Free swimming goes on in Haverhill despite axing of Government scheme
Thursday, 29th July 2010.
The Government may have cancelled the national free swimming scheme for children and pensioners but Haverhill Leisure Centre has pledged to continue offering free swimming for scheme participants.
The national free swimming scheme for the under-16s and over-60s was launched by the Government two years ago and 4,200 people from Haverhill took advantage of the initiative in the first six months.
However, last month the Government said it could no longer afford the scheme, which was due to run until 2011, as it looked at ways of tackling national debt. The scheme will end on July 31.
Haverhill Leisure Centre will continue to offer free swimming to the under 16s and over 60s three times a week from August 1, plus there will be additional sessions over the summer holidays.
In addition any child registered on the West Suffolk Swim Scheme will be able to access 15 casual swimming sessions each term.
Also, the two free swimming lesson courses in September for the over 60s will go ahead, funded by Abbeycroft Leisure.
Warren Smyth, chief executive of Abbeycroft Leisure, said: “We understood why the scheme has been cancelled in the current climate but we did not want centre users already on the scheme to miss out on their free swimming and lessons.
"The scheme has encouraged many people who could not swim and those who had not swum for many years to return to the pool and we want to encourage that as much as possible.
“Although we cannot offer as many sessions as the Government-backed scheme allowed us to provide before, we think that providing sessions three times a week will allow people to continue to enjoy swimming.”
Swimming is widely considered by health experts to provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. It also tones, strengthens your heart muscles, and improves the delivery of oxygen to the different parts of the body.
For more details on the free swimming sessions contact the Centre on 01440 702548 or visit www.acleisure.com
The national free swimming scheme for the under-16s and over-60s was launched by the Government two years ago and 4,200 people from Haverhill took advantage of the initiative in the first six months.
However, last month the Government said it could no longer afford the scheme, which was due to run until 2011, as it looked at ways of tackling national debt. The scheme will end on July 31.
Haverhill Leisure Centre will continue to offer free swimming to the under 16s and over 60s three times a week from August 1, plus there will be additional sessions over the summer holidays.
In addition any child registered on the West Suffolk Swim Scheme will be able to access 15 casual swimming sessions each term.
Also, the two free swimming lesson courses in September for the over 60s will go ahead, funded by Abbeycroft Leisure.
Warren Smyth, chief executive of Abbeycroft Leisure, said: “We understood why the scheme has been cancelled in the current climate but we did not want centre users already on the scheme to miss out on their free swimming and lessons.
"The scheme has encouraged many people who could not swim and those who had not swum for many years to return to the pool and we want to encourage that as much as possible.
“Although we cannot offer as many sessions as the Government-backed scheme allowed us to provide before, we think that providing sessions three times a week will allow people to continue to enjoy swimming.”
Swimming is widely considered by health experts to provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. It also tones, strengthens your heart muscles, and improves the delivery of oxygen to the different parts of the body.
For more details on the free swimming sessions contact the Centre on 01440 702548 or visit www.acleisure.com
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)