Making a Splash

SafelySwim is a truly unique swimming environment. Music playing and friendly smiles all round - I knew the atmosphere was special from the moment I walked through the door. This is where I met Ivan and his mum Janet. I bumped into them in the changing rooms and had no idea this is who I came to visit. Full of confidence Ivan was so keen to show me his swimming. “I don’t need them” he told me when I asked him which floats he would be using. He’s only been coming here since April this year! (with a few months at another pool beforehand).

Ivan has a visual impairment which means he wears prescription swimming goggles that don’t correct his vision as well as his glasses. His eye drops make them fog up too making it a struggle to see in the pool. Mum was too worried to enrol him in group classes due to his lack of confidence with unfamiliar places and people, as well as his uncertainty in the water. Seeing him swim now it’s hard to believe this is the same child.

Working 1-to-1 with Freya has helped Ivan to swim completely unassisted. Width after width he swam backstroke across the pool, with Freya close by for support. Freya is so good at connecting with Ivan, making the lessons and learning fun and encouraging his best efforts. Ivan now loves coming to the pool and looks forward to his lessons each week. He has the confidence and skills to be safe around water. Before Level Water he was a complete non-swimmer and would not even put his face in the water. Achieving his 10m badge last week was a huge moment for him.

Janet left us a lovely message:

“Thank you! Thank you for making it possible for Ivan, and children like him, to access lessons despite their disabilities. It means so much as it gives them great enjoyment at something that is otherwise not possible, as well as a life-saving skill that they will have for the rest of their lives. Thank you so much! If you are able partner with Level Water, please do!  It makes a huge difference to both the children and families of children with disabilities. The more places that can offer these lessons, the shorter the waiting lists and the less distance families will need to travel to access lessons for their child. It all helps enormously; It helps our children be like other children, it builds their confidence as well as giving them essential water skills for the rest of their lives!”