Hundreds of Aberdeen children provided with vital life skills
CHILDREN IN Aberdeen are being offered free swimming lessons as part of an inclusive swimming initiative from a local leisure provider.
Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) has provided 367 children with free swimming lessons this year as part of its very own community initiative, delivering a bespoke project offering children from nearby primary schools swimming opportunities.
Children involved in the leisure provider’s initiative receive 30-minute weekly Learn to Swim lessons as well as transport to and from. The initiative even provides goggles for those that need them, also fully funded through ASV – the total investment to provide this opportunity now reaching £5000.
ASV is one of 38 aquatic providers delivering the Learn to Swim national framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water – with the goal of creating the next generation of safe and competent swimmers.
Graham Morrison, Head of Sport and Events at ASV, said: “Swimming is a vital life skill that we believe every child should have access to, no matter their background.
“The uptake we have seen so far through our initiative with local schools has been really encouraging – we’ve already had children from a mix of local schools come in for lessons and we’re looking forward to seeing them reap the rewards of being safer swimmers as a result.”
The initiative is solely funded through ASV, adding to its string of bespoke initiatives which aim to give back to the surrounding community.
Children in Primary 5 and 6 from St Peter’s RC, Kittybrewster, Riverbank, Woodside, Seaton, Cornhill and Aberdeen School for the Deaf attended free classes over different 5-week blocks, made possible with the provision of transport from Premier Coaches.
A further 76 local children from Primary 2 to Primary 6 are set to benefit from lessons after joining the provider’s programme.
Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming said: “Growing the reach of swimming lessons is so important to ensure kids are safe in the water and it’s something that we want all children to get affordable access to – ASV’s own initiative is an incredibly positive example of that.
“Through initiatives like this and opportunities for young swimmers within Learn to Swim, we’re certain we are on the right track in creating the next generation of safe and competent swimmers.”
Learn to Swim has already provided lessons to more than 100,000 children and aims to reach another 100,000 by 2025, helping more young people across Scotland stay safe in the water.
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Swimming is not only a vital life skill, it’s also beneficial for health and wellbeing, helping young people learn the skills to be safe in the water while enjoying a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
“The success of this proves just how important it is to provide children with opportunities to experience the benefits of learning to swim We hope that this particular initiative will continue to encourage even more children, families and schools to get involved.”
Learn to Swim is a National Framework committed to creating supportive and quality environments in which children can learn to swim, as well as improve their water safety and swimming techniques, regardless of their age, ability or skill level.
The programme is centred around progress and enjoyment, and aims to build a legacy of ‘Generation Swim’ in Scotland whereby children achieve their potential in the pool and out.
For more information on the programme, visit: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim
Hundreds of Aberdeen children provided with vital life skills
CHILDREN IN Aberdeen are being offered free swimming lessons as part of an inclusive swimming initiative from a local leisure provider.
Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) has provided 367 children with free swimming lessons this year as part of its very own community initiative, delivering a bespoke project offering children from nearby primary schools swimming opportunities.
Children involved in the leisure provider’s initiative receive 30-minute weekly Learn to Swim lessons as well as transport to and from. The initiative even provides goggles for those that need them, also fully funded through ASV – the total investment to provide this opportunity now reaching £5000.
ASV is one of 38 aquatic providers delivering the Learn to Swim national framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water – with the goal of creating the next generation of safe and competent swimmers.
Graham Morrison, Head of Sport and Events at ASV, said: “Swimming is a vital life skill that we believe every child should have access to, no matter their background.
“The uptake we have seen so far through our initiative with local schools has been really encouraging – we’ve already had children from a mix of local schools come in for lessons and we’re looking forward to seeing them reap the rewards of being safer swimmers as a result.”
The initiative is solely funded through ASV, adding to its string of bespoke initiatives which aim to give back to the surrounding community.
Children in Primary 5 and 6 from St Peter’s RC, Kittybrewster, Riverbank, Woodside, Seaton, Cornhill and Aberdeen School for the Deaf attended free classes over different 5-week blocks, made possible with the provision of transport from Premier Coaches.
A further 76 local children from Primary 2 to Primary 6 are set to benefit from lessons after joining the provider’s programme.
Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming said: “Growing the reach of swimming lessons is so important to ensure kids are safe in the water and it’s something that we want all children to get affordable access to – ASV’s own initiative is an incredibly positive example of that.
“Through initiatives like this and opportunities for young swimmers within Learn to Swim, we’re certain we are on the right track in creating the next generation of safe and competent swimmers.”
Learn to Swim has already provided lessons to more than 100,000 children and aims to reach another 100,000 by 2025, helping more young people across Scotland stay safe in the water.
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Swimming is not only a vital life skill, it’s also beneficial for health and wellbeing, helping young people learn the skills to be safe in the water while enjoying a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
“The success of this proves just how important it is to provide children with opportunities to experience the benefits of learning to swim We hope that this particular initiative will continue to encourage even more children, families and schools to get involved.”
Learn to Swim is a National Framework committed to creating supportive and quality environments in which children can learn to swim, as well as improve their water safety and swimming techniques, regardless of their age, ability or skill level.
The programme is centred around progress and enjoyment, and aims to build a legacy of ‘Generation Swim’ in Scotland whereby children achieve their potential in the pool and out.
For more information on the programme, visit: https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim
