Get in the swim this half term!

There are crash courses in swimming at Belfairs Swim Centre and Shoeburyness Leisure Centre for school-age children who are unable to swim or who have little water confidence.

Lessons are based on the Amateur Swimming Association's National Teaching Plan to develop confidence and water skills, as well as stroke technique.

The courses cost £19 for the week, and involve half-hour classes every day for five days from Monday 21st February till Friday 25th February. For those with an Advantage Card there could be savings of between 10% and 50%, depending on the type of Advantage Card held. Classes run from 9am or 9.30am.

For more details for the courses contact the Leisure, Culture and Tourism Department on 01702 215011 or e-mail belfairs@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk  or shoeburyness@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

If you can already swim, how about trying to swim a mile in an hour or less in Shoeburyness?

Anyone who completes this challenge at Shoeburyness Leisure Centre on Tuesday 22nd February between 3.30pm and 4.30pm will receive a certificate and badge.

Entry costs just £7 per swimmer. To book your place call 01702 215011 or e-mail shoeburyness@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk

The same centre is staging a special Rookie Lifeguard course for children aged eight and over who are good swimmers and are confident in deep water.

This course includes Key Stage Two of the Water Safety elements from the National Curriculum and costs £19 for the week. It takes place daily at 10am from Monday 21st February to Friday 25th February.

The course includes survival, rescue, sports skills, life support and water safety elements

Meanwhile, strong swimmers aged 16 or over who can reach the bottom of the deepest part of the pool and want to become lifeguards can take the NPLQ Lifeguard Course.

The 40-hour course runs throughout February half term from Monday 21st February to Saturday 26th February, from 8am till 5pm daily at Shoeburyness Leisure Centre. It costs £250 and covers resuscitation skills, first aid, hazards and risks, the role of a lifeguard, accident prevention and water-based rescue skills, fitness, and teamwork abilities. Participants will be independently assessed at the end of the course.

Southend -on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Culture, Councillor Derek Jarvis, said: "This remarkable range of courses offers expert tuition for swimmers of all levels from beginners upwards. All of the courses will help encourage fitness, and confidence.

"It is very important for youngsters to have the opportunity to learn to swim, so we would urge those who cannot swim to consider trying one of these crash courses.

"Those who can already swim could develop their skills through higher level challenges, such as the mile swim. Then there is the chance to learn how to use your swimming abilities to help others via the Rookie Lifeguard and NPLQ Lifeguard courses."