Summer fun at Wiltshire leisure centres

Children can get active this summer with a wide range of activities available to get involved in at Wiltshire Council leisure centres. Whether your child is into swimming, gymnastics or trampolining, Wiltshire Council leisure centres are the place to be.

Parents can give their child a head start in the pool this summer with the council’s popular intensive swimming courses. These week-long programmes offer daily lessons (excluding bank holidays), designed to boost confidence, improve technique, and help children achieve their swimming goals in a short space of time.

Whether a child is just starting out or already part of the council’s Aqualetes swim school, there’s something for everyone. A range of courses is being offered across the county, including Ducklings, Stages 1-7, Diving, Water Safety and Rookies. To explore the full list of courses and book a place, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-swim-school. For details on each swim school stage: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-swim-school-stages.

For a less structured session, the holiday swimming timetable launches from today, offering a range of sessions for all abilities from All Welcome, Fun and Floats to Family Swims. Swimming session descriptions can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-swimming, and many centres are now offering ticketed activity booking online, where registered Leisure Hub users can book multiple spaces in a single session.

Families eligible for the FUEL programme, plus children at secondary school who are in receipt of benefit-related free school meals can access up to 10 free swimming sessions at all Wiltshire Council leisure centres with pools this summer. More information about the swim can be found: Wiltshire Council to pilot Free Summer Swimming for Children. More information about the FUEL Programme can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure/fuel-programme.

For children who prefer to take part in drier activities, the council has plenty of options.

From Friday 25 July, Juniors (11 to 15 years) and Young Adults (16 to 17 years) keen to use the gym can join for free during the summer with no admin fee on the Junior Zone or Young Adult direct debit membership, saving £25. With no contract required, join for just the summer holidays and use our supervised junior gym sessions. Junior Zone also gives unlimited swimming for three to 15 year olds for only £16 per month.

Students (16 years and over with proof of student status) can also take advantage of our summer membership offer – unlimited gym, swimming and group exercise classes for £52. Find out more at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-promotions.

Alternatively, if people would rather be out and about, enjoying the fresh air, they are encouraged to take advantage of Street Tag. It’s a family-friendly app, turning the streets into a virtual playground and getting people out exploring their local area. People can gain points by collecting virtual tags on their walk, run or cycle and compete in the Wiltshire leaderboard. The app is free and there are prizes to be won. Find out more at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/physical-activity. 

Cllr Mel Jacob, Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement and Corporate Services, said, “We understand that keeping children active and entertained during the long summer holidays can be a challenge for many families. That’s why we’re offering a wide variety of fun, affordable activities to help children stay healthy, happy, and engaged.

“Swimming is not only a fantastic way to stay active, but it’s also a vital life skill. Our intensive swimming courses are a brilliant way for children to make real progress in a short space of time—whether they’re just starting out, building confidence, or working towards a specific goal like diving or water safety. These courses are open to everyone, whether your child is already part of our swim school or trying lessons for the first time.

“And for those who prefer to stay dry, we’ve got plenty of exciting options too—from gymnastics and trampolining to climbing and more. It’s all about giving children the chance to try something new, learn new skills, and most importantly, have fun this Summer!"