Swimming is one of the healthiest physical activities, and you don’t need to be in excellent shape to start swimming. Even people with some disabilities can benefit from it. When it comes to swimming, disabled people obviously have special needs, but pools in Lewisham have thought about it and offer special services for people with disabilities.

Did you know that if you are 60 or over and have a disability, and are receiving disability benefits, you can swim for free in all the pools in Lewisham? The only thing you have to do is to register for the Be Active scheme at your local leisure centre. Just choose where you want to swim (a list of pools in Lewisham can be found here http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/sport/Swimming/Pages/Swimming-pools.aspx), check the timings for free swimming, and don’t forget to take your leisure centre card with you.

Many pools in Lewisham also offer dedicated disability swimming sessions. You can contact your local center for more information about the times and days of these sessions. And if you really enjoy swimming, you can join a disability swimming club such as the Tiger Sharks at Saxon Crow SC, which provide swimming lessons to swimmers of all ages.

And don’t forget the therapeutic power of water, as it can be very effective for treating chronic injuries. There are three hydrotherapy swimming pools in Lewisham. The University Hospital Lewisham hydrotherapy pool offers this service, but remember that referral to hydrotherapy is by a Physiotherapist, following an individual assessment. If you want to learn more about hydrotherapy you can ask your doctor.