Jane Ellison MP visited K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley yesterday (19 May) to mark the launch of the Crawley Dementia Friendly Swimming Project.
The project was launched at the Living Well Day, which was a partnership event. It was run with support from Freedom Leisure, the ASA, the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, Crawley Dementia Alliance and Crawley Wellbeing.
More about Crawley Dementia Friendly Swimming
The Dementia Friendly Swimming project is a collaborative venture which was developed with the ASA and the Department of Health Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund.
The success of the project is down to the involvement of local and national partners, including councils and charities.
K2 Crawley has recently signed up to be part of the Dementia Friendly Swimming Project. The facility is working to proactively train staff and consult with visitors to create the right setting. This will make the swimming experience better for people with dementia and their carers by improving facilities and taking away barriers.
Jane Ellison MP commented, “We want England to be the best place in the world to live with dementia, in communities that are more dementia friendly. Local initiatives like Crawley’s will help us achieve that.
“The staff and facilities are really impressive. This Government has prioritised tackling dementia and I am proud to support this initiative that helps people to live well with the condition.”
Freedom Leisure Area Manager, Nyssa Jackson, said, “It is a great privilege to be invited to offer Dementia Friendly Swimming to the Crawley community. Our annual Living Well Day is the perfect opportunity to launch our programme.
“We are honoured to have Jane Ellison MP join us for the Living Well Day to help us mark the start of the Crawley Dementia Friendly Swimming programme.” – Nyssa Jackson
“This week is Dementia Awareness Week and K2 Crawley is, for the fourth year running, offering a selection of dementia-friendly and free taster activities for people aged 50+.
“The aim is to encourage people living with dementia and their families and carers to try new activities. These include tai chi, pilates, cycling and bowls.”
Early indications show swimming brings many physical and social benefits to people living with dementia including:
- Sense of mental wellbeing
- Clearer mind, greater positivity and a stronger sense of self-worth.
- Reduction in anxiety and a soothing of the mind
- Relaxation in the body by supporting it in a relatively weightless environment
- Opportunity to socialise
- Reduction in loneliness
- Giving people a sense of place.
To find out more about the K2 Crawley Dementia Friendly Swimming programme contact dfswimmingK2@freedom-leisure.co.uk or call 01293 585300.
