Dementia Friendly Swimming sessions at Water Meadows, Mansfield, are to start on 9th October, running from 9am to 10am each Wednesday at the leisure centre.

The sessions will become part of the swim timetable so are open to anyone, but as 9am-10am is generally a quieter time, it has been decided to designate this the dementia-friendly hour. All staff on duty supporting the sessions have completed Dementia Friends training.

Carolyn Hallam, Health & Wellbeing Manager for the Mansfield District Leisure Trust (MDLT), who along with managing agent, Serco Leisure, operate the centre, said: “With so many of our staff now trained via Dementia Friends, we felt now was a great time to add this session for people living with dementia. We’re the only site offering this service in the local area, so we’re expecting plenty of interest.

“Family, friends and carers of people living with dementia are welcome to join in and the café is open afterwards if people want to stay longer and have a drink and a chat.”

All four MDLT centres are working towards becoming Dementia Friendly, with 30 members of staff already trained as Dementia Friends. MDLT is also part of Ashfield and Mansfield Dementia Action Alliance.

For more details about the sessions, or other sessions at Water Meadows, please contact Carolyn Hallam on 07718 194 711 [email protected]

The leisure trust operates four centres across the region: Oak Tree Leisure Centre, River Maun Recreation Centre, Water Meadows Fitness and Swimming Centre, and the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre.