ISPAL likes to applaud good stories around the country, especially when they chime with our policy aims on behalf of all ISPAL members - so keep the stories rolling in!

In Redcar & Cleveland nearly 20,000 children flocked to a summer’s worth of free swimming sessions at leisure facilities across the borough. The scheme, run by Tees Valley Leisure and funded by Tees Primary Care Trust, is also set to keep the children enjoying a healthy lifestyle; all who completed record cards have also been given ten further free swims, between now and the end of December.

Paddy Corcoran, Tees Valley Leisure managing director, said: “This has been an incredible summer of activity for these youngsters who made the most of the leisure facilities on offer. At a time when children’s health and obesity dominates the headlines, this is a phenomenal show of what can happen when you encourage kids to get active. ”

Peter Kelly, executive director of public health for Teesside, said: "We are very pleased that so many under 16s took up this offer and we hope that the enjoyment they had will encourage them to go swimming more often and bring their friends and family along as well."

Evaluation has already shown that the free swimming sessions attracted first time users, families and that hard to reach, Sport England target group, teenage girls.

Tees Valley Leisure has agreed with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council an overhaul of existing services, plus the introduction of new ones - including free exercise classes for gym members, swimming lessons and special swimming galas for swimmers of all abilities. A key objective is to provide more activities for young people and families, in order to tackle obesity and to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Photograph: Paddy Corcoran (left) MD of Tees Valley leisure, Cllr G Dunning Leader of Recar & Cleveland Borough Council (right) and Chris Crawley, Chair of Tees Valley Leisure