20 pools chosen to receive £750,000 grant to make them more usable for people with disabilities

Swimming pools have received a £750,000 grant to make them more usable for people with disabilities.

In all, 20 pools were chosen – including those at Lewisham Glass Mill Leisure Centre, Thornton Heath Leisure Centre and The Spa at Beckenham.

Staff will be trained to provide pool sessions for disabled people, who
represent more than a fifth of the population but are twice as likely to be inactive.

Submersible lifts will be installed to help people enter the water, along with other facility changes.

The upgrades will also serve pregnant women, those with long-term illness such as cancer, stroke victims, and those in rehabilitation.

The grant – provided by The London Marathon Charitable Trust – targets pools managed by national governing body Swim England and its partners.

Swim England chief executive Jane Nickerson said: “It is very important to reduce the barriers to aquatic activity.

This funding is helping to make being in the water more accessible for all.

“We are pleased to be seeing the benefits of this grant.”

Work is due to be completed by the spring.