Pools preparing to host lessons again

Swimming lessons for more than 3,000 children restart across the north at the beginning of next month as leisure centres reopen after their enforced closure.

High Life Highland ( HLH) chief executive Steve Walsh said the announcement was a vital step to bounce back from lockdown.

Mr Walsh said the resumption of lessons will add some “buzz” to facilities, which have come back to 50% of the attendance levels from before the pandemic.

Towards the end of summer HLH was the first trust in Scotland to reopen, including all its pools, .

Mr Walsh said: “Once we got a sense the Scottish Government might allow us to come back we brought our staff off furlough to get our swimming and gym instructors requalified.

“We also got all of our staff requalified in first aid as we got our facilities clean and ready to open.

“T hat made us agile enough to open straight away, so that all our communities have access, and that was really important to us.

“We ran a pilot, Love To Swim, during the school holidays and staff worked through the October holidays to re-engage with parents to reorganise the big task of getting swimming lessons back.”

Mr Walsh spoke of his pride about the response of staff to the pandemic.

Around 1,200 employees were furloughed, with many volunteering in their spare time.

He said: “Music, youth and active schools activities have cont inued throughout.

“Our health and wellbeing team has been working throughout with our partner MacMillan, cardiac rehab has continued with NHS Highland and our Parkinson’s rehab will start on November 2.

“We know the work we have done has meant a lot to isolated, more mature people.”

Mr Walsh said HLH is now keen to undertake more local efforts.

“In libraries alone, we’ve had over one million engagements with our services,” he pointed out.

“We were the only organisation that kept music tuition going virtually throughout the pandemic.

“Literally hundreds of our staff manned the council’s humanitarian centres and key worker hubs.

“Our people made a huge difference to their communities, about 3,000 hours a month volunteering Highland-wide ,” he said.

Since August 31, 70,000 people have used HLH’s leisure facilities.

“Now it ’s about reassurance,” Mr Walsh said.

“We know and h av e demonstrated that we have a safe environment.”

A projected deficit of more than £ 11 million in March is now down to £1.5m and this year’s books may even balance.

Fo r the first three months, furloughed staff had their salary topped up by the organisation but, after that, the 20% not paid by the government was removed.

Mr Walsh said: “The staff were fantastic about it and lots continued to volunteer. Now facing the end of the furlough scheme, we are looking at the job support scheme to see if we are eligible.

“Things are continually changing, but our priority is looking after our staff, protecting jobs and maintaining services.”

Swimming lessons resume on Monday November 2.

IN THE SWIM OF THINGS: Chief executive Steve Walsh is ready for High Life Highland’s swimming lessons again.