No free swimming for kids in Sheffield; other S. Yorkshire cities have it

bethybabes · 31-03-2009, 19:30

Hi All,

I've read and lurked here for a few years enjoying reading the posts.

After reading the news today that Sheffield is the only City in South Yorkshire to get refused free swimming for under 16's, and elderly folk, I felt an urge to speak my opinion.

after all the turmoil we've endured for the World Student Games and infrastructure, and the debt for building the facilities, if any City in Yorkshire should get carte blanche to use our new sports facilities, free of charge, supported by Central Government during these hard times, it's Sheffielders.

The sheer audacity of Sheffield Council being the only South Yorkshire City to refuse it's citizens access to this Government sponsored programme, after all we've endured in the name of promoting 'Sport in the City is disgusting.

For more information about the issue, see the URL's below, unfortunately, due to restrictions with new members at Sheffield Forum, they wont let me hyperlink the articles, so please copy and paste the link in your browser address bar;

sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/headlines/Council-rejects-free-swimming.4540451.jp

If, like me, this gets your goat up, why not email Nick Clegg about your feelings at this link:

nickclegg.org.uk/index.php?option=com_rsform&Itemid=85

Podium_K2 · 31-03-2009, 19:39

I for one agree - with the Lib Dems (I know. I feel dirty) I don't use the pools and don't see why council tax should go up to pay for it. It's probably wise to be cautious given the current climate especially when it trickles down to council tax payments in 2010/11. Fewer people in work = less CT paid...

Although, if it was free to everyone and not just under 16s and over 60s then I might think differently

A.B.Yaffle · 31-03-2009, 19:52

If the council are forcing council workers to take pay-cuts and also cutting library opening times in order to help fund their lower council tax increase, I would like them to slash their own wages and expenses to help pay for the free swimming that the government is offering to greatly subsidise.

I thought we were supposed to be encouraging healthy exercise and discouraging children from swimming in dangerous outdoor places.

go4it · 31-03-2009, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethybabes

Hi All,

I've read and lurked here for a few years enjoying reading the posts.

After reading the news today that Sheffield is the only City in South Yorkshire to get refused free swimming for under 16's, and elderly folk, I felt an urge to speak my opinion.

after all the turmoil we've endured for the World Student Games and infrastructure, and the debt for building the facilities, if any City in Yorkshire should get carte blanche to use our new sports facilities, free of charge, supported by Central Government during these hard times, it's Sheffielders.

The sheer audacity of Sheffield Council being the only South Yorkshire City to refuse it's citizens access to this Government sponsored programme, after all we've endured in the name of promoting 'Sport in the City is disgusting.

For more information about the issue, see the URL's below, unfortunately, due to restrictions with new members at Sheffield Forum, they wont let me hyperlink the articles, so please copy and paste the link in your browser address bar;

sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/headlines/Council-rejects-free-swimming.4540451.jp

If, like me, this gets your goat up, why not email Nick Clegg about your feelings at this link:

nickclegg.org.uk/index.php?option=com_rsform&Itemid=85

Last summer free swimming for 8-13 year olds was held at various pools. I ended up at one session - there were about 70 people in the pool. It was crowded and not a lot of fun. Now are all these 70 people unable to pay even £1 to have a swim?

Pools are expensive - maintenance, lifeguards etc. Now what the Council want to focus on is free swimming lessons for kids. This is the major barrier to physical activity - many children in Sheffield cannot swim as they have not had proper lessons. Even with school swimming lessons, there are too many kids to give enough quality teaching time to see any progress.

So what would you rather do - see kids get the chance to learn to swim or save yourself a couple of quid by having a free swim yourself?

In this city we have a wealth of sports facilities - £25 a month will get you swimming pools, athletics tracks, gyms etc. A Slice card will get you a cheap swim and also tennis court, badminton court hire.

Shiesh · 31-03-2009, 19:53

When I heard Doncaster had introduced this scheme a few months ago I was really hoping that Sheffield would follow suit !!

