Freedom Leisure has become the latest operator to join the Dementia Friendly Swimming programme, with the scheme being rolled out at the famous K2 Crawley Leisure Centre.

Public Health minister Jane Ellison was on hand last week to mark the Crawley debut of Dementia Friendly Swimming – a pilot project developed with ASA and the Department of Health Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund, with funding from Sport England.

The ASA has so far piloted the Dementia Friendly Swimming Project in eight locations around the country and the NHS Research Ethics Committee recently approved further research into the links between swimming and the quality of life of people living with dementia.

As a participating pool, K2 Crawley is working proactively to train staff and consult with visitors to create the right setting to enhance the swimming experience for people with dementia and their carers by improving facilities and removing barriers.

“We want England to be the best place in the world to live with dementia, in communities that are more dementia friendly. Local initiatives like Crawley’s will help us achieve that,” said Ellison.

“The staff and facilities are really impressive. This government has prioritised tackling dementia and I am proud to support this initiative that helps people to live well with the condition.”

Early indications from the pilot have found that swimming brings many physical and social benefits to people living with dementia including a clearer mind, stronger sense of self-worth and a reduction in loneliness.

Designing for dementia has become a growing feature of modern leisure facilities, with community hubs currently being developed in Warrington and in Crewe. It’s also a subject that was picked up on by Health Club Management editor Kate Cracknell in the September 2015 edition of the magazine.