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28 - Dudley to make a splash with free swimming
Archived news release from 2008
Youngsters are being urged to take the plunge and dive in for free swimming in Dudley.
Free swimming will be offered to the under 16s across Dudley for two years, starting from April 1 next year.
Dudley Council is offering free swimming for people under 16 after securing funds from the Government’s free-swimming programme.
It will be available during public swimming sessions in the 25 metre pool at Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge along with Dudley and Halesowen leisure centres and Coseley swimming pool.
Earlier this month the council announced plans for free swimming for the over 60s under the same funding scheme.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment and culture, said:
“We have secured further funding which will allow us to offer free swimming to people under 16 for two years from April 1 next year.
“I am delighted we have been able to secure this money to help boost the health and fitness of young people across the borough.
“The scheme will run for as long as the council receives government funding as, due to the enormous funding pressures on essential services, it would be wrong to commit this council to indefinite funding of an unsupported scheme.”
An annual government grant of £151,640 has been offered to Dudley Council for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial years to fund the costs associated with delivering and promoting free swimming for the under 16s. This is in addition to the previous offer of £99,461 for over 60s.
In 2008/09 the council will receive a reward grant of £69,458 from the Government for participating in the free swimming programme, which will be used for feasibility and preparation work for the new two-year-programme.
The council will also be eligible in 2009/10 and 2010/11 to bid for capital money each year.
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