DISABLED children will now be able to enjoy specialised swimming classes thanks to a new scheme floated by a Gwynedd councillor.

Following a successful campaign, Cllr Annwen Daniels has succeeded in ensuring that new swimming lessons take place for a group of children with disabilities at the Bro Ffestiniog swimming pool.

In a special pilot, Cllr Daniels, who was chairperson of Gwynedd Council until last month, hopes that the scheme will be spread to other leisure centres across Gwynedd in the future.

“Swimming is one of the essential life skills and a way of keeping healthy and fit,” said Cllr Daniels.

“For some time, I’ve been pushing the council to facilitate swimming lessons for a group of children with disabilities because the mainstream swimming lessons are not suitable for them.

“There was an opportunity for parents to pay for one-to-one lessons for children with disabilities, but these lessons can be expensive and not all families can afford the cost.

“I’ve been working with Gwynedd Council’s leisure service officer to see what the council could facilitate. I was delighted when I found out that the council had agreed to start a pilot scheme at Bro Ffestiniog swimming pool to see how the lessons develop.

“A half-hour swimming lesson is now being held for a small group, of up to six children, every week at Blaenau.

“Staff are great with the children and the youngsters themselves are having fun and enjoying being taught with other children in the group.”

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