brighton & hove centres - offer free swimming for 12-16 year olds

The initiative from Brighton & Hove City Council, NHS Brighton & Hove and Freedom Leisure, started on Saturday 23 June 2012. The scheme will allow thousands of local children the chance to swim and keep fit every Saturday and Sunday after 2.00pm during public swimming times.

Councillor in charge of leisure Geoffrey Bowden said: “This all fits in with our keen wish to see more participation in sport and a healthy city.

“Kids love splashing about so it’s a great way to get them exercising. With obesity rates among children soaring, that has to be a good thing.”

Free Swimming for 11s and under has been funded by the council and local NHS since September 2010 when the government stopped funding it. In the last financial year over 39,000 visits were made by local children to council swimming pools through the scheme.

Children can swim for free at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Swimming Complex and St Luke’s Swimming Pool, all of which are operated by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the Council.

Any child 16 and under can register on the scheme by picking up an application form at their local swimming pool or by visiting www.brighton-hove.gov.uk . Once the form has been signed by a parent or guardian the child must take some identification as proof of age to one of the pools to receive their free swimming card. A passport or birth certificate is suitable.