A LIFESAVING club in Barry has more than 90 members of its junior section thanks to funding from Legacy Leisure.

Whitmore Bay Surf Lifesaving Club is one of two swimming facilities in Barry that has received more than £1,500 from leisure operator Legacy Leisure as part of its commitment to promoting accessible swimming and life-saving activities.

Legacy Leisure is a sub-contractor of Parkwood Leisure.

Whitmore Bay Surf Lifesaving Club’s junior section - known as the ‘Nippers’ - has significantly benefited from funding from Legacy Leisure, and now has 90 members.

Nic Beggs, contract manager at Whitmore Bay said: “It has been an honour to see the number of people looking to join Whitmore Bay without worrying about the cost associated with some of the gear.

“At Parkwood, we value the importance of teaching vital safety skills in the water and we’re immensely proud to be able to help Whitmore Bay deliver these sessions to more people.”

The funding allowed the club to purchase essential equipment such as paddle boards which are expensive and can sometimes price people out of attending.

The lifesaving club focuses on teaching children first aid and lifeguarding skills through engaging in beach and water activities.

The Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club is the second club in Barry to benefit from funding from Legacy Leisure.

The club has been providing a supportive and inclusive environment for swimmers of all abilities, with a focus on personalised instruction with a one-to-one ratio until swimmers achieve complete independence.

Pat Finch, from Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club, said: “We are always searching for volunteers to help us provide swimming support to the local community.”

Thanks to funding from Legacy Leisure, the club has invested in new IT equipment, enhancing its ability to train eight new instructors, so the club can continue to empower individuals with disabilities.

Parkwood Leisure, in partnership with Legacy Leisure, was recently awarded the title of ‘Learn to Swim Provider of the Year 2024’ at the Swim Wales Awards.

Ally Zell, head of aquatics at Parkwood Leisure added: “As winners of the Learn to Swim Provider of the Year 2024 at the SWIM Wales awards.

“We understand the importance of teaching everyone to swim, no matter their ability. It has been a pleasure to witness the number of volunteer instructors who have been trained to deliver this vital service.”