National award for swimming lessons

The operators of Newtown's Maldwyn Leisure Centre have received an award for their swimming lessons.

Freedom Leisure, a not-for-profit trust, has been named Learn to Swim Provider of the Year 2020 at the Swim Wales Learn to Swim Conference.

This was the first time the awards had been presented by Swim Wales to recognise the inspiring work that individuals and organisations deliver across Wales to enable people of all ages and abilities to learn how to swim.

Freedom Leisure runs Learn to Swim programmes in 19 pools across Wales, including Maldwyn Leisure Centre, to enable people to achieve this essential life skill in a safe, fun, supportive, and relaxing environment.

Hywel Evans, Aquatic Development Manager for Freedom Leisure in Wales, said: “We currently have over 9000 people in our swim school programme and we have an aim to increase this to over 10,000 by the end of March 2020.

“It is testament to the amazing teaching delivered every week by our swim school teams and we are delighted to have been recognised for this.”

As well as winning the overall Provider of the Year award, Freedom Leisure’s Swim School instructors were nominated in the Swimming Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Learn to Swim in Wales categories. This reflects, the trust says, the ongoing investment in the development of its swim teacher workforce.

For more information about learning to swim with Freedom Leisure or to become part of its swim teaching team, visit the website www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/swimlessons or contact your nearest centre.