In partnership with Disability Advice Service Lambeth (DASL), South East London Vision (SELVis), Sense, and Lambeth Council, Clapham Leisure Centre have been providing supported swimming lessons for disabled people. At a discounted cost of £2.05 participants can access swimming instruction from specialised instructions. The two hour session, 12:00-14:00, each Thursday is split up into various groups:

• 12:00-12:30 Visually Impaired           
• 12:30-13:00 Novice
• 13:00-14:00 Beginner/intermediate

The session has now been running for a full year, in which a usage of 303 has been recorded from over 30 individual participants.  Feedback from the swimmers has been extremely positive:

“I love it.  Great fun and company and exercise as well.”

“It’s really doing my knee and general fitness a lot of good.”

One woman in her sixties, who had never learnt to swim said she was “over the moon” just to get in the water and is a component swimmer.

Hassan Khan from SELVis commented, “This project has had some wonderful feedback from our members who would never have been able to swim but for this project, so many congratulations.” DASL Co-ordinator Abs Tripp, said, “The group are amazing, the way they support each other is brilliant.” She also added “ We’ve seen terrified people, gain water confidence, it’s so lovely as many had been told by the doctor to swim but were too scared to do it.”

Aston Rennie, Clapham LC General Manager said “We are delighted with the success of the programme so far. It has been fantastic to see the group has grown in strength and they continue to support each other while learning and improving their swimming.

“Clapham Leisure Centre continue to be committed to ensuring our facilities are inclusive and accessible, and we hope to see more participants making the most out of the disability swim sessions.”

As well as the supported swimming group, Better provide a wide range of activities specifically for disabled persons across Lambeth:

• Ice Skating @ Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre
• Holiday Swimming Lessons @ Clapham Leisure Centre
• Multi-Games Sessions @ Brixton Recreation Centre and Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre
• Indoor Rowing @ Ferndale Community Sports Centre
• Autistic Stay and Play @ Clapham Leisure Centre
• Cricket @ Brixton Recreation Centre
• Wheelchair Basketball @ Brixton Recreation Centre
• Football @ Brixton Recreation Centre
• Inclusive Swimming @ West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre
• Toddler’s World (supported by sensory equipment) @ Brixton, Clapham, Streatham, & West Norwood

For more information about our accessable sessions, please download the flyer below.