Surrey mum to continue making memories through affordable family time in the pool

After an abundance of happy memories in the pool with her friends and family over the years, Tadworth mum Chenize Morgan is looking forward to enjoying more affordable family time in the water.

Chenize and her daughter are regulars at their local leisure centre – initially for swimming lessons and now to enjoy the vast offerings at the pool throughout the summer holidays, such as the fun inflatables.

Thanks to the low cost and an extensive variety of activities available, her children are never bored.

With the cost-of-living rising and putting families at increasing risk of sacrificing valuable leisure time, new cost comparison research has found a trip to your local swimming pool to be one of the most affordable activities for families and children.

The research shows that swimming as a family has been found to be on average 28 per cent cheaper than bowling, 35 per cent cheaper than cinema tickets and 35 per cent cheaper than crazy golf, amongst other comparisons.

These comparisons also do not include any of the additional costs of food or drink associated with many of the activities that further inflate prices for families.

Chenize reflected on how important swimming is to her family, and the value of community facilities like swimming pools, saying: “Swimming is 100 per cent affordable, I have taken my daughter swimming regularly since she was little.

“I have memories of swimming, whether that was with friends or family, and that is something I have tried to impart on my daughter.

“It is local for us, and the lessons are affordable. I think swimming pools are super important, I grew up learning to swim from a very young age and that was a centre point through my childhood. It is just an all-round good, fun form of exercise.

“She loves swimming just as much as I do, and we spend a lot of bonding time together in the pool.

“I have found it to be great time together even since she was a baby, and now she has progressed to be confident and independent in the water.

“Now, she has friends she can jump around and swim with, and I know she’s having the best time in the water.”

My favourite exercise

Nefer, Chenize’s daughter, also had glowing praise for the time spent at her local pool.

She said: “I love swimming, it is my favourite exercise and my favourite thing. If I can pick something to do, I pick swimming.

“Recently, I have been coming twice a week, and it’s something I can do with my friends or with my mum that makes me really happy.”

As part of the latest wave of the #LoveSwimming campaign, more families are being urged to swim casually more often, whether they are a complete beginner or rediscovering their love for the water.

With research indicating that the activity is where families have the most fun together, as part of holiday programmes, many local leisure centres are offering activities like inflatables, family fun swims and inclusive swimming lessons, providing more choice for all regardless of age or ability.

To find your local pool, visit swimming.org/loveswimming.