North Lanarkshire Leisure and North Lanarkshire Council are urging young people to take the plunge during the forthcoming spring break thanks to the free swims initiative, which has provided an incredible one million free swims since it began in 2001.

 

Free swims are available for everyone under the age of 16 and can be enjoyed on Mondays to Fridays between 10am and 4pm from Monday 7 April until Friday 18 April (inclusive).

 

The initiative has proved immensely popular since it began and is a great way to get fit and have fun in a safe and supervised environment. And it's an important element of North Lanarkshire Leisure's commitment to get more young people, more active, more often.

 

Councillor Jim Logue, Chair of North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd, said: "Our free swims scheme has been a major success story over the last seven years, and we have seen marked increases in the number of young people taking advantage of this great offer.

 

"Swimming is one of the best ways to get fit and with the 2012 Olympics coming up and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games taking place not far from here – not to mention the Lanarkshire bid to host the 2011 International Children's Games – this could be the route to swimming stardom for some of our young athletes!

 

"I'm sure the spring break free swims initiative will be as popular as ever before and I hope as many young people as possible make sure their spring break is a wet one!"

 

To ensure the free swims can be enjoyed in a fun and safe environment, all swimmers must comply with North Lanarkshire Leisure's health and safety requirements for swimming:

 

·        children between four and seven years of age must be accompanied into the water by a responsible adult, with no more than two children per adult;

·        under fours must be accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one basis;

·        children aged eight and above are free to swim without supervision.

 

The free swim offer will be available at the following pools:

 

Kilsyth Swimming Pool (01236 828166)

John Smith Pool, Airdrie (01236 750130)

Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex, Bellshill (01698 747466)

Aquatec, Motherwell (01698 332828)

Wishaw Sports Centre (01698 355821)

Shotts Leisure Centre (01501 823333)

Time Capsule, Coatbridge (01236 449572)

 

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