Sidmouth Swimming Pool receives funding for Poolpod

Sidmouth Swimming Pool has been chosen to receive funding for a Poolpod, which will allow members of the local community to gain safe access to the water.

Swim England has revealed that 20 sites across the UK are receiving funding to create inclusive swimming environments for people with long-term health conditions, disabilities and rehabilitation needs.

Sidmouth Swimming Pool, run by LED, has welcomed the funding and a spokesperson told Nub News that the Poolpod will enable the swimming pool to expand its current range of activities.

The London Marathon Charitable Trust provided a £750,000 grant to allow Swim England and its partners - the Activity Alliance, Community Leisure UK and GLL - to enhance the swimming provisions at these community pools.

LED Leisure Manager Steve Reid said: "The introduction of a PoolPod will enable us to expand our current activities, but also open them up to a whole new range of groups and participants where dignified access to a swimming pool would be a big step in changing their outlook and enjoyment of swimming, to give a positive experience".

All organisations receiving funding for their pools are community leisure trusts who, as registered charities or societies, reinvest all profits into those community facilities and services.

The funding is being used for training, to provide accessible pool sessions, to implement facility changes and to install a Poolpod at each site.

Poolpod - the submersible lift - is already providing dignified and independent access to the water for swimmers.

Swim England CEO, Jane Nickerson, said: "We are pleased to be seeing the benefits of this grant from The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

"It is very important to reduce the barriers to aquatic activity for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities, and this funding is helping to make being in the water more accessible for all.

"We hope to see these provisions spread to as many centres as possible across the country."

The 20 selected pools have been spread throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Sir Rodney Walker, Chair of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: "The Trust funds work which challenges inequality of access to physical activity. We want to help create a society in which everyone is physically active, contributing to their health and wellbeing.

"We know that people who benefit most from aquatic activity – including disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, older people, people with mobility issues and pregnant women – often face the biggest barriers to accessing a swimming pool.

"This exciting initiative is making swimming pools across the UK more accessible and ensuring a more inclusive customer experience for all."