The news that, for two weeks commencing on Monday 17th August 2015, Tameside Council and Active Tameside will be to providing 500 free swimming places for local residents under 16 is a very welcome development.
It is unfortunate however, that unlike Manchester, where the free swimming being given to under 17s includes access to all public swimming sessions; Tameside is not extending the same offer, which is restricted to only certain times at daily alternating pools.
I do fully appreciate the great opportunities already being offered by Active Tameside through, for example, the Active Tameside Learn to Swim programme and the Active Junior membership for young people in residential care. However the fact that a number of Tameside schools have purchased 6 month Active Junior membership still leaves many young people unable to access such opportunities - including a large number from low-income families!
Would it be possible for Tameside Council and Active Tameside to ensure that, in future, each young person living in Tameside can be offered free access - Active Junior membership - to all public swimming sessions at every Tameside pool throughout every school holiday period? Would it also be possible to extend this to all students in sixth form education too and to include the other sporting activities as well?
Carl Simmons
11th August
Hear hear !! Carl
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