A North East swim school which supports people with autism and other disabilities has launched a scheme to help sponsor children whose families cannot afford swimming lessons.
Sunderland -based ‘in at the deep end’ (IATDE), the only Autism Swim approved centre in the region, is calling on businesses to back its new corporate sponsorship scheme, which has been created to help low income families.
The school says many people are struggling following the pandemic and are finding everyday activities, such as swimming lessons, difficult to afford.
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At the same time, families are also dealing with an unprecedented rise in mental health issues coming out of lockdown.
IATDE says swimming is therapeutic and helps to build confidence, and its new scheme has been designed to help more families than ever before.
Co-founder Mark McNichol, from South Tyneside, a qualified swimming instructor for more than 20 years, said: "Throughout the pandemic the swim school has closed several times complying with restrictions and as a result we had many families share with us how much their children were missing their swimming lessons as well as the impact it was having on their mental health and wellbeing.
"Our mission has always been to provide affordable and fun swimming lessons and have recently become a Mindful Swim School.
"We felt it was important to introduce mindfulness swimming activities into our lessons due to the rise of mental health issues in children and we wanted to go even further by bringing these lessons to those who may not be able to afford it and thus the corporate sponsorship scheme was created."
The corporate scheme will have two tiers – £799+VAT for 1-2-1 lessons for one child for a year, and £199+ VAT for group lessons for a child for a year.
In exchange, sponsors will receive benefits and promotional opportunities both online and in print, as well as on IATDE paraphernalia.
The top tier package will also receive discounted swimming lessons and activities for staff plus discounted corporate training.
In at the deep end, which was created 12 years ago, offers more than 60 classes and courses for all ages and abilities at Castle View Community and Fitness Centre and Thornhill Academy in Sunderland.
To find out more about the new corporate sponsorship scheme, go to www.inatthedeepend.com
