Funding needed for refugee swimming lessons

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Funding is needed to keep a water safety programme afloat that helps former refugees in Nelson and Tasman enjoy, and stay safe around, the region’s beaches, rivers and swimming pools.

The majority of refugees who settle in Nelson don’t have any knowledge of water safety because they come regions that don’t have beaches, rivers or lakes. Victory Community Centre’s Katie Hughes indentified a need to teach these new Nelsonians water safety and initiated the programme with the help from Red Cross, the Richmond Aquatic Centre, Port Nelson, Todd Foundation and a loyal group of volunteers.

But the funding for the programme, which started at the beginning of this year, is running out, and Richmond Aquatic Centre swim school manager Lisa Stove is desperate to keep it going. Lisa says the programme has received a great response from the refugee community and plays a big role in keeping them safe around water.

“We held the first session earlier this year and 40 of them turned up. It’s been making a huge difference to these people and we’d love to keep it going.

“We have ladies who come along and they are frightened about even getting into the water with a life jacket. A lot of them come from landlocked countries like Bhutan and they’ve never been in water deeper than their waist, so it’s not surprising they are so scared.” Lisa says the water safety programme covers boat safety, fitting and wearing life jackets, swimming in clothing and learning to float and retrieve someone from the water. They also get “thrown in the wave pool to get a real live beach experience” and are encouraged to take ‘learn to swim’ classes.

Refugee Bijay Pradhan says the classes are “really helping us develop our swimming skills, and helps us survive. It’s a great way to hang out with friends, too.”

At 51, Bishnu Adhikari is learning to swim for the first time and says “it means I can help my kids learn too”.

“Swimming is important for everybody in New Zealand. I love it.”

Lisa says the funding is needed to cover the costs of a coordinator, transport to the pool and pool admission and swim school staff which the Richmond Aquatic Centre provides at a discount.