Inspiring others to swim

Supported swimming sessions for those with special needs

“Helping young people with special needs and disabilities, and sharing my passion for swimming, has taught me to be more resilient and patient”, says Emma Gordon, an eleven year old girl from Wimbledon, London.

Emma helps children and young adults at the Dolphin Special Needs Swim Club every Friday evening, supporting the teachers at the club by demonstrating strokes and exercises, and ensuring that all the participants are happy and engaged in the water. Emma also organises races against the children at the end of every session which she says makes the lessons really fun, whilst giving her great satisfaction to see how much they have all improved since she started helping over a year ago.

Emma said: “Helping children to swim has been really rewarding, especially to see

“Helping young people with special needs and disabilities, and sharing my passion for swimming, has taught me to be more resilient and patient.”

Emma Gordon them transition from the smaller beginners pool to the larger pool for more able swimmers. At first, it was quite intimidating for them, as well as me, but after a couple of weeks we got to know each other and the children really started to increase in confidence in the water. It is great to have been able to inspire other children and young adults to participate in a sport that I love, and I feel really lucky that I have made some lovely new friends that I would otherwise not have had the chance to get to know.”

Emma was first taken swimming by her parents when she was eight weeks old, and is now a member of Wandsworth Swimming Club, where she trains for five hours a week, as well as regularly competing in local swimming galas.

For all children, swimming can be a fun and effective way of relieving stress as well as keeping physically fit, something that Emma recognises: “Swimming and coaching at the Dolphin Swim School was a real diversion for me when I was preparing for and sitting my 11 plus exams over the past year. It was great to have something else to focus on during that time, and it really helped me to sleep as the training can be really, really tiring!”

The Dolphin Swim School is for children and young adults with Special Needs. The club runs term time only at Latchmere Leisure Centre on Friday evenings for children and young adults aged five years and above.

EMMA GORDON

www.placesleisure.org