North Lincolnshire’s investment in the Easter Daze free swimming programme made a triumphant return this spring, bringing joy and improving fitness levels for hundreds of children and families across the county. Over the course of the Easter holidays, more than 2,400 free swims were enjoyed at local hubs and leisure centres.
Running from 7 April to 21 April, the programme allowed children under 16 to enjoy free swimming at six pools across North Lincolnshire, including The Pods, Riddings Community Hub, Ancholme Leisure Centre, Axholme North Leisure Centre, Baysgarth Community Hub, and Epworth Swimming Pool.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families, and communities, expressed her excitement for the programme’s success: “As a parent, I know how difficult it can be to plan activities during the holidays, which is why I am proud that we have delivered the investment to see the return of these free swimming sessions. It’s a fantastic way for children to have fun with their friends and family in a secure, lifeguard-supervised environment in contrast to the risks that come from open water swimming.”
This year new special family sessions also enabled entire households to swim for free, ensuring that families could enjoy quality time together while staying active.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, highlighted the overwhelming response from the community: “Investing in children and families is a real priority for us as a council. We always knew these free-swimming sessions were popular, but seeing such a high attendance across all our venues really shows how valued they are.
“With hundreds of children and families enjoying Easter Daze swimming, the initiative has once again proven to be a hit, making the holidays memorable while promoting health, safety, and the importance of swimming as an essential life skill. We know that lots of parents, grandparents and carers enjoy supporting their young people to become physically active and this investment also helps to support the family budget as well.”
To find your nearest pool in North Lincolnshire visit www.northlincs.gov.uk/swimming.
