GLL are working towards addressing the national and local underrepresentation in swimming participation from children with disabilities.
GLL’s Swimming inclusion specialist, Cheryl Pottinger, who teaches the lessons said “The Level Water swimmers and their parents speak highly of the swimming lessons we provide, demonstrating the success of the programme. As a Swimming Teacher, the lessons are so rewarding in that they allow us to be a part of each child's journey into being safe and confident in the water. Level Water and GLL are demonstrating how this partnership enables leisure centres to be at the heart of inclusive community provision, with disabled children in Swindon enjoying the benefits.”
The lessons supplement the existing inclusive sessions at Link Centre, such as inclusive ice skating and inclusive trampoline park sessions. Link Centre has also recently achieved Swim England’s Water Wellbeing Accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to improving accessibility for those with long term health conditions.
For further information on Level Water swimming lessons, please visit Link Centre’s website:
Better | Swindon | Link Centre | Inclusive Activitiesopen_in_new
