Official ribbon cutting ceremony, poolside at Poplar Baths.
Swimming pools are closing around the country: more than 1,000 have closed in the last 14 years, including 450 council pools.
However in Tower Hamlets, the council is investing in its leisure offer to promote healthier communities.
In May, the management of seven leisure centres was brought in-house to provide direct control over its leisure offer, under the brand Be Well.
Be Well seeks to support residents’ journeys to a healthier lifestyle. As part of this, Be Well is launching free swimming for women and girls aged 16 and over, and men aged 55 and over, from 15 July 2024.
Tower Hamlets is a borough with poor health, with half of adults either overweight or obese. Women in the borough are more likely to be inactive than men, with women’s life expectancy seven years younger than that of men. Older adults have the lowest rate of physical activity than any other age groups.
The launch of the new free swimming programme seeks to address these inequalities.
Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, officially launched the new free swimming programme at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre and Gym on Monday 15 July.
Ali Noyce from Swim England and Matt Croxall from the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) – the borough’s new swimming partners – attended to speak about the benefits of swimming and the importance of water safety.
Local organisations and young people joined the celebrations.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“We are committed to reducing health inequalities and investing in health and wellbeing.
“Insourcing our leisure service and creating Be Well has been one of our many steps towards achieving this.
“Both women and girls over 16 and those over the age of 55 are less likely to be physically active.
These inequalities are even greater amongst diverse communities such as those in Tower Hamlets.
“Our new free swimming programme will address these health inequalities and make it easier and more accessible for those who need our support the most.”
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“Free swimming for women and girls aged 16 and over, and men aged 55 and over is a targeted approach to removing barriers and bringing communities together, to creating a healthier borough.
“I am excited to be launching our new programme and look forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the community.”
Visit the Be Well website to learn more about the registration criteria, view our free swim timetable and book your session.
Posted on Monday 15th July 2024