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Kids In The Swim – Thousands Sign up for Free Swimming
 Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust’s
‘Freestyle’ initiative has people across the borough getting in
the swim this summer. Over 17,500 children aged 16 or under have
signed up to the scheme that enables all children with a
‘Lifestyle’ card to swim for free at any of the borough’s five
public swimming pools.
Freestyle is one of the flagship initiatives of the Trust’s
Getting Wigan Active vision. Getting Wigan Active aims to provide
people of all ages from all social and cultural backgrounds with
the opportunity to become more physically and mentally active.
Launched in April this year, Freestyle, has also resulted in all
of the borough’s five pools witnessing a significant increase in
the numbers of children and adults swimming as against the same
period in 2004. In total, 16 and under swimming increased by 60
per cent in the council-owned swimming pools this June than in
2004, in some pools such as Howe Bridge Sports Centre, the figure
was as high as a 90 per cent increase.
“What is most rewarding from these figures is the significant
increase in the number of adults swimming as well as children.
June has seen a 24 per cent increase in the number of adults
swimming in the Wigan Borough as against last year. August’s
figures are looking even more promising, for example Wigan
International Pool’s numbers look like they will increase by about
70 per cent on last year,” says Martin Eden, Executive Director
for Sport and Healthy Living. “The key aim of this campaign was to
increase the number of children swimming and to give those people
who already swam the chance to do so more regularly. It is great
to see that this has had a positive effect on the number of adult
swimmers to.”
In July, one of the busiest periods for all swimming pools, the
figures also look impressive; the number of children swimming was
up by 47 per cent against last year and adult swimming was up by
12 per cent.
Anyone aged 16 or under is eligible for a ‘Lifestyle’ card.
Freestyle application forms are available from any of WLCT’s
Leisure Centres, libraries or the Tourist Information Centre. For
further information call 01942 486901 or see
www.wlct.org/freestyle
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this News Release, or for high
resolution images please contact Chris Dunbar, PR Officer, Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 586937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
FREESTYLE DETAIL:
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Only two other authorities (Glasgow and Birmingham) offer such a
comprehensive free swimming initiative.
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Children are able to swim at any of WLCT’s swimming pools or
Leisure Centres from April 1st 2005, on production of their
Lifestyle card.
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A joining / administration fee of £1, renewable annually will be
applied.
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A Pool Programme for every building has been developed and
published, outlining where and when free swimming sessions are
available. Times vary between pools.
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In general young people are able to swim unattended during the
working week (when not in school) and on Saturdays and Sundays.
Some sessions at the weekend will be designated as family swimming
sessions when children will need to attend with an adult, but will
still be able to swim without cost.
SWIMMING FACTS:
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One in five under-11s in the UK cannot swim.
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Swimming burns off more calories than cycling or walking per 5
minutes: (Swimming – 41 calories, Cycling – 21 calories, Walking 14
calories.)
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10 children aged 16 or under drown every year in the North West
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