Tees Active, which manages leisure venues and activities in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, has become the latest organisation to achieve Swim England’s ‘Water Wellbeing’ standard.
The Water Wellbeing mark is aimed at transforming community swimming pools into places for health, wellbeing and rehabilitation, and the award to Tees Active follows investment at Billingham Forum, IB Leisure, Stockton Splash, and Thornaby Pool.
It recognises the organisation’s efforts in making the pools more accessible and inclusive for people with long-term health conditions.
More than 70 staff members undertook Activity Alliance training, increasing their knowledge of disabilities, and enabling more people to take part in aquatic activities.
Tees Active also prioritised its ‘adult learn to swim’ provision, with each pool offering at least two sessions a week as part of its ‘Swim More’ and ‘Swim Well’ initiatives.
All swim teachers delivering those sessions have completed a qualification to support swimmers with long-term health conditions, while all frontline staff have completed training in Delivering an Excellent Service for Disabled Customers.
Tees Active’s Managing Director Leon Jones said: “This important national accreditation is testament to our ongoing commitment to make leisure activities more accessible across the borough.”
Councillor Steve Nelson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, added: “We are delighted to see this ongoing investment in leisure in the borough being endorsed by the national governing body for swimming in England.
“We want everyone to have the opportunity to access our leisure facilities and activities, and this commitment to those with long-term health conditions is a key priority.”
Matthew Martin, Swim England’s Health and Wellbeing Officer, said: “The Tees Active team have shown a real commitment to the Water Wellbeing accreditation process, and their ambition to make facilities even more accessible, welcoming and inclusive.
“We have been working closely with them to help them achieve this and look forward to seeing how their efforts will benefit their local communities.”
The accreditation coincides with Tees Active winning a silver award in the school swimming category of the Swim England National Awards held in Birmingham.