Forest Hill Pools and Glass Mill Leisure Centre have just launched a pioneering new swimming programme that is set to benefit local Lewisham families.
Provided by a partnership between Level Water and ‘Better’, this innovative scheme is designed to break down barriers to sport for young disabled people by placing an Inclusion Specialist into these leisure centres.
Matthew Houghton, Better’s Community Sports Manager for the borough, says, “This is a fantastic partnership that helps those who need this additional support in the water get access to swimming lessons. It has allowed us to offer many more children in the London Borough of Lewisham the opportunity to learn to swim.
“By teaching children of all backgrounds this vital, lifesaving skill of being able to swim, is so important and working with Level Water allows us to do this.”
This specially-trained teacher will provide adapted swimming lessons that meet individual needs along with communication support in Makaton, BSL, and neurodiversity-aware practices.
9.3% of the child population in Lewisham have a disability, so this programme will ensure that these individuals have the same opportunities as their peers to learn an essential life skill and experience the joy of swimming in an environment that is safe, fun and affordable.
David Pope, the new Inclusive Swim Teacher for Lewisham, comments, “I really do believe that this role is providing such fun and rewarding opportunities to kids and families in Lewisham.
“Seeing the strong progress made by children that may not have had access to such focused and adaptive swim teaching, truly shows the benefit of this programme. I am very happy for Glass Mill Leisure Centre and Forest Hill Pools to be the centres for this initiative as they are both great hubs for families in the local area with great facilities that make them perfect for this programme.”
Families involved in similar programmes elsewhere have described the impact as transformative. One parent explains, “I’ve never seen him so proud as when he got his swimming certificate. He had never had that feeling of achieving and progressing in sport before. By the end of the week, he was going underwater himself. It was such a difference.”
Leisure centres in Lewisham are run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand in partnership with the local council. To find out more, click here.
Level Water is a charity that supports and promotes swimming for children with disabilities. Visit their website here.
