Swimming referral to boost health and wellbeing
One thousand residents are being offered swimming at no cost to help combat health problems.
The swimming referral programme will see participants, who are referred by health professionals or their GPs, given a book of 20 swim vouchers and the offer of lessons to improve their health and wellbeing and increase their sport and physical activity participation.
The initiative, which sits alongside the current Weight Off Workshop and Active Life Referral programmes, targets people who would gain significant health and wellbeing benefits from swimming and do not currently swim.
The card of 20 free swims will encourage participants to get into the habit of going swimming, with the aim of two swims a week for a ten-week period.
The scheme will also provide a 30-minute private lesson for people who may not have been swimming for many years and who need to build their confidence or a six-hour course (one hour per week) for people who are unable to swim or very weak swimmers.
Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services,
said: “We have a fantastic swimming pool at K2 Crawley and it provides great opportunities for everyone but I believe we could help to improve the health of those who need it most.
“The swimming referral programme is a great way for people to enhance their health and wellbeing. Swimming is the most popular physical activity for adults and the most popular choice of activity for those who wish to start to exercise.”
“The programme is also a good example of partnership working between the Council, NHS West Sussex, Freedom Leisure, GPs, the Amateur Swimming Association and Crawley Wellbeing.”
Once a GP has referred a potential swimmer to Crawley Wellbeing, they will discuss their needs and issue the free swimming card and arrange any swimming lessons.
Following completion of the swimming programme participants will be assessed to monitor their improvement in health and asked to complete a questionnaire and return to Crawley Wellbeing.
