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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to take my kids swimming but its impossible

21 replies

Dishwashersaurous · 05/05/2021 11:09

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56992594

So BBC news today story encouraging people to get their children swimming. I agree with thus. However, covid restrictions mean its impossible to get a slot to go swimming. So aibu to be annoyed about this?

There are three swimming pools within ten miles of where i live. Used to take the children swimming regularly.

Now covid restrictions mean that there are only two or three family swim sessions for 45mins a time, and 20 people at each pool per week. If you are not a member then you cannot book a slot more than seven days in advance.

All slots are fully booked seven days in advance.

Can't become swimming only members as all three pools have suspended taking on new members.

So aibu to agree that swimming is an important life skill, and to want to take my children swimming. But its impossible to do so

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 05/05/2021 11:14

Have they announced a date when they are taking on new members? If it's a case of lack of facilities, your local MP could rally for more.

CadburyCake · 05/05/2021 11:25

Covid restrictions have generally been “annoying”, and a lot more, for everyone OP. What do you expect the pools/leisure centre to do at the moment? They’re operating within tight rules and of course they’re going to prioritise existing members. Places are hardly going to be building new pools or facilities at the moment!

Lots of important things haven’t been possible due to covid but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important or shouldn’t be encouraged, just that some people will have to be patient for a few weeks until it’s possible. Here I have been able to get slots, if I book far enough in advance, but they must be haemorrhaging money staffing the place for so few people and as soon as restrictions are lifted I’m sure it will return to a higher capacity. It’s a matter of a few more weeks.

Sirzy · 05/05/2021 11:28

What do you expect places to do? They are doing what they need to be able to open safely.

If they need booking 7 days in advance then can you not put a reminder in your phone for when bookings open?

VodkaSlimline · 05/05/2021 11:28

Are they any outdoor pools/lidos near you? It will soon be warm enough!

UserAtRandom · 05/05/2021 11:35

That article talks about swimming lessons rather than family fun sessions though (which my local pool is not even currently running, and pre-Covid they were not suitable for learning to swim in).

The pools round here anyway are running swimming lessons as they used to. They are all advertising that they have spaces.

Original poster

Dishwashersaurous · 05/05/2021 11:39

I know that there is really no option and places are doing their best, but its still frustrating.

Members can book a month in advance.

Non members only seven days.

But at seven days all the slots are taken by members. So non members cannot go.

And also not taking on new members for swimming lessons either. Even though I would prefer to teach them myself.

OP posts:

poppycat10 · 05/05/2021 11:42

I think you are unlucky OP. Where I am people can get onto swimming lessons and there are sessions for kids.

It's adult lessons that can't happen until 17 May.

On a different issue, I think it's a false economy to teach your kids yourself. You may be able to teach them to get from one end of the pool to the other any old how, but swimming teachers are trained for a reason and will give your kids better technique (I am assuming you are not qualified yourself).

Are there any outdoor pools? They seem relatively easy to get spaces on.

Kittykatmacbill · 05/05/2021 11:42

Family swims seem hard to book, but swim classes are up and running again. Can you book your kids into those?

Original poster

Dishwashersaurous · 05/05/2021 11:44

Maybe its just round here. Everything fully booked, not taking on new members., and have to be members even for the council pool now.

And the same for the lido.

I taught my eldest to swim and its actually one of the few things that I know I can do!

OP posts:

Landofthefree · 05/05/2021 11:44

YABU

Your DC will be fine if their swimming sessions are delayed by a few months or even a year or two.

Original poster

Dishwashersaurous · 05/05/2021 11:46

Of course in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. But they haven't been able to go swimming for 14 months and with the next stage of the roadmap I thought that I would be able to take them swimming again. But I can't.

OP posts:

Justcallmebebes · 05/05/2021 11:52

It's a lot easier than that my way. Slots go up 7 days before hand so you do need to be on it, but I've managed to book 2 family sessions now and adult swimming is fine, plenty of availability.

Hopefully this will all be over soon

Chickenlickeninthepot · 05/05/2021 11:53

Same here OP. Family swim sessions are impossible to book at our local pools - we can only do certain days due to nursery and there's no chance of getting a weekend slot. My DS doesn't like the water so there's no point booking him lessons because it will just be like chucking money down a screaming drain, I'm happy to take him myself to get him used to the pool but can't. Frustrating.

Witchesbelazy · 05/05/2021 11:53

It’s only the kids that are confident swimmers allowed in my dc lessons at the moment it’s frustrating

purpleme12 · 05/05/2021 11:55

I've not managed to get a slot since the swimming pools reopened

felineflutter · 05/05/2021 12:01

YANBU. It is the same in my area. I don't think members should get priority over swimming slots . This means families who can't afford or don't want to be a member are restricted totally unfair on the children.

I had a rant about this when they opened last time. My DH has now taken over and has managed to get 2 slots this week.

480Widdio · 05/05/2021 12:07

My local David Lloyd Club is a free for all for swimming.

Bank Holiday Monday the pool was packed! No booking you just turn up.

Even the outdoor pool was busy.

Hfjshdhs · 05/05/2021 12:10

I absolutely agree with you. Where I live there are two local leisure centres. They used to be drop in, £5 a session for as long as you want. Now the only people who can use them are the people who sign up to an expensive monthly membership, numbers in the pool are capped so it’s a race to get in. We have been lucky that we can afford it, but I really feel for families with kids who can’t.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 05/05/2021 12:12

They closed our local pool town in favour of a brand new fancy one which would be fine except they’re currently not allowing non-members in so you have to be a member of their health club to swim. It’s £25 a month, I’m not paying that just to take my DC swimming occasionally. I wanted to do one drop in session a month really which used to cost me £10 at the old pool.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 05/05/2021 12:13

@Hfjshdhs I think you live near me, same story here anyway.

LoudestCat14 · 05/05/2021 12:24

Same here, OP. Our local pool is doing only one family swim a week, for an hour on a Saturday. You can imagine the demand! No idea why it's being so restrictive – they could do one session in the morning, another in the afternoon and same again on Sunday. But nope, just one for the entire weekend.

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