Self-conscious swimmers will be able to cover up as part of a new initiative being launched at Woking’s Pool in the Park this month.
The relaxed clothing policy is one of two new policies to be introduced at the centre and came into effect on 1 July following discussions with local residents undertaken as part of the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) Everyday Swim programme.
Everyday Swim is a national initiative that aims to break down barriers to swimming and get more people into the pool for fun and fitness. Woking project coordinator James Barter found that many people don’t swim because they feel too self-conscious to wear traditional swimming costumes, and he was keen to do something about it.
“People can get embarrassed about their bodies and are worried about what other people think,” he said. “A swimming costume doesn’t hide much so we’ve worked closely with Pool in the Park to relax the clothing policy and allow people to wear more modest clothing designed specifically for swimming.
“We want to encourage everybody to swim regardless of their body shape and feel that by allowing people to cover up we can help more people take that first step back into the water. We’re trying to break the vicious circle - people don’t want to swim because they are concerned about their body image but swimming is one of the best ways for people of all ages, shapes and sizes to keep fit and tone up.”
A list of appropriate clothing is available at Pool in the Park and on the Woking Borough Council website, and Barter is keen to stress that pool users should read the new rules to determine what they can and cannot wear.
“Certain clothes won’t be allowed as we don’t want to increase the risk to bathers,” he added. “Clothes that are specifically designed for swimming can be purchased relatively cheaply and most good sports retailers sell fitted leggings and tops which would also be appropriate.”
Woking Borough Council is also hoping to attract more families to its Pool in the Park facility by adopting the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) and ASA Pool Swimming Standard from 7 July.
The current adult-to-child ratio in the centre’s fun Lagoon pool requires one supervisory adult for every child under four, which restricts families with more than one child. The new rules will allow children aged five to seven years to prove their swimming competence by taking the Pool Swimming Standard Award.
Barter welcomes the introduction of the policy and hopes it will result in more families using the great facilities at Pool in the Park.
“The Pool Swimming Standard is a welcome addition to the child admission policy,” he said. “We recognise that many children under eight years are good swimmers yet families and carers are currently restricted by health and safety policies.
“Whilst the policies are set to ensure the safety of the pool’s customers we understand that this also prohibits many people from swimming. Hopefully the new Standard will help those families that have previously been unable to access the facilities.”
The Pool Swimming Standard is a test that each child must pass in order to receive exemption from the child admission policy. The test involves a number of safety and ability-based components such as swimming around the rapids, treading water in the wave area and jumping in from the side at the deep end.
For more information on either of these initiatives, contact the Pool in the Park on 01483 77 11 22 or log onto www.woking.gov.uk/everydayswim
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Everyday Swim is a national pilot project, led by the Amateur Swimming Association and funded by Sport England, which aims to break down the barriers to swimming and provide best practice examples to be used across the country. Sport England has committed to invest £3m into Everyday Swim over a three-year period.
Everyday Swim pilots are taking place in Easington (County Durham), Islington (London), Kirklees (West Yorkshire), Lewisham (London), Suffolk, Telford & Wrekin, Wirral and Woking (Surrey).
Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew is the Everyday Swim Ambassador.
For more information contact ASA media officer Amanda Smith on 01509 632238, 07876 652 318 or email amanda.smith@swimming.org
The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
www.britishswimming.org
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