Swimmers Making A Splash With Top Changing Facilities

A swimming school is celebrating after receiving vital shower and changing equipment - thanks to a £5,000 boost from JCB.

Paddles Disability Swim School, based at South Moorlands Leisure Centre, in Allen Street Cheadle, supports more than 50 children and adults from across the country with severe physical needs, including cerebral palsy, to help them strengthen their muscles and enjoy time in the water.

The swim school, which has a squad of six swimmers who regularly compete at the Special Olympics, has now become one of the only schools in the area with specialist changing facilities after fitting the new shower chair and changing bed to make it easier for swimmers to get ready.

Darren Worthington, whose 14-year-old son Joseph has been swimming at the school for six years, said the new equipment makes such a difference in helping swimmers to get ready for their lesson. Travelling for nearly an hour each way from Macclesfield every Saturday for the half hour lesson, Darren said:

“There is nothing like Paddles Swim School anywhere else locally and it is amazing to have the new changing facilities available to us. As a parent it just makes it so much easier to help Joseph get ready and to keep doing what he loves. The freedom of being in the water makes him so happy and without this equipment we just would really struggle to lift and support him as he gets older.”

Paddles Disability Swim School was formed with the aim of providing safe and fun opportunities for young disabled people to access water activities. The club now supports children and adults from the age of four with regular recreational and competitive swimming opportunities. Many swimmers compete in regional, national and even Olympic swimming galas.