A recent report by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) claimed that a third of primary school leavers cannot swim 25m without swimming aids. However, despite this concerning statistic Everyone Active, is proud to reveal that 4300 children are currently learning to swim across the leisure centres that it operates in Loughton, Ongar, Epping and Waltham Abbey, in partnership with Epping Forest District Council.
“Swimming lesson is a core part of the Everyone Active offer to our local communities,” comments Kim Bames, contracts manager for Epping. “Our swimming lesson programme has won national awards and we are committed to teaching as many children as possible to swim and to be confident around water.”
Swimming is a crucial lifesaving skill that many parents overlook either because they cannot swim themselves or because they do not think of the dangers that water presents. “We have had examples of young children on our swimming lesson schemes who have fallen into water whilst out playing and knowing how to swim and not panic has effectively saved their lives,” comments Kim.
Swimming lessons are available for children as young as 3 months old and carry children through a steady learning process until they have completed all their swimming levels and are ready to either join a swimming club or to simply enjoy the water as a confident swimmer. There are nearly 60,000 children learning to swim with Everyone Active across the country.
For those children who are enrolled on an Everyone Active swimming lesson scheme in Loughton, Ongar, Epping and Waltham Abbey, there is an additional benefit during the summer holidays of free swimming. This will only be available to children on Everyone Active swimming lessons and they need to bring their Everyone Active card with them (and an adult if they are aged 8 or under) to enjoy the free swimming sessions during the public swimming times.
For more details on the times when free swimming is available visit the website at http://www.everyoneactive.com and click on your nearest Everyone Active run leisure centre.