A swimming school which helps toddlers to take to the water has moved its Tees Valley base to Stockton town centre
Water Babies teaches around 1000 babies and pre-school age children to swim, at 143 classes a week at venues across Teesside.
Originally headquartered at Yarm it has now moved to Gloucester House Business Centre, Church Road, Stockton, to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the town’s new business district.
Since launching just over six months ago, Stockton BID has staged a number of events which have attracted visitors and locals to the town centre, including a Strictly Valentine’s tea dance featuring BBC Strictly Come Dancing star, Giovanni Pernice, Stockton in the Spotlight, a Fashion Extravaganza and sci-fi festival, Kapow.
And Water Babies’ owner Pamela Hargreaves said the BID’s “forward thinking” approach had driven her decision to relocate.
“Because our teachers are among the most highly-trained and qualified in the world, demand for our classes is high, throughout the Tees Valley and into the North York Moors,” she said.
“In our view, Stockton is not only the centre of the Tees Valley but, thanks largely to the BID, there is just so much going on.
“There is a real sense of excitement and vibrancy in the town – a buzz – and we want to be part of that.”
During the weekend of the fashion shows footfall in the town centre was at the highest since the Stockton Calling event in April, peaking with around 20,000 people in the town centre on the Saturday.
And Kapow was equally successful, bringing more than 16,000 visitors to the town centre.
Other BID Initiatives for the coming months will include a Stockton-by-the-Sea urban
beach at the High Street in August, the production of a market guide and a programme of tours to enable local groups and schoolchildren to discover the town’s rich history.
Town centre businesses and retailers have also contributed discount vouchers for Stockton BID’s Book of Offers, available free from town centre retailers and distributed to 10,000 homes and businesses across the area.
There are proven links between baby swimming and cognitive and language development and Water Babies, whose swimming classes are designed for babies and children up to the age of four, is offering a voucher for a free taster session.
“Water Babies will make a great addition to the town centre,” said BID manager, Karen Hindhaugh.
“Stockton’s strengths are the diversity and quality of its retailers and businesses – they have really backed the BID and between us I am confident the town will go from strength to strength.”
For further information visit www.stocktonbid.co.uk