Scheme gets kids into pool
Aquatics activator Amy Gardner with aquatics manager Mandi Armitage at Batley Baths. (D517B303)
YOUNGSTERS are being encouraged to make a splash at Batley Baths.
Parents can bring their children for free swimming lessons at the Cambridge Street pool until March.
Sessions will run from 9.45am to 10.45am on Mondays and 1.30pm to 3pm on Thursdays.
The sports centre is keen to ensure kids learn the important skill, ready for the summer.
Drowning is the third most common form of accidental death in children, making the ability to swim an important life skill.
And aquatic activator Amy Gardner is on a mission to get Batley’s families swimming.
Her role focuses on the promotion of swimming, and she said it was surprisingly common to find adults that never learned how to swim, in addition to children.
She said: “A large proportion of the community, specifically ladies, have not had lessons as a child. Or they’ve moved from another country with no options to learn to swim.
“They want to take their children swimming so they start to learn as an adult.”
Amy added that swimming was easier to master in childhood, as youngsters were more fearless and did not have the same anxieties about swimming some adults suffer.
But should any of her pupils feel nervous, she has a plan. “We ensure things are enjoyable so any fear is overcome by learning and we play games in the pool,” she said.
Paid for swimming crash courses are also available, with special membership offers to ensure kids return to the pool and develop their skills.
Keen swimmers can also join the free youth swimming club for eight to 16-year-olds, held on Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm from today.
A swimming instructor will be on hand with inflatables, mini-water polo and water guns and targets for some pool-based fun designed to improve young swimmers’ skills.
l Five reasons to get your kids into the pool:
l It keeps your child’s hearts and lungs healthy, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture.
l Your child will have plenty of opportunities to make new friends and grow in confidence.
l Swimming opens the door to other sports and activities including swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, rowing and sailing and even becoming the next Olympic or Paralympic champion!
l It’s a skill that once learnt is rarely forgotten – there are even swimming events for those ages over 100.
l You can’t always be there. It may save their life one day.
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Weather for Batley
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
