The pool will close its doors on Friday 20th March 2020 at 7pm.
Following the government announcement of school closures, in order to slow the spread of the virus, plans to stop the lesson program at the pool have been brought forward by a week.
Attendance at the pool for all activities has dropped dramatically following Government calls for social distancing.
It seems right that the pool should now join that effort to encourage social distancing and allow our staff the time to support their families.
All lessons missed will be automatically marked as absent to be made up on re-opening.
There will be no direct debits until further notice.
Be assured, when the storm passes the pool will be ready and waiting to welcome you back.
Thank you for the fantastic support that you have shown the pool and the staff. Take care, hope to see you soon.
At this time all the staff are well, the pool water is in great condition and there have been no reported cases of illness from our customers.
However, the government request to stop unnecessary travel and adopt social distancing would seem to indicate an imminent closure of schools and public places, as has taken place in most other European countries. It would appear that families (and family run businesses) are being asked to make their own judgements.
All lessons at Shirley Swimming Pool will phase out over the next two weeks.
The direct debit due at the start of April will NOT be taken.
Please do not cancel your direct debit. When lessons resume you will have ample notice.
Effective immediately, if you prefer not to attend your remaining lessons, let reception know and these will be held on credit until the lesson program resumes.
The pool remains open for lane and recreational swimming at this time.
Contact reception by email:
info@shirleyswimmingpool.co.uk
Please clearly state swimmers name, class, day & time.
By text: 07934 384515
By telephone: 02380 781901. Option 1 for absences.
It is anticipated that the last lessons will take place on Tuesday March 31st. Any update on government guidelines will be adhered to.
By coincidence, the new management team at Shirley Pool, due to take over on April 1st, had been conducting due diligence and discovered a leak in the small pool. A joint decision to close and repair the leak had already been taken. The transfer to the new company will be postponed until the lesson program resumes.
Thank you for your custom and support. We all wish you good health and look forward to safely welcoming everyone back in the near future.
The latest information for the leisure industry is that the swimming pool is safe as the chlorine in the water deactivates the virus.
The pool water is constantly tested and a minimum level of chlorine is always maintained, meaning there is no possibility of waterborne contamination.
All necessary steps to ensure that we protect against the risk of Coronavirus are being taken in accordance with government guidelines. This includes regular and thorough disinfection throughout the changing rooms, reception and doorways. Hand sanitiser is on on the reception desk and at the sinks in the changing rooms.
However, if you or the children are feeling unwell, please use our “make up policy” and let us know that you are staying home.
Reception will help you with re arrange all make up lessons when you return.
Staff and swimmers should follow the NHS guidelines and ensure that all pool users shower before and after using the pool.
The pool managers will continue to closely follow the advice of Public Health England and will adhere to any recommendations the government may make regarding the best practice for the health of the community.
In a recent report commissioned by the National Governing body for Swimming, exercise in water and swimming in particular, is proved to have a positive effect on mental health.
The Swim England report goes on to say “ research reveals that 1.4 million adults in Britain felt that swimming had significantly reduced their symptoms of anxiety or depression. Swimming is also associated with improved sleep and improved quality of life in people with long-term conditions”
John Hill learnt to swim when he retired
The YouGov poll, commissioned by Swim England, reveals that as a direct result of swimming: 492,000 British adults with mental health conditions have reduced the number of visits to medical professionals regarding their mental health and have reduced or no longer take medication for their mental health.
As a form of physical
exercise, swimming is hard to beat. However, in addition to all the obvious
physical health benefits, there’s something mentally therapeutic about being
near or in water that’s much harder to put your finger on. If you’re a regular
swimmer, you’ve no doubt experienced it yourself.
Once you overcome the
barriers that stop two thirds of the country ever getting wet, the feeling can
become addictive. According to writer Mike James
the benefits are enormous,
“Regular swimming, even just half
an hour at a time, is known to be effective for lowering incidences of
depression and anxiety and improve sleep patterns. Swimming releases
endorphins, the natural feelgood hormones that lead us to experience a greater
sense of happiness and wellbeing.
Swimming is a fun and effective
way to relieve stress, possibly more so than other type of physical exercise.
Being in contact with water, by itself, can help to loosen up both body and
mind. Better still, being immersed in water while swimming, playing close
attention to your technique as you practise the regular rhythm of your swimming
strokes can have a very relaxing, almost meditative effect on the mind.
What’s more, scientific studies
in rats have shown that swimming can help generate new brain cells in those
parts of the brain where chronic stress has led to cell deterioration – it’s a
process called hippocampal neurogenesis. While the research has not progressed
far enough to be able to make any firm predictions for humans, it is just
possible that swimming might enhance our ability to process stress more easily.
While 1 in 6 people in the UK suffer from
depression, physical activity such as swimming can lead to a 30% improvement in
self-worth, increasing general satisfaction in life. In research carried out
with the participation of 4,000 swimmers across the world, ¾ agreed that water
based activities helped release tension, while 68% of people felt being in the
water made them feel happier in themselves
“For adults living with
conditions such as dementia, swimming is a great way to improve memory, focus
and concentration. A recent study showed that
being immersed in water boosts the blood flow to the brain. This increases the
supply of oxygen, glucose and nutrients which would suggest a positive impact
on brain health.
Ashley Christopher, teacher at Shirley Pool, in training for the English Channel
Blue is abundant throughout
the natural world – it’s associated with water, the colour of the vast ocean
and the endless sky. The human body is made of about 70% water – no wonder,
then, that many people feel drawn towards water and that being near the sea has
a soothing influence on the mind”
In a recent report published by Swim England it was revealed that as many as
one in three adults in the UK cannot swim 25m (14 million).
However, that should not stop adults going to the swimming pool!
The report goes
on to show the overwhelming benefits of regular exercise in water, not just
swimming.
“With 70 per cent of the NHS budget being spent on chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, regular physical activity like swimming can reduce occurrence of these conditions by 20-40 per cent. One million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025, and this will increase to two million by 2050, costing £26 billion a year in the UK.
Open water swimming is one of the Uk’s fastest growing activities
Participants in Swim England’s Dementia
Friendly Swimming project identified improvements in their wellbeing, including
pain reduction, balance, functional capability and fitness as well as
improvements in their mental health, mood, confidence, ability to concentrate
and reduced anxiety.”
Walking lanes have become a popular activity at the
Shirley Pool with a dedicated lane every morning and evening. Combined with the
daytime Aquasize session (Tuesday’s 11am), there are more sessions than ever
for those who want to take the weight off their feet.
Swim England: “Due to the unique properties of water, swimming can help people with long-term health conditions to be more active. The buoyancy supports those with balance problems and helps to reduce the risk and fear of falling.
“Water-based activity also places less stress on the joints
and makes exercise more comfortable and practical than on dry land. This
benefits people with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Musculoskeletal conditions affected an estimated 18.8 million people across the
UK in 2017 and accounted for more than 22 per cent of the total burden of ill
health (morbidity) in the UK.12 The Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity
Guidelines highlighted the importance of daily, moderate-to vigorous intensity
activity, including strengthening activities, with additional requirements for
balance and flexibility activities for older adults.
The Health Commission’s Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming report also recognised the important role that water plays in providing an environment where these strengthening, flexibility and balance exercises can be undertaken”
