The phenomenal success of Cheshire East Council's free swimming programme has been recognised in a prestigious award from the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The programme – recently rated one of the most successful in the UK - has been granted the Inspire Mark which recognises innovative projects which are directly inspired by the Games.
The award was officially unveiled at Wilmslow Leisure Centre which is the first in Cheshire East to benefit from funding awarded under the Government's Free Swimming Initiative, Capital Modernisation Programme.
The funding awarded to Wilmslow Leisure Centre is being used to refurbish the swimming pool changing rooms. Works started today and should be finished by January 22nd 2010. The works will result in one of the changing rooms being closed as it is refurbished and so the leisure centre will be introducing some modified opening times during these periods.
Since April 1 almost 40,000 people in Cheshire East have signed up for free swimming, which is available to those aged 60 and over and 16 and under. Now, to celebrate the Inspire Mark achievement, the authority is offering a prize for the 50,000th person to register. They will receive a family leisure pass providing free use of the facilities at their local leisure centre for a year.
Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet Member with responsibilty for Health and Wellbeing, said: "In Cheshire East we decided to take full advantage of free swimming for our residents as part of our commitment to encouraging people to be more active.”
"The programme has proved so popular that we were rated in the top 10 for take-up in the UK and now its success has been formally recognised by the Inspire Mark. It is a prestigious accredication from the 2012 Organising Committee which aims to inspire people to make positive life changes ahead of the Games.”
For those who haven't yet taken advantage of free swimming, now is the time to sign-up to be in with a chance of winning a year's family leisure pass if they are the lucky 50,000th registration.
