8 minute read
Kids & Families
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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Local lad shines at first Olympic Games!
Over the next two editions we’re excited to share an interview with Jacob Whittle, the 16 year old swimmer from Alfreton who became the youngest swimmer ever to make the British Olympic team. This month we look at how he began his swimming career.
Did you always love the water? Yes I did - my mum first took me to a mother and toddler session when I was maybe 1 year old and we went together every week. As soon as I was old enough my parents signed me up in a learn to swim programme - they aren’t swimmers but wanted me to learn to swim and not to be afraid of the water.
How old were you when you first learned to swim? I was 3 years old, possibly younger, I just transitioned from the mother and toddler water rhymes sessions where me and my mum were in the water together singing nursery rhymes. I went every week to learn to swim sessions on a Saturday at Water Meadows, Mansfield.
When did you realise you had the ability to swim competitively? I joined Ripley Amateur Swimming Club & Life-Saving (RASCALS) when I was 8 or 9, but I was 10 before I attended my first swimming competition. Derbyshire County Championships was my first major competition, and I didn’t make a final but the following year at the same competition I pretty much won every event I swam. At that age I was swimming all strokes and distances. I competed at the Regional Championships (East Midlands) and came away with a handful of gold medals, and I was given the opportunity to supplement my training at RASCALS by joining Dervenio Excel on a part time basis, moving to full time 6 months later as part of their national squad. From the age of 12 I was selected each year to be part of the talent programmes for Swim England. In 2019 at the age of 14, I qualified for the British Swimming Championships and whilst there I swam a huge lifetime best breaking the British record for aged 14 in 100m Freestyle. As a result of this competition I was selected for the European Junior Championships and European Youth Olympic Festival. Later that year I was selected onto British Swimming’s Podium Potential Programme.
How many hours a day do you train? Usually it is 4hrs per day in the pool and then I also do gym and circuit sessions a few times a week too.
Do you eat a special diet? No, but I eat a balanced healthy diet, with lots of greens, lots of food rich in iron, fish, chicken, plenty of carbs, lots of fruit, milk and I also drink lots of water. At the end of the day I am a teenager and my parents have always allowed me to eat like a teenager in moderation, which means I will have treats sometimes!
Next month, Jacob tells us about his Olympic experience.
AN INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 4-18
open day 25th Sept
At Nottingham High School we combine our excellent academic reputation with a focus on the individual needs of our students, for 21st-century learning and development. Year on year we achieve the best academic result in the region, with a strong focus on co-curricular activities and student well-being, we know we have #somuchmore to offer. Register on our website to visit us on the 25th September 2021 to find out all that we can offer. Virtual tour content is also available on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NEW FUNDING PROVIDES FREE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADULT LEARNERS
With the government continuing to offer more opportunities to retrain or upskill for free, now is the time to change your future.
With busy lifestyles and the worry that new qualifications are expensive, the idea of pursuing new ventures or make a lifelong dream become a reality is always left to the side for many adults.
But now with adult education high on the agenda for 2021 and beyond, there are many ways for anyone aged 19 and above to step back into education.
Bringing these opportunities to the local community, Vision West Nottinghamshire College is running a wide range of courses that are dedicated to helping adults back into training after the pandemic.
Offering both funded and part-funded training qualifications in areas such as healthcare, engineering, education and more, they are supporting both employed and unemployed adults back into the workplace or into a new career.
As a more flexible alternative, they are also offering free online courses ranging across key sectors such as business, childcare and health and social care; all of which result in a qualification equivalent to a GCSE or O-level.
So if you have recently thought about making a change to your career, now is the time to make anything possible.
To find out more visit www.wnc.ac.uk/adult or speak to a friendly advisor on 0808 100 3626
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.
RETRAIN AND UPSKILL WITH NEW GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Shipley Park might just be Rafa’s favourite place in the world. So he was delighted when David Robinson, who walks here often, offered to write up this fabulous walk for the magazine. Thank you David! The park is lovely, with a great variety of scenery, sights and countryside and this walk takes you on a well thought out route. Rafa loved the walk, as did Flake, and they gave it a big ‘paws up’!
3 mile walk around Shipley Country Park An easy walk for you and your dog. It shouldn’t take any more than 1 1/2 hours, but there are pleasant stops along the way. Most of the route is hard a track, but a good pair of walking boots are recommended.
1. Take the A6007 out of Heanor along the
Ilkeston Road. As you drive out of Marlpool you come to the Shipley Garden Centre.
Only thirty yards after, turn right onto a country lane which takes you into The
Field Village. 2. Park anywhere along the lane, avoiding blocking any driveway. It’s best during the week as weekends can be busy. Walk about 100 yards past the old red telephone box, then turn right onto a tarmac path.
Walk another 200 yards until you come to a bridge with Osbornes Pond on your left. Take the wooden walkway to your left down to the pond’s edge. Walk to the road and turn right. 3. Carry on up the road and before you get to Derby Lodge, turn right onto Bell Lane.
Walk down the lane ignoring any paths to your right. Eventually, after 300 yards, after a 30 sign, turn left onto a clear gravel track with a wooden gate. Keep ahead and the path descends with a wooden gate right into a woodland glade. 4. When you walk out of the wooded area, keep on the track ignoring the narrower path on your right. Soon you will see
Mapperley Reservoir on your right. A few yards later, there’s a wide expanse of greenery where you can relax for a while on the many benches and tables available.
You can also look at the reservoir by its bankside.
5. If you do take a break, come back to the track, and carry on right. At the end, turn left and immediately through a barrier
gate to walk uphill. As you level off, you pass through another barrier gate with a splendid Mock Tudor Mansion on your right. As you descend down the slope there are nice views to your left. 6. You now come to Derby Lodge again.
Here is a café with seated area and toilets.
Do remember, however they are closed in winter and late autumn. Immediately, turn right after the lodge and gently rise uphill.
After a few yards, you can if you wish, take the right driveway, and visit the site of The
Old Shipley Hall. Here there are plaques which tell you of the Miller Mundy Family who lived there from the 1800’s. Also admire the water tower to your right which is now residential. There’s ample space to relax here and take in the tranquillity of the area.
7. Come back onto the track and turn right.
After 150 yards they split. Take the left path to walk through the gate and descend down a wooded glade. As you drop down, on your right was the site of the American
Adventure Theme Park. It will soon be a new housing estate. 8. Again, you enter a wooded area and pass through a gate. The left driveway takes you to the picturesque Shipley Cricket Club and is well worth a five-minute visit.
Come back and carry on left uphill and back into the village to your car.
