Free swimming sessions for youngsters across North Lincolnshire have been extended to include the Easter holidays.
As part of the council’s budget announcements, the hugely successful holiday swimming sessions – which last year saw more than 7,000 free swims in the five pools across the area – will now be available across the two-week Easter break.
Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities announced the news.
He said: “The swimming sessions give youngsters something to do while learning a great life skill – and help parents fill those long days of the holidays.
“They have been hugely successful in summer, and we are really pleased to be able to extend this into Easter.”
Cllr Sherwood also announced the council’s community grants budget would be increased, taking the total to be shared among communities to £500,000.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds through the community grants fund have been shared, seeing village halls renovated, play areas developed, outdoor gyms built, dozens of towns and villages beautified through In Bloom funding and a series of community parties backed to mark occasions like the King’s Coronation.
Cllr Sherwood added: “The community grants scheme has seen hundreds of thousands of pounds go direct to community organisations so they can create fantastic spaces for children and families to enjoy.
“We see the impact of these schemes, from street parties bringing people together, outdoor gym equipment enabling people to keep themselves fit and healthy, to the amazing planting schemes which really bring some colour to the amazing places across North Lincolnshire.
“We are committed to backing communities to flourish and these grants will do just that.”
As part of the communities-focussed budget, Baysgarth House Museum is also set to benefit, with £300,000 from the council’s capital budget allocated to match a £250,000 grant from Government to refurbish the Grade II listed building.
