Ribble Valley Swimming Pool Makes a Splash With National Award
A Ribble Valley swimming pool has been awarded a national accreditation for enabling people with long-term health conditions to improve their water skills.
Ribblesdale Pool in Clitheroe has become the latest organisation in the UK to achieve Swim England’s Water Wellbeing standard.
The Water Wellbeing mark is aimed at transforming community swimming pools into places for health, wellbeing and rehabilitation. It recognises the organisation’s efforts in making the pools more accessible and inclusive for people with long-term health conditions.
More than 15 staff members undertook Activity Alliance training, increasing their knowledge of disabilities, and enabling more people to take part in aquatic activities.
The pool has undertaken an internal environmental assessment audit to help identify any barriers to entry/access of the facility and prepared an improvement plan to address as many elements as possible.
Members of the council’s Up and Active Team undertook a Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health qualification as a basis for delivering sessions tailored to the needs of people with various kinds of disability or long-term health condition.
A new Aqua for Health class was introduced as part of Tranquil Tuesday sessions, and participants over the past year have reported benefits in terms of direct improvement from when they commenced attending or in helping to manage their physical condition. The group enjoys the social interaction as well as the relaxed environment as its members perform aqua circuit-based exercises.
The pool is owned and managed by Ribble Valley Borough Council.
Councillor Stuart Hirst, chairman of the council’s community services committee, said:
“It’s wonderful to see Ribblesdale Pool achieve this national award. It’s a testimony to the hard work of staff and the enthusiastic support of the pool’s users.
"Swimming and water-based activities are well-known for their health benefits for people of all ages.”
Cultural and leisure services manager Colin Winterbottom added:
“It is important to consider both the physical and social environment of a public leisure facility as we aim to break down identified barriers for those with disabilities and health conditions.
“The Water Wellbeing accreditation process has provided a means of helping us in creating an inclusive, attractive and supportive pool environment, and this is only the beginning as the team applies positive actions towards enabling customers access the water space and enjoy different forms of aquatic activity.”
Matthew Martin, Swim England’s health and wellbeing officer, added:
“Swim England has been supporting Ribble Valley Borough Council across several key areas, to maximise the long-term sustainability and growth of its aquatic assets.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Ribblesdale pool team at all levels, who have shown unwavering commitment to the accreditation process and making their facilities more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive.
“I look forward to seeing the impact of this work and the benefits it will bring for the local community.”
For more infomation about Ribblesdale Pool please visit Ribblesdale Swimming Pool – Ribble Valley Borough Council