As a mother of three sons who all enjoy swimming and would swim everyday at Graves Tennis Centre if it was affordable or even better FREE !!

As a child back in Middlesbrough all children were FREE if accompanied by a paying adult...!!

At a time when child obesity is on the increase it's the way to get kids active again is by tempting them with FREE access to facilities !

Shame on you Sheffield !!!

Podium_K2 · 31-03-2009, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiesh

When I heard Doncaster had introduced this scheme a few months ago I was really hoping that Sheffield would follow suit !!

As a mother of three sons who all enjoy swimming and would swim everyday at Graves Tennis Centre if it was affordable or even better FREE !!

As a child back in Middlesbrough all children were FREE if accompanied by a paying adult...!!

At a time when child obesity is on the increase it's the way to get kids active again is by tempting them with FREE access to facilities !

Shame on you Sheffield !!!

Surely if you have kids then you should pay for them?

go4it · 31-03-2009, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiesh

When I heard Doncaster had introduced this scheme a few months ago I was really hoping that Sheffield would follow suit !!

As a mother of three sons who all enjoy swimming and would swim everyday at Graves Tennis Centre if it was affordable or even better FREE !!

As a child back in Middlesbrough all children were FREE if accompanied by a paying adult...!!

At a time when child obesity is on the increase it's the way to get kids active again is by tempting them with FREE access to facilities !

Shame on you Sheffield !!!

Get yourself and your kids a slice card and it's £1.90 for you and £1.50 for each of your kids.

Is that too much?

Digsy · 31-03-2009, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiesh

When I heard Doncaster had introduced this scheme a few months ago I was really hoping that Sheffield would follow suit !!

As a mother of three sons who all enjoy swimming and would swim everyday at Graves Tennis Centre if it was affordable or even better FREE !!

As a child back in Middlesbrough all children were FREE if accompanied by a paying adult...!!

At a time when child obesity is on the increase it's the way to get kids active again is by tempting them with FREE access to facilities !

Shame on you Sheffield !!!

Surely it would be better to take your kids to one of the many free swimming centres throughout the uk, rather than pay tons of extra tax.
Nothing to stop you taking a day out to doncaster and using their services.

loom · 31-03-2009, 20:05

Ohh ..I am a hard working tax payer.....seems I don't qualify for a SLICE card. Thought as much

go4it · 31-03-2009, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by loom

Ohh ..I am a hard working tax payer.....seems I don't qualify for a SLICE card. Thought as much

Then get a 'Graves Card' and then it's only £2.90, £3.30 without a Graves card. An extra £1 / £1.40 - not going to break the bank.

gabzball · 31-03-2009, 20:16

Im not sure why people seem to think that things should be free nowadays, when i was little my parents always had to pay for things such as swimming, whether it was lessons or pleasure. They managed to pay for me to go so why cant parents do so now. Society seems to want things for free more and more. I totally understand that it seems very prejudice that we are the only city to not have free swimming and that exercise should be encouraged but like i have said it didnt used to be free and in general childen didnt suffer from obesity as much, so im not sure that whether it was free or not it would encourage parents to take their kids.

The Chavs · 31-03-2009, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethybabes

Hi All,

After reading the news today that Sheffield is the only City in South Yorkshire to get refused free swimming for under 16's, and elderly folk, I felt an urge to speak my opinion.

sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/headlines/Council-rejects-free-swimming.4540451.jp

The link to the article has a published date of 30 September 2008 but you read it today. Has there been a more recent article or change to this story?

Like it says in the Sept article "Sheffield Council refused to sign up because they say the city has only been allocated £370,000 a year which would not cover the £1.1 million it would cost pools in lost payments".

In my opinion central government should have funded this IN FULL and not expected local councils to stump up aswell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by go4it

Now what the Council want to focus on is free swimming lessons for kids. This is the major barrier to physical activity - many children in Sheffield cannot swim as they have not had proper lessons. Even with school swimming lessons, there are too many kids to give enough quality teaching time to see any progress.

