Just keep swimming

On an autumnal but warm October evening, I recently gathered in the lobby of Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness for the launch of a new local swim club called ‘WeSwim’. This club ensures those with physical or learning disabilities can spend time in the pool with a volunteer, focused on building confidence, strengthening and conditioning, and overall water skills.

Being physically active can be difficult for people with disabilities, and leisure centres can be intimidating places – yet swimming is a great form of movement for a range of people, and enables people to exercise in ways they can’t on land.

Throughout the pandemic, our sense of community and activity levels had shifted. Being from another country myself, I had been searching for volunteer opportunities to re-invigorate those aspects of my life in my community of Tottenham, and WeSwim immediately caught my attention.

They had launched just before Covid-19, but endured a long pause before they could get back in the water. Once restrictions eased, they built up a session at Ironmonger Row Baths near Old Street.

One new swimmer there explained he hadn’t swam for several years as he wasn’t sure how his body would be in the water and didn’t want to run into difficulties in a public session alone.

After attending WeSwim sessions for several months, he built up his confidence and went on holiday where he felt comfortable to freely use a pool and enjoy his holiday like everyone else.

There are also stark links between disability and loneliness. Community clubs like this enable people to engage with other community members, while gaining a sense of achievement from doing something new.

However, some people were travelling a long way to get to the club at Old Street. Travel can be challenging for disabled people, and the need was recognised for more clubs across London.

In Haringey specifically, more than 19,500 people have a physical disability; approximately 10% of the population between the ages of 16–64. It’s also estimated that nearly 6,000 Haringey residents over the age of 14 have a learning disability. So WeSwim decided to open a new club in Tottenham.

That’s how I found myself in the pool that Monday night. Seven disabled swimmers joined in, supported one-to-one

with volunteers like myself. Many expressed how nervous they were feeling beforehand, but with the support of the team and peer support from each other, they all got in the water and had a rewarding session. The hour flew by, and I’m looking forward to future sessions as a local volunteer, who are key for WeSwim to thrive as a community initiative.

WeSwim is welcoming new volunteers and participants in Haringey. For volunteers who are empathetic, water confident, and want to be more involved with your community, you can learn more and apply at weswim.club/volunteer

If you are or know someone with a physical or learning disability and would benefit from swimming in a supported environment, get in touch at: weswim.club/tottenham-green or contact [email protected]