Paddles aims to:
Increase the participation levels (recreational and competitive) of young disabled people in an aquatic environment contributing to improved health and social integration
The Paddles Swim School will provide a community based project which can be easily accessed by young disabled people from the local and surrounding areas.
The overall aims of Paddles are:
- to encourage the regular involvement of young disabled people (swimmers and non swimmers) in water activities
- to equip individuals with skills and techniques which in turn will increase confidence levels and contribute to the wider health benefits associated with regular sports participation (physical: improved strength, flexibility, stamina and psychological: improved confidence levels and self esteem)
- to provide appropriate levels of support to enable an individual’s personal development (specialist disability swimming tuition being provided by appropriately qualified technicians)
- to introduces swimmers to competitions through Special Olympics or Swim England
- to provide a focus and purpose for families and support workers of disabled children
- to influence partnership working and develop links with different strands of the community (schools, students, local authority, coaches)
- to influence partnership working and develop links with different strands of the community (schools, students, local authority, coaches)
- to provide opportunities for social networking and greater social interaction.
Anna Lavan
FIOS, MIOS(TD), FIOS(CC), FIOS(AQ)
Anna has been involved in swimming for 40 years, from teaching to coaching, tutoring to swimming development. Anna runs her own swim business and has been instrumental in writing books on working with the disabled swimmer in water. She is currently the School Swimming Teacher at Horton Lodge Community Special School.
Mark Johnson
Mark is a Level 2 swimming teacher.
Works at south moorlands leisure centre.
Is a fitness instructor.
RLSS Trainer Assessor.
He enjoys keeping fit.
Paddles offers Swim England’s stages 1 to 7, survival awards and distance awards.
We are really grateful for the help we get from some really great people and organisations.
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to:
Zumba with Maura – Maura’s excellent Zumba classes in Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent.
DBN Web Design have been really helpful.