Free Swimming if on Income Support

silkkat50

Hi, I have just reciently started claiming for Income Support and have 2 children between the age of 6-11. My question is Can I claim help with passport to leisure or just free swimming in general ? and how ? I would like to make the most of my time with my kids until I find further employment as I have worked full time for the last 14 years and not been able to offer much in the way of spare time to do alot of activities with them. If that makes any sence.
Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved.

bestpud

You need to contact your local authority pool and ask as it varies by area.

Here all children under 16 swim free this as my LA has secured a grant from somewhere.

Those on IS can swim for about a third of the cost if they show evidence and purchase a card costing a couple of pound.

I think most areas do something tbh.

fluffymovie

HI there

Just to back up what bestpud has said, each LA has been given the option of letting under 16s and over 60's swim for free. The LA I work for does this, the LA I live under has not! It isn't a grant based system but rather the LA absorbs the cost from their annual budget I believe.

Not sure if being on IS would mean that as an adult you coudl get in cheaper?

Good Luck

Loopy_Girl

When I was on IS years ago you could get a card which meant you got it cheaper (I think I paid £1 and it should have been £2.70 per session - it wasn't completely free)

Phone your local leisure centre and ask. I just filled in a form and took along proof of my entitlement.

bestpud

fluffymovie wrote: »

HI there

Just to back up what bestpud has said, each LA has been given the option of letting under 16s and over 60's swim for free. The LA I work for does this, the LA I live under has not! It isn't a grant based system but rather the LA absorbs the cost from their annual budget I believe.

Not sure if being on IS would mean that as an adult you coudl get in cheaper?

Good Luck

Just checked what they said as I was sure it was a grant, from memory, and here is how they've described it on the website for my local pool:

residents aged 16 and under or over 60 can swim for free from 1 April...has secured nearly £200,000 a year from the government to pay for the two-year scheme, which aims to promote better health and wellbeing.

fluffymovie

Will bow to your knowledge on this area bestpud!

I did find this on my website and so it looks like it is a bit of both!

In liaison with DC Leisure we have estimated swimming income from over 60s as £30,000 a year. Based on the government allocation of £20,000 the Council will need to provide an additional £10,000 each year to the contractor.

We have also estimated swimming income from under 16`s as £50,000 a year. Whilst figures have not been released it is likely the government allocation to **** will be around £35,000. The Council will need to provide an additional £15,000 each year to the contractor.

bestpud

fluffymovie wrote: »

Will bow to your knowledge on this area bestpud!

I did find this on my website and so it looks like it is a bit of both!

In liaison with DC Leisure we have estimated swimming income from over 60s as £30,000 a year. Based on the government allocation of £20,000 the Council will need to provide an additional £10,000 each year to the contractor.

We have also estimated swimming income from under 16`s as £50,000 a year. Whilst figures have not been released it is likely the government allocation to **** will be around £35,000. The Council will need to provide an additional £15,000 each year to the contractor.

I did wonder if it covered the entire cost...

Your area seems to have a far smaller grant too!

I guess it must go on the population size...

Or is it the number of unfit people...?

Sorry Op, I'll shut up now as I'm taking this OT.

System

If they don't have it free do they have a discount card , over here they're called Slice cards.