Suffolk Swim Diaries

SUFFOLK SWIM DIARIES

What are they?

The Swim Diaries are weekly diaries that are being kept by a group of adults who are learning to swim in pools across Suffolk. Everyday Swim advertised in local papers to attract adult non-swimmers and paid for their swimming lessons in exchange for keeping a regular diary about their experience.

Why do the Swim Diaries?

Earlier this year I met a lovely lady called Barbara Macdonald who learned to swim in December 2006, aged 62, after a lifetime fear of the water. Her story was an inspiring one and everyone wanted to know about her experience of learning to swim.

Barbara came along to the Suffolk Everyday Swim open-day at Bury St. Edmunds and came to realise that there are a lot of people just like her out there. As a result she has set up the Aquarius Swimming Club that caters specifically for non-swimmers who are very nervous of the water (to find out more about Barbara’s club call her on 01284 828656).

It became apparent that adult non-swimmers are a group who require a slightly different approach to get them into the water. While many people regard swimming and pool activity as a good way for them to keep healthy in an enjoyable way, for many, simply taking that first step through the door of the leisure centre is an enormous achievement, not to be underestimated.

We wanted to find out what it is like to come to the pool for the first time in a long time, perhaps with a fear of water. We wanted to find out what things are important to this group of people and how the experience of learning to swim for the first time, as an adult, can be improved.

Who Benefits?

Lots of people taking part in the Swim Diaries want to learn to swim because they are missing out on having fun with their grandchildren in the pool and are fed up of missing out on family holidays. If I could sum up our Swim Diary keepers in one line it would be “nervous but determined”. It is quite clear that there are very good reasons to learn to swim as an adult including safety and health, but enjoying time in the pool with family was an incentive that has stood out.

One in five adults across the country can't swim. Clearly that's a lot of people missing out on what their local pool has to offer, and it's not only the adults who miss out. Those adults are parents and grandparents, friends and influencers. If they don't swim it impacts more widely. But if we can motivate individuals to take up swimming they become ambassadors and their enthusiasm for the pool encourages others to take the plunge.

Most of our diary keepers are still taking lessons, but some have finished now and all so far have continued to swim on a regular basis, or have taken up more lessons. This tells us that encouraging this group into the pool, and paying for their lessons makes for a good business case for pool operators. Getting adult non-swimmers back in the pool is vital. If their experience of learning to swim is then a good one, they may become regular swimmers for the rest of their lives.

Everyday Swim hopes that non-swimmers out there who read the Swim Diaries will be inspired to learn to swim as well. If you are a non-swimming adult who fears the water, you are not alone. If you think it’s too late to learn, you’re wrong.

Who is taking part in the Swim Diaries?

Everyone who responded to our newspaper advert for the Swim Diaries was female! Those who took part live in Suffolk and have recently been learning to swim in a Suffolk Pool. See below to find out who took part and where - click on their photo or name to read their Swim Diary.

**Bury St Edmunds**
Brenda Orchard	Brenda was thrown in at the deep end when she was 10 years old but now she wants to learn to swim for safety, fitness and to have more fun with her grandchildren. This time she’s nervous but more determined than ever before. “None of the things I had worried about happened. The instructor was lovely, very patient, pleasant and made the whole thing fun.”
Isabel Hickey	Isabel is feeling really nervy about learning to swim, but wants to do it for health reasons, in particular to help with her arthritis. *“I still can’t stand from the frontal position (must stop saying “can't!”). But I enjoyed it. Kate is very encouraging and patient with me.”*
Marie Lambourne	Marie is nervous about learning to swim, but has decided that this is something she really wants to do. *"It’s good that the group works together in learning, as we’re all in the same boat and it’s encouraging that we’re not the only ones who cannot swim.”*

**Newmarket**
Elaine Simpson	When she was 11 Elaine nearly drowned and was left with a fear of water. She’s very nervous about going back in the water. “This was my first lesson since the age of 11 year old. The instructor, Nathan, gave me so much confidence and it’s the first time ever that I was getting across the pool without my feet touching the bottom (with a float of course). I still have a fear of the water, but hope to overcome this in time.”
Maureen Furze	An older girl held Maureen under the water when she was just 7 years old and as such she is very nervous about learning to swim but is determined to join her children and grandchildren in the pool. “After the lesson I had a chat with our instructor about being scared of the water. She was very reassuring…I loved the feeling of being immersed in the water. Nothing would put me off going back and continuing with the lessons…feel very satisfied with myself and determined.”
Margaret Stewart	Margaret was pushed into a deep fishpond when she was 5 years old and although she is nervous, she wants to get over her fear of water. “I felt quite tired when I got out, and my back and arms were aching a bit, but in a good way that we had done something. It was also nice to know that I had made two friends during the evening as well.”

**Mildenhall**
Nicky Daunt-Howard	When Nicky was 11 she was standing on a sand bank in the sea when the tide was going out and it dragged her under. She’s excited about learning to swim and getting her confidence back and exercising in the pool. *“The pool was warm and I had a great lesson. Instructors were very patient and professional. The pool was quiet, which was great for me, being so nervous.”*
Geraldine Carrigan	Geraldine wants to swim with family and friends and enjoy her holidays more. She describes herself as quite nervous, but determined to learn. “This was my first swimming lesson and I was quite nervous. However being in a small group that had met up in the changing room really did help because we all went through to the pool together…I personally didn’t feel quite so self-conscious of my fear, knowing I was with others who felt the same.”
Pat Lynch	Pat was put off swimming when she was pushed in as a child. She’s terrified of learning to swim, but wants to swim with her grandchildren and on holiday. “I was not looking forward to my first lesson, I was terrified. Since the day I booked the lessons, every time I thought about it I wanted to cry”.“I had two lady instructors, they were both wonderful, they are the right sort for me because I felt I could trust them…”

**Felixstowe**
Janice Frankland	Janice found herself struggling in the deep end of a pool one day and had to be rescued. She’s excited about learning to swim so that she can exercise and be healthier. *“I did look forward to swimming this week. I have heard there is going to be a female instructor now, that makes me feel a bit better.”*
Melanie Boyle	Melanie is happy, but worried about learning to swim, but she is determined to overcome her fear of the water. *“I would go more often in public swimming times to practice what we had learned in lessons if there was a lane for people who can’t swim that well.”*
Hilary Regan	When she was at school Hilary sank during a swimming lesson. She’s both nervous and excited about learning to swim so she can have more freedom and participate on family holidays. *“I enjoy my time at the pool and find my fellow learners nice and friendly and have made some friends.”*