So what would you rather do - see kids get the chance to learn to swim or save yourself a couple of quid by having a free swim yourself?

I agree. I think all children should receive free (adequate) swmming lessons. At present they get 10 lessons in Y3 and 10 lessons in Y4 which is just not enough and waiting til they are 7/8 is plain stupid. You'd be surprised how many at school lessons cannot swim at all. They should also bring back bronze/silver/gold lifesaving skills into school lessons.

I also think that while many pools are fun they are not catered to parents teaching their own children to swim. For example, I take my youngest to Upperthorpe baths. He cant touch the bottom and is learning great, he has to swim. As this pool is closed at the moment I took him to Hillsborough for a change - he could touch the bottom all the time, wanted to play on the slide and just have fun, no interest in "swimming". While this is good for confidence I dont think this is a good pool for learning any swimming skills.

Im also not sure what places like Hillsborough charge for swimming lessons these days but they did only start lessons from 5 yrs old and I couldnt get mine in when I wanted them to learn. I personally think this should be lowered to 3. I find lessons that took them and have had all mine in lessons from 3 yrs old and supported this by me teaching them aswell.

scoop · 31-03-2009, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by go4it

Then get a 'Graves Card' and then it's only £2.90, £3.30 without a Graves card. An extra £1 / £1.40 - not going to break the bank.

I can't understand why all the council run facilities aren't part of fitness first.

The Chavs · 31-03-2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabzball

I totally understand that it seems very prejudice that we are the only city to not have free swimming and that exercise should be encouraged

We arent the only city. Looks like 54 other local authorities have made a similar decision to Sheffield.

scoop · 31-03-2009, 20:27

I love swimming, as does Scoop jr, and I'd love to take him more often but the price is a little prohibititive. We'd definitley go more often if it was just a bit cheaper, for example, maybe a special parent and child price?

That said, I don't think swimming is the be all and end all of encouraging children (and their parents) to be fit and active.

Me and Scoop jr go most evenings to the park for a kick about with his football, and we're in a 3k fun run together this weekend, so we've been doing a little bit of running in preperation.

gabzball · 31-03-2009, 20:33

Scoop Jnr, love it lol, good on you for geting to the park and getting your lil one involved in the fun run!

scoop · 31-03-2009, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabzball

Scoop Jnr, love it lol, good on you for geting to the park and getting your lil one involved in the fun run!

Well one things for sure, you don't need a gym membership when you've goty a six year old! I can't keep up with him!

DIVA · 31-03-2009, 20:36

It's a great opportunity missed. How much will children becoming increasingly obese cost Sheffield in years to come? How much will it cost us in grafiti removal, etc, when these kids could have been happily occupied? Not to mention how opportunities such as this are linked to better performance at school, etc.

I think the Lib Dems have read Sheffield people wrong on this one. Ok, our rates used to be high but everyone on the whole agreed that we got good value for money, 2p bus rides, beautiful parks, etc. The problem was when the rates were going up but the services were going down. I still think the majority of Sheffielders would like a return to the good old days, of old Labour when we used to have a vibrant city with great value for our money - including public toilets in town, great transport, and beautiful christmas lights - all of which used to attract a lot of visitors to our city.

gabzball · 31-03-2009, 20:49

Whilst i agree with you DIVA on your second paragraph, rates are far too high for such poor services we have!
However as ive posted above when i was small swimming wasnt free and i still used to go or go to the park etc. Just because swimming wasnt free me nor my friends were or are obese, we didnt graffiti or terriorise people and we performed well at school. I know your not just blaming lack of free swimming on these issues.

bradley1983 · 31-03-2009, 20:50

The only city in South Yorkshire not to have free swimming for kids/elderly? Well last time I looked, South Yorkshire only had two cities (Barnsley and Rotherham are towns, my dear), so 1 out of 2 cities not with free swimming is hardly a big deal or a shocking statistic.