Dorcan to host new Christmas childcare club with swimming sessions

Parents in Swindon will have another childcare option this Christmas as Just for Fun Holiday Club launches a new venue at Dorcan Leisure Centre.

It is the sixth site for the organisation and arrives at a time when many families are struggling to secure affordable and reliable support during the festive break.

The Dorcan facility will offer the club’s most varied programme to date. It includes access to the swimming pool for the first time, alongside a sports hall, outdoor pitch and bouncy castles.

Co-founder Sean Harper said introducing swimming has been a long-term ambition. Sean Harper, co-founder, said:

“Swimming is a life skill. So many children never get the chance to learn because lessons are expensive and parents are under pressure.

“If we can make it accessible as part of a holiday club, we can help families who want their children to feel safe and confident in the water.”
Sport England figures referenced in the release highlight concerns around activity levels. They state that one in four children leaves primary school unable to swim, and almost forty per cent of non-swimmers have never received school lessons.

Sean Harper, co-founder, said these figures underline the need to widen support for families.

The club plans to run small group water sessions blending structured activities with supervised play. Dorcan’s lifeguards will be on duty and instructors can be brought in if needed.

A member of the Just for Fun team will also be in the pool to support children who may need additional reassurance.

Sean’s motivation comes from his own experiences. He described how lessons paid for by his grandparents shaped his confidence as a child.

He also said his daughter’s confidence grew rapidly after just a few weeks of private lessons, transforming her from being nervous in the pool to racing down water slides.

Sean Harper, co-founder, said:

“That confidence is what we want children to feel.”

The organisation has introduced specialist activities before. Cycling sessions at Moredon Sporting Hub this summer saw dozens of children learn to ride for the first time, and the team expects swimming to have a similar impact.

The Christmas HAF programme is now open, with limited places still available. Sessions will run on Monday 22 December and Tuesday 23 December at Dorcan, Moredon Sporting Hub and Holy Cross from 8am.

Goddard Park will host sessions on Sunday 29 December and Monday 30 December from 10am to 2pm.

Private bookings are also available and many slots have already been filled. The programme includes Christmas Jumper Day, a visit from Santa, games, competitions and a Christmas dinner on the Monday.

The Dorcan venue will continue operating into 2026, with swimming set to remain a permanent part of the offer.

For more information or to book, visit www.justforfunholidayclub.co.uk