Southern Water support school swimming

Hastings’ primary school children are to benefit from a pilot grant scheme aimed at helping them access taught swimming sessions.

Ten local primary schools have been given £1,000 by Southern Water to support swimming lessons during the current academic year. The funding can be spent on coach transport, swimming pool hire or qualified swimming teacher costs.

The scheme has been launched by Southern Water in partnership with Hastings Borough Council and Freedom Leisure’s Summerfields Leisure Centre. The ten schools selected are not within walking distance from a pool and have more than 30% of pupils receiving Free School Meals.

Feedback from local schools showed that being able to get to pools was making swimming lessons more difficult for primary schools to provide.

The scheme is part of Southern Water’s broader community engagement work across Hastings as part of the Goodwill Fund, which has seen nearly £1million awarded to businesses and community groups in the town, after flooding and loss-of-supply incidents.

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said: “I’m really grateful for all the work that Cllr Mark Etherington, our lead councillor for Strategic Planning and Climate Adaptation, has put into this project with Southern Water. Rising transport costs have sadly made it hard for some of our primary-school children to access swimming lessons. We are delighted that Southern Water has stepped in with funding to help them learn this key life skill. I hope we can strengthen - and build on – this important community partnership with them for the benefit of our town.”

Kim Twine, Education Programme and Partnerships Manager, Southern Water: “We are proud to support local schools in providing essential swimming lessons. This scheme reflects our commitment to community wellbeing and water safety for all children.”

Martyn Reynolds, Healthy Communities Manager (Hastings, Rother & Wealden), said: “Freedom Leisure is delighted to help support Southern Water and Hastings Borough Council on this project.  The swimming pool at Summerfields Leisure Centre is a key community asset in supporting local schools, delivering their swimming programme.  Being able to swim is a life skill that every child should have access to and the opportunity to learn. This funding will help us to continue supporting and welcoming local schools for swimming lessons.”

Luke Davies, PE Lead at Sandown School, said: “At Sandown, we know how vital it is that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim, but the rising costs of transport, pool hire and qualified swim instructors have made this increasingly challenging. This funding will allow us to continue providing high-quality swimming lessons and ensure that more of our children develop the skills they need to stay safe in and around the water. We are hugely thankful for this grant and for the commitment shown to supporting our pupils and our community.”

The 10 schools benefiting are: New Horizons School, Ore Village Academy, Hollington Primary School, Ark Castledown Primary School, The Baird Primary School, Sandown Primary Academy, St Leonards Academy Church of England Primary Academy, Churchwood Primary Academy, West St Leonards Primary and All Saints CofE Primary School.

A Summer Celebration Swim Session will also be hosted at Summerfields Leisure Centre for pupils involved in the funded lessons.