Partnership programme inspires more youngsters to swim

Collaboration between BH Live, Energise Me and the Buckland Youth Activities Centre is transforming the lives of twelve young people, from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, through swimming.

The youngsters, aged between 14-19, regularly attend the Buckland Youth Activities Centre. They are however currently unable to take part in some of the water-based activities and excursions because they are either non-swimmers or lack confidence in the water.

A twelve-week teambuilding and learn-to-swim Satellite Club programme has been developed for the group and is now being piloted at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Leisure Centre to boost the skills of the youngsters.

An introductory workshop at the venue’s recently opened Clip ’N Climb attraction brought the group together before the sessions in the pool began.

Now weekly swimming lessons, delivered by BH Live’s Swimming Academy, are teaching the youngsters new skills in the water and building their confidence in the pool. This is breaking down barriers to swimming, promoting physical activity in the water and aims to ultimately enable them to take part in future water-based activities. The experience also has the potential to inspire a career in the leisure industry.

Rob Cunningham BH Live’s Divisional General Manager said,

“Together we are encouraging more people into the pool and enabling them to enjoy the many benefits this brings. And through supportive coaching and confidence building these youngsters will gain a valuable skill for life, as well get lots of enjoyment from being in the water.”

Energise Me is a charity which exists to beat inactivity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It is committed to changing lives through physical activity and sport to build happier, healthier and stronger communities. Energise Me is funded by Sport England to develop local Satellite Clubs, which are designed around the needs of young people. It has partnered with BH Live to develop new opportunities and provide transport, swimwear and learning apparatus to get young people into swimming.

Robyn Bell from Energise Me said,

“To date we have engaged with over 1,700 young people in Satellite Clubs across the region and positively influenced their lives through physical activity.

“Working with local partners who share our passion for engaging young people in physical activity is really important to us. This particular programme is giving teenagers in Portsmouth the opportunity to benefit from the experience of BH Live’s swimming coaches and to enjoy the fantastic facilities available to them in the city.”

Amanda Littlefield, Youth Service Manager for Portsmouth City Council added

“This collaboration has enabled our young people to build their teamwork skills, confidence and self-esteem through swimming.  As a youth service we aim to increase access to opportunities for young people in the city with a sustainable approach that would provide them with skills for the future. This also fits in well with our annual plan where we focus on water safety as one of our key themes throughout the year.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

For more information about BH Live please contact:

Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562

About BH Live

BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.

With more than five million visits a year and £42 million turnover we are changing lives and are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.

In 2017/18 we had 4.5 million leisure centre attendances, hosted more than 500 events and sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment event tickets. We also welcomed 59,000 conference and exhibition delegates.

This generated an estimated £53 million in local economic benefit.

For more visit bhlive.org.uk.

Get social with us: LinkedIn, Twitter @BHLIVE_UK and Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive

BH Live operates the following venues in partnership with Portsmouth City Council:

  • Mountbatten Leisure Centre – Portsmouth’s flagship leisure and event venue with a national-class 50m swimming pool, 150 station gym, eight-court sports hall, squash, spin and dance studios, a cycle velodrome, athletics track, function suites with bars, a café and soft play facility. It is also home to a Clip ‘N Climb leisure attraction which opened in 2018.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Twitter and Facebook @mountbattenlc

  • Pyramids Centre – one of Portsmouth’s leading entertainment and leisure venues overlooking Southsea beach and the Solent. It has fun pools, flumes, a wave machine and a three-level soft play adventure world. There is also a multipurpose gym, 70+ weekly group exercise classes and a spa.

It also hosts regular live music events, conferences, exhibitions.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk and bhlivetickets.co.uk

Get social with us: Twitter @PyramidsCentre @PyramidsLive @bhlivetickets

Facebook @Pyramids.Centre @PyramidsLive @bhlivetickets

  • Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – state-of-the-art gymnastics hall, physiotherapy room and meeting room.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Facebook @PortsmouthGymnasticsCentre

  • Portsmouth Tennis Centre – A 10 court tennis facility in the north of Portsmouth consisting of four indoor courts and six floodlit outdoor courts. A comprehensive tennis coaching programme caters for all ages and abilities and is the area’s hub of accessible tennis. The programme runs sessions for tots, juniors, adults and also includes variations of the sport such as cardio tennis and touch tennis.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Twitter @PortsTennis and Facebook @PortsmouthTC

  • Eastney Swimming Pool – 20m swimming pool and a spectators’ area.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Facebook @EastneyPool

  • Wimbledon Park Sports Centre – 20 station gym, five badminton courts, basketball court and sports hall.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Facebook @WimbledonParkSportsCentre

  • Charter Community Sports Centre – 20m swimming pool, 20 station gym, sports hall and an outdoor multi-use games area.

For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

Get social with us: Facebook @CharterCommunitySC