Children struggling to learn how to swim will be given tailored support after two rescues had to be carried out at a leisure centre during a half term initiative.
Westmorland and Furness Council has approved funding schemes to provide swimming lessons to children in Barrow after the 10p food and swim initiative in the February half term highlighted issues with swimming competence in the area.
Members of the Furness locality board granted Barrow Forward £38,318 to support a variety of schemes at Barrow Leisure Centre.
The report said: “Barrow Leisure Centre has confirmed that the February half-term initiative highlighted issues with swimming competence in the area.
“They had two rescues during the week and the majority of the participants were unable to go in the deep end as they could not pass the swim test required.
“Therefore, there is a need to provide an additional tailored offer to support children who need extra swimming sessions working with the schools in the priority wards to support children with swimming.”
According to the report prepared for the meeting, £6,600 will be allocated to repeat the February half term 10p swim and food initiative in the May half term at Barrow Leisure centre and £31,718 will go towards the new fit and fed scheme.
The fit and fed scheme would consist of a targeted breakfast club and swim as well as a tea-time club and swim for children identified through the schools in the priority wards as needing additional swimming sessions, the report added.
A pilot for the breakfast club and swim has been running two sessions per week which has proved successful, and health authority funding is paying for them.
Barrow Leisure Centre wants to extend sessions to four sessions per week for 35 weeks over school terms and is seeking additional funding for the two sessions.
According to the council report the tea-time club and swim for children is a new initiative and would provide three sessions after school for 35 weeks over school terms. It is anticipated that there would be approximately 32 children at breakfast club and 45 children at tea-time club.
The council report added feedback from the 10p swim and food initiative had been extremely positive and there was a full uptake on places offered.
It added: “People that would not normally access leisure centres have taken advantage of the offer. It can be demonstrated there has been an increase in social connections, physical activity and healthy eating.”
The Furness locality board is set to discuss funding for the 10p swim and food initiative in May half term at Dalton Leisure Centre at a meeting next month.
