A campaign to encourage more people to swim has taken to the road!
Massive banners advertising the benefits of swimming are now touring the district – on the sides of the district council’s ten waste trucks.
Hambleton is part of the ‘Swim Local’ pilot scheme in which 12 local authorities across the country are benefitting from National Lottery money through Sport England to promote and increase swimming participation. Hambleton has received £274,525 for its work at its four leisure centres – in Northallerton, Thirsk, Stokesley and Bedale.
Activators have been employed to work with target groups – men over 26, families, women and girls and the older generation, and each of these groups have been picked out on the truck banners.
“Swimming is one of the most effective all round health and fitness workouts and age is no barrier,” said Councillor Mrs Bridget Fortune, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, who features on the banners.
“In the last year there were around 170,000 swims in our pools – we want to see that increase significantly as a result of this scheme. We hope this promotion will help do just that and I will be seeing more people in the pool when I go for my regular swim!”