Allerdale leisure facility news and events
Free Swimming update
Allerdale Borough Council and its Leisure
Partner, Carlisle Leisure Limited are very pleased to announce that
the Free Swimming Programme which commenced on 1 April 2009 for
those aged 16 and under, and those aged over 60 will continue until
31 December 2010.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics,
Media and Sport announced on 17 June that Government funding for
the scheme would end on 31 July 2010 due to cuts in the national
budget.
However thanks to careful management of the
cost of providing the Free Swims, Allerdale Borough Council has
sufficient funding available to enable the scheme to carry on at
the Council owned swimming pools in Cockermouth, Keswick
(Allerdale residents only) and Workington until 31
December 2010.
Councillor Sam Standage says
‘The Council is very pleased to be able to continue this scheme
and enable the residents of Allerdale to continue to enjoy the
health benefits of swimming at no charge. Thanks to careful
management of the scheme by Allerdale and our leisure partner
Carlisle Leisure Limited we are able to continue the scheme at no
cost to Council Tax payers.’
‘We would like to thank our partners at Carlisle Leisure
Limited, Aspatria Pool, Netherhall Community Sports Centre and
Wigton Baths for the support they have given to the Free Swimming
Programme.’
Residents are reminded that free swimming is not only on offer
at Allerdale Borough Council’s pools in Cockermouth, Keswick and
Workington but it has also been extended to community pools in
Aspatria, Maryport and Wigton.
Splash & Smile at Keswick
Leisure Pool
Splash and Smile is a
new session on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11am in which children
with disabilities and their families are able to swim for
free and use a range of equipment, including
floating toys, rafts, flotation stations and buoyancy jackets.
This session has proved very popular since it
commenced in January after a successful funding bid to the
Cumbria Community Foundation’s ‘Together we Can’ fund and Cumbria
Youth Alliance. This enabled the purchase of the equipment and
funding to enable the session to be offered free of charge until
the end of March.
Now thanks to funding received by Allerdale
Borough Council through the Free Swimming Programme this session
will now be available free of charge until 31 March
2011.
Keswick Leisure Pool is an accessible facility
with disabled shower, toilet and changing facilities. Large family
changing cubicles are also available. There is a pool access
chair for those requiring assistance when entering the water.
For further details about the session please
contact Keswick Leisure Pool on 017687 72760.
New website
Carlisle Leisure Limited which
operates leisure facilities on behalf of Allerdale Borough Council
and Carlisle City Council has relaunched its website www.carlisleleisure.com which
has details of the activities and memberships available at each of
the facilities.
Free Swimming Programme
Between 1 April 2009 and 31 March
2010 38,649 people aged 16 and under or 60
and over swam for free in the Council's swimming pools, as shown
below.
|
16 and under |
Over 60 |
Total |
| Cockermouth |
6,481 |
5,535 |
12,016 |
| Keswick |
4,119 |
3,191 |
7,310 |
| Workington |
11,962 |
7,361 |
19,323 |
| Total |
22,562 |
16,087 |
38,649 |
Free swimming during year two of the
scheme is shown below
| 16 and under |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Total |
|
Cockermouth |
586 |
493 |
498 |
543 |
2,120 |
| Keswick |
341 |
333 |
284 |
|
958 |
| Workington |
817 |
758 |
636 |
572 |
2,783 |
| Netherhall |
62 |
97 |
75 |
116 |
350 |
| Wigton |
258 |
129 |
174 |
633 |
1,194 |
| Total |
2,064 |
1,810 |
1,667 |
1,864 |
7,405 |
| Over
60 |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Total |
| Cockermouth |
486 |
463 |
510 |
744 |
2,203 |
| Keswick |
248 |
280 |
262 |
|
790 |
| Workington |
505 |
518 |
607 |
964 |
2,594 |
| Netherhall |
240 |
226 |
257 |
271 |
994 |
| Wigton |
149 |
51 |
131 |
163 |
494 |
| Total |
1,628 |
1,538 |
1,767 |
2,142 |
7,075 |
Where is it available?
Free swimming is available at
facilities managed by Carlisle Leisure Limited on behalf of
Allerdale Borough Council, this includes:
- Cockermouth Leisure Centre &
Pool
- Workington Leisure Centre &
Pools
- Keswick Leisure Pool
(Allerdale residents only, please see below for
details)
When is Free Swimming available?
Free swimming is available at
designated times at each swimming pool. These sessions are clearly
marked on each swimming pool timetable with the Free Swimming
symbol.
Instructed sessions such as swimming
lessons, aqua aerobics and swim clubs are not part of the free
swimming scheme and will remain chargeable. If you are 16 and under
you will be able to swim for free in family swimming sessions only
if accompanied by an adult.
How do I qualify for Free
Swimming?
In order to obtain ease of access to
free swimming all we need from you is proof of your age and a
passport sized photograph. Proof of age can be supported by any of
the following:
- birth certificate
- stamp (from school)
- pension (book)
- bus pass
On completion of a short application
form you and payment of a £5 fee you will be issued with a
Leisure Access Card, which you will need to
produce every time you swim. This is how we know you qualify for
free swimming and it means you will not need to provide proof of
age every time you attend.
Free Swimming at Keswick Leisure
Pool
Keswick Leisure Pool is exempt from
the national free swim scheme. Allerdale Borough Council and
Carlisle Leisure limited have however introduced a similar scheme
for residents of Allerdale Borough to swim for free at the
pool.
To be able to access free swimming you
must be 16 and under or 60 and over and be a resident of Allerdale
Borough. On your first visit simply bring proof of age and
residency (Council Tax Bill) and you will be issued with a
Residents Leisure Access Card which will enable
you to swim for free in the designated sessions.
The Free Swimming timetable for
Keswick Leisure Pool is available to view below.
Newsletter
Carlisle Leisure Limited publishes
the 'Leisure Partnership News' every six months
and this is available to view and download below.