9 – 16 year olds in Rushmoor will be able to spend their summer splashing about in their local pools for free, thanks to a donation from Thames Valley Housing (TVH).
TVH has donated £5,000 from its Community Chest fund, which has been matched by sponsorship from milkandmore, a local business.
The funding will ensure that a programme of free swimming sessions which ran last year will continue to run this year. Rushmoor Borough Council, Rushmoor Scholls Plus and DC Leisure have also contributed funding to the project.
Jude Michie, aged 13, from Ash Manor School is delighted at the news. The teenager had organised a petition, signed by 200 people, last year and had personally delivered it to Councillors as a plea from local youngsters for the Council to consider offering free swimming again.
Jude said: “It’s expensive to swim regularly, particularly for big families. This holiday scheme makes it affordable and helps keep us fit in a fun way. We need to support our young people.”
Sahil Khan, Community Investment Manager at Thames Valley Housing, said, “This project really exemplifies what our Community Investment Strategy is all about. We’ve just launched it in Rushmoor. We’re also going to be targeting Hounslow and Reading.
“In all three areas we’ve worked closely with residents to establish what kind of community they want. They’ve told us that activities for children and young people, along with leisure and health services are three of the key areas they want to see improved.
Peter Amies, Head of Community at Rushmoor Borough Council, said: “This will be of real benefit to local families. With around 40% of children being overweight of which 20% are obese, it is important that all families encourage their youngsters to become involved in physical exercise, while learning valuable life skills.”
The previous free swimming scheme, funded by the Government until last year, was very successful, with 55, 000 free swims taken up by young people.
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For more information about Thames Valley Housing visit www.tvha.co.uk To speak to a member of the press office, phone Rosalind Grozier, Communications Officer on 020 8607 0886 or email her.