More than 280 children have taken the plunge and signed up for East Hampshire District Council’s free swimming lessons this summer.
The means-tested lessons are being provided by our award-winning leisure centre contractor Everyone Active and paid for by a £45,000 budget put aside especially for the purpose.
In February, council leader Cllr Richard Millard announced his intention to offer free swimming lessons as one of 12 new welfare priorities.
Cllr Millard said: “Swimming is a vital life skill. Not only is it great exercise it is also a matter of personal safety that children are confident in the water.
“The number of children who can swim 25 metres unaided drops in areas of deprivation.
“It’s not right that a child’s safety should be a matter of money, and that’s why I pledged to offer free swimming lessons for those children who need it most.
“I am delighted that the uptake has been so good, we have been inundated with enquiries and I hope we will be able to help hundreds of young children learn this invaluable life skill.”
There are around 375 lessons available to children aged between four-11 years old and they are being run from the district’s three leisure centres in Alton, Whitehill & Bordon and Petersfield.
If you want to know more about the free swimming lessons please visit
Or contact:
Alton Sports Centre - altoninfo@everyoneactive.com
Taro Leisure Centre - taroinfo@everyoneactive.com
Whitehill & Bordon Leisure Centre - whitehill&bordon@everyoneactive.com
Cllr Millard’s welfare priorities
In February, EHDC Leader Cllr Richard Millard announced twelve new projects that will provide vital support for local residents in the difficult financial climate.
The new schemes range from advice on dealing with the rising cost of living to support groups for older people, and from bike hire in Whitehill & Bordon to speed cameras at traffic hot spots.
In total £350,000 has been put aside in this year’s budget to fund welfare schemes such as these.