Swimming Equipment for Children

Description

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust deliver the National Framework for Swimming in Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Swimming. Our programme is delivered in 14 venues throughout Fife and we have over 8,000 children learning to swim with us each week. Encouraging a child to learn to swim is one of the most important opportunities parents/carers can give them.

As a registered charity we keep the cost of our Learn to Swim programme low and as part of our membership we offer free recreational swimming in all our leisure centres. The use of the free access benefits hundreds of children and young people in Fife each week. We are very proud of our swim scheme and it was shorlisted to the final three of the Scottish Swimming Programme of the year award.

However, there are many families who find it a challenge to pay the monthly cost, especially if they have more than one child attending. Additional small items such as goggles, swim bags or swimwear can benefit children by increasing confidence in the water.  We recognise that children not wearing the appropriate swimwear or having access to goggles while attending their lesson has a negative impact on a child's experience.

Unfortunately for many parents these additional costs result in children leaving our programme or not learning the vital life saving skill of learning to swim.

Whilst we build upon our programme and give children throughout Fife an opportunity to learn to swim, equipment is a huge challenge for us.  Learning through play has a positive impact and experience for our learners and using small toys can benefit children by increasing confidence in the water.

Fife Sport and Leisure Trust are seeking support to purchase these items for children and young people. Providing swimwear, goggles and swim toys allows young children to experience their swimming lessons positively, encouraging them to have fun in the water while learning. These items encourage play in the water, and children can practice the skills taught to them in.

Number of new learners per quarter:

·       Leven – 100 approx

·       Cowdenbeath – 100 approx

Cost of equipment

·       Junior goggles - £4.70 per item

·       Swim toys - £2.25 per item

·       Swimwear - £13.00 per item

Please get in touch if you are able to support with a donation of funding or equipment.