Learning to swim is a key life skill and the aquatics team staff at Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) have been delivering successful lessons and building water confidence in the city’s young people for over 25 years.
Each of the Trust’s leisure centres runs Swim England-accredited programmes following the Learn to Swim framework. Lessons approved by swimming’s national governing body give parents the confidence to keep bringing their children to the Trust’s sports and leisure facilities, knowing their sons and daughters will receive expert tuition from dedicated aquatics professionals.
BCLT Head of Aquatics - Andrew Taylor said:“ I’m really proud of the aquatics team we’ve developed here in Birmingham. They’re teaching a serious subject in a fun way. The learners don’t notice they’re in a lesson because they’re enjoying it so much, and they come away with a skill that will last a lifetime.”
A recent report commissioned by Swim England stating that a third of 11-year-old school pupils will finish year 6 unable to swim shows there is still work to do in convincing some parents to get their children water confident as early as possible. Many studies have shown how the earlier a child starts learning to swim, the easier it is for them to pick up the skill.
BCLT’s team of swimming teachers know how daunting getting in the water can be for some people. Each learner is treated as an individual, allowed to develop at their own pace in a friendly, supportive environment.
Early lessons use songs and activities to introduce basic swimming skills. Then once confident, further fun activities are used to build up water confidence. Once all the basics have been covered and only when the child is ready, all 4 swimming strokes will be introduced.
Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre Aquatic Co-Ordinator - Annette Rogers said: “ I love seeing the children progress through their stages of swimming development. And it’s so rewarding to see a child previously nervous in the water go on to become a confident swimmer.
You see the child’s overall confidence build and build as they progress. And not just in the water; learning to swim makes them feel more confident in and out of the pool.”
Learners receive badges and certificates as they progress, which boosts motivation and keeps parents informed of each child’s progress.
Learning the swimming strokes is not the end of the Trust’s pool programme. Learners are encouraged to keep on developing in the water with classes available in competitive swimming, rookie lifeguarding, synchronised swimming and water polo. Some of the Trust’s learners have even gone on to become teachers and lifeguards at the centres that once taught them, helping to keep the next generation safe while they learn.
Lesson prices start at just £18.99 per month. To enquire about joining the BCLT swimming programme, please contact one of the centres listed below.
For kids who want a wilder time in the pool, there’s also the Aqua Challenge - a pool-based inflatable obstacle course, which is available at Wyndley Leisure Centre, Beeches Pool and Fitness Centre and will be coming to our new leisure centre in Erdington due to open in September. Great for kids of 4 years and older or for a fun, family day out. The Challenge can also be booked for exclusive use at a birthday party.
Visit www.birminghamleisure.com to find out more.
Beeches Pool and Fitness Centre, Beeches Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, B42 2HQ
Phone: 0121 516 5638
Fox Hollies Leisure Centre, Shirley Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, B27 7NS
Phone: 0121 796 2330
Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 6ER
Phone: 0121 516 5641
Stechford Leisure Centre, Station Road, Stechford, Birmingham, B33 8QN
Phone: 0121 796 2331
Erdington Leisure Centre, Mason Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9EJ
Phone: 0121 516 5650
Wyndley Leisure Centre, Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 6EB
Phone: 0121 516 5652
