More than 5,000 swimming lessons have been delivered to children with disabilities and additional needs across leisure centres in Bristol thanks to a flourishing partnership between swim charity Level Water and leisure operator Everyone Active.
The initiative, launched in 2022, has supported 108 children to access one-to-one swimming lessons and group sessions, helping them to build confidence in the water, improve physical wellbeing and develop essential swimming skills.
Specialist swimming teachers at Horfield Leisure Centre, Bristol South Swimming Pool, Easton Leisure Centre and Henbury Leisure Centre – run by Everyone Active in partnership with Bristol City Council – have been leading the sessions.
Parents have been supportive of the scheme after initial challenges to find suitable swimming options for their children.
Five-year-old Ira Aldridge, a deaf swimmer, couldn’t swim less than a year ago but is now confident in the water thanks to learning on the scheme at Horfield Leisure Centre.
Clare Devon, Ira’s mother, says the lessons have been transformational
“Level Water has enabled Ira to access one-to-one swimming lessons with a fantastic teacher, Hannah Barber, who understands Ira’s communication needs and even uses British Sign Language to communicate.
“Ira started the lessons worried at times, as we had been swimming as a family with him in armbands being held by a parent most of the time. Now Ira really looks forward to his lessons with Hannah and can float and swim a short distance by himself. It’s staggering. He would not have been able to achieve this in traditional swimming lessons.”
Cameron Bate, Everyone Active contract manager, said: “We’re blown away by the uptake of our specialist swimming lesson scheme“We firmly believe in the charity’s mission to kickstart a love of swimming in children with disabilities.” incredible feedback from parents with children learning at our centres is truly inspiring and just shows the need for this service in the community.