Thousands of Wiltshire kids supplied free vacation swimming | EUROtoday

Thousands of kids will be capable of swim at no cost once more this 12 months, throughout the faculty holidays.

Wiltshire Council is providing swimming periods to all main and secondary faculty pupils who obtain free faculty meals.

Trialled final 12 months, the scheme attracted greater than 5,000 visits to council-run leisure centre swimming pools, with most individuals utilizing their free ticket 5 instances.

Councillor Jon Hubbard mentioned: “Swimming is an absolute key skill, whether you live by the sea or in a landlocked county. I’m thrilled we can continue this offer.”

The scheme, which shall be out there in any respect council-run leisure centres with a pool, is because of begin at Easter.

Eligible kids shall be supplied one free swim per week for as much as 13 weeks throughout all faculty holidays.

Hubbard mentioned he was “delighted” final 12 months’s pilot was so successful.

“There are around just under 13,000 young people across the county who have access to free school meals,” he mentioned.

“There was a really good uptake of [the offer] during last summer’s school holidays, so we’re hoping that second year in even more young people will be able to take advantage.”

He mentioned the fee to the council of getting “five or six more people in the pool” for every session was negligible.

“We’re still running the pool for that session,” he mentioned.

“We want every child and young person to enjoy healthy, active opportunities.”

The council mentioned the scheme could be reviewed after every vacation interval.