Latest news with #FUELprogramme
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Free summer swimming lessons for 6,000 children
More than 6,000 children across Wiltshire will be eligible for free swimming lessons this summer as part of a pilot scheme. The lessons have been made available to children who are part of Wiltshire Council's FUEL programme, as well as pupils in secondary schools who received free school meals. Up to 10 lessons will be provided at council-run leisure centres with a pool, such as Marlborough Leisure Centre and Calne Community Campus. Councillor Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for education at Wiltshire Council, said "a few pennies behind the sofa" helped pay for the scheme. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Mr Hubbard told BBC Radio Wiltshire the extra money for the swimming lessons cost £45,000, and money had been used from Public Health England funding and the children's services budget. "For some of our young people who have six or seven weeks at home without school, having these positive and fun activities for them to go and take part in is a really important thing we offer", he said. "I want them to have fun. I want them to have positive activities to be able to look back on and say, 'that was a really cracking time we've had'. "And to have made new friendships, had a positive experience and something they can build happy memories." He said schools would have told parents whether they were eligible, and sent out an invitation for the FUEL programme. Parents of children eligible for free school meals needed to show proof of the entitlement at a pool. A full list of the swimming pools at which the lessons will be held can be found here: Bradford on Avon Calne Community Campus Devizes Leisure Centre Durrington Swimming and Fitness Centre Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre Lime Kiln Leisure Centre, Royal Wootton Bassett Marlborough Leisure Centre Melksham Community Campus Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham Springfield Community Campus, Corsham The Activity Zone, Malmesbury The Vale Community Campus, Pewsey Tidworth Leisure Centre Trowbridge Sports Centre Warminster Sports Centre Westbury Pool Wiltshire Council said the scheme would be reviewed in autumn after it finished. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Health Hydro pool work is almost completed Soldiers beat choppy waters in Channel swim Nature reserve to be 'transformed' with £100k boost Related Internet Links Wiltshire Council


BBC News
26-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Free summer swimming lessons for 6,000 Wiltshire children
More than 6,000 children across Wiltshire will be eligible for free swimming lessons this summer as part of a pilot lessons have been made available to children who are part of Wiltshire Council's FUEL programme, as well as pupils in secondary schools who received free school to 10 lessons will be provided at council-run leisure centres with a pool, such as Marlborough Leisure Centre and Calne Community Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for education at Wiltshire Council, said "a few pennies behind the sofa" helped pay for the scheme. Mr Hubbard told BBC Radio Wiltshire the extra money for the swimming lessons cost £45,000, and money had been used from Public Health England funding and the children's services budget."For some of our young people who have six or seven weeks at home without school, having these positive and fun activities for them to go and take part in is a really important thing we offer", he said."I want them to have fun. I want them to have positive activities to be able to look back on and say, 'that was a really cracking time we've had'. "And to have made new friendships, had a positive experience and something they can build happy memories."He said schools would have told parents whether they were eligible, and sent out an invitation for the FUEL of children eligible for free school meals needed to show proof of the entitlement at a pool.A full list of the swimming pools at which the lessons will be held can be found here:Bradford on AvonCalne Community CampusDevizes Leisure CentreDurrington Swimming and Fitness CentreFive Rivers Health and Wellbeing CentreLime Kiln Leisure Centre, Royal Wootton BassettMarlborough Leisure CentreMelksham Community CampusOlympiad Leisure Centre, ChippenhamSpringfield Community Campus, CorshamThe Activity Zone, MalmesburyThe Vale Community Campus, PewseyTidworth Leisure CentreTrowbridge Sports CentreWarminster Sports CentreWestbury Pool Wiltshire Council said the scheme would be reviewed in autumn after it finished.