CONSTITUENCY AM WELCOMES FREE SWIMMING AT WEEKENDS

Children and young people will now be able to enjoy free swimming and other leisure centre activities at the weekends.

Gwenda Thomas AM for the Neath Constituency welcomed changes announced by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to extend the scheme and said it encouraged tens of thousands of young people in Wales to take regular exercise free of charge.

A change to the minimum criteria of the current scheme, means that local authorities will now offer free swimming sessions or other leisure centre activities for children aged 16 and under on weekends as well as school holidays.

Mrs Thomas said: “Free swimming has been an extremely popular policy since it was introduced in 2004 by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government.

“These changes will make the scheme even more widely available so that all young people can benefit all year round regardless of family income.”

“Free swimming at our excellent pool facilities in Neath, Glynneath and Pontardawe, allows youngsters to learn an important skill, enjoy themselves and keep fit at no extra cost, clearly a lifestyle to be encouraged at an early age.”

Press Release: KIDS SPLASH OUT FOR FREE THIS HALF TERM

KEEPING the kids occupied and active over half term doesn’t have to cost you a penny extra if you send them swimming, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said today.

Local leisure centres are offering FREE swimming sessions and lessons to children and young people under 16, thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government’s highly popular school holiday free swimming scheme.

The £2.5m idea has proved a great success - with more than two million swims taken up around Wales since Labour introduced the scheme in 2003.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’This half term, and every school holiday, it’s the kids who can splash out so Mum and Dad and other members of the family don’t have to. Children can get fit, stay active and have fun over the school holidays without parents getting hit in the pocket.

‘Swimming pools and leisure centres across Neath Port Talbot are offering free swimming sessions and lessons during the holidays and I’d encourage as many parents and children as possible to get involved .

“As a government, we want to see more children and young people using their local leisure centre. Free swimming is a way of making sure every local child gets a chance to use the pool or even learn to swim over the holidays.

‘‘It sends out all the right messages to children about the importance of staying fit and active. Labour is committed to encouraging healthy lifestyles which are so important for the health of the nation.

‘’The whole point of this Welsh Labour inspired scheme is to help families that might have been put off by the cost to use and enjoy their local leisure centres. I am delighted the scheme has proved to be a huge success in my constituency and hope this continues.’’