Crook Log Leisure Centre, operated by Parkwood Leisure in partnership with Lex Leisure, has undertaken a transformation of its swim programme aimed at enhancing progression, improving access to swimming lessons for children in the local community and reinforcing water safety awareness.

Responding to the growing demand for swimming lessons in the community, this new initiative has opened 1,000 new spaces per week, ensuring less waiting time and making it easier for parents to enrol their children onto the swim programme.

The new programme allows every child to progress efficiently through the Learn to Swim pathway stages 1 – 7 which Swim England recommend as a minimum requirement to become a competent swimmer.

As children progress through the lesson programme, they will be taught to complete Swim England’s 4 elements of being a competent swimmer which are: a star float for 60 seconds, tread water for at least 30 seconds, experience of swimming in clothing and being able to swim at least 100m at ease.

As part of the updated initiative, Crook Log Leisure Centre has partnered with the Institute of Swimming to deliver a Recruitment Academy, which has supported the training of new swimming teachers, helping to improve access to swimming lessons while supporting those starting a career within the leisure sector.

A direct impact of the initiative has seen more availability for swimming lessons for children under four over weekends as well as increasing adult swimming lessons during weekdays and evenings.

The development is part of Parkwood Leisure’s shared commitment in improving access to essential water safety skills within its communities following a more than 50% increase in children enrolled onto its swim programme compared to pre-pandemic levels. Children in the local community in Bexley now have the opportunity to learn how to swim safer, smarter and stronger through the revamped programme.

Alex Godfrey, Operations Director at Parkwood Leisure, commented on the changes to the swim programme:

“The wellbeing and safety of our members and communities is at the heart of everything we do at Parkwood Leisure, and learning how to swim gives children a vital safety skill they can take with them through the rest of their lives.

Expanding our Swim Teaching team has enabled us to further develop our Learn to Swim programme and create an additional 1,000 spaces per week for the wider community. We always take feedback into account to ensure our services are meeting the needs of our communities, which has helped us to create a progression pathway to help every child to become a competent swimmer.”

For more information on the facilities and services available at Crook Log Leisure Centre, visit: https://www.leisurecentre.com/crook-log-leisure-centre