Summary
Thousands of children in Wiltshire, England, who receive free school meals can swim for free during the school holidays. Wiltshire Council will offer one free swim per week at council-run pools for up to 13 weeks. The scheme was successful last year and aims to continue providing healthy activities for young people.
Key Facts
- Wiltshire is offering free swimming to children eligible for free school meals.
- The program is for primary and secondary school pupils.
- Each child can swim for free once a week during school holidays for up to 13 weeks.
- Last year's pilot saw over 5,000 visits with good participation rates.
- Around 13,000 children in the county are eligible for the program.
- The council incurs minimal extra cost by allowing a few more participants per session.
- Pools at all council-run leisure centers, including Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, are included.
- The scheme will be reviewed after each holiday period to assess its success.
