Lichfield Leisure Centre has Swim England's Water Wellbeing accreditation. Here are its weekly dementia-friendly, disability and health condition swims.
Lichfield Leisure Centre has been awarded Swim England’s Water Wellbeing accreditation. The national scheme recognises pools that make swimming easier for people with long-term health conditions and disabilities.
Lichfield District Council, whose leisure service runs the centre on Curborough Road, announced the award on 25 September.
What earned it
The council gave three reasons:
- Dementia Friendly Swimming sessions, for people living with dementia and their carers and families
- training for swimming teachers in supporting people with long-term health conditions
- disability and health awareness training for the wider leisure centre team
Councillor Andrew Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Major Projects, said the council wanted the centre “to be a place where residents feel welcome and able to take part, whatever their circumstances”.
Ben Moore of Swim England said there had been “a clear commitment to ensuring that the facility is as accessible, welcoming and inclusive as possible”.
How rare is it?
Not very, and that is the point of it. Swim England reported in December 2024 that 201 sites in England held the standard. It is open to any pool that takes the training and changes its programme. Lichfield has now joined them.
Swim England says those sites added more than 20,000 hours of sessions such as quiet swims, adult learn-to-swim and dementia-friendly swimming.
The sessions you can go to
These are the sessions aimed at people who may find a normal public swim hard. They come from the centre’s own term-time pool timetable, which says admission starts 15 minutes before each session.
| Day | Time | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11am to 11.45am | Long Term Health Condition Swim |
| Monday | 1.15pm to 2.15pm | Disability swim |
| Tuesday | 9.30am to 10.15am | SEN swim |
| Tuesday | 10.15am to 11am | Walking in Water |
| Wednesday | 2.30pm to 3.15pm | Over 50’s swim |
| Wednesday | 3.15pm to 4pm | Long Term Health Condition Swim |
| Friday | 2.30pm to 3.15pm | Over 50’s swim |
| Friday | 3.15pm to 4pm | Dementia Friendly Open Swim and Lanes |
The timetable is for term time. Times can change in the school holidays, so check before you travel, particularly around October half term.
What it means for you
- If you care for someone with dementia, the Friday 3.15pm session is the one built for you both. The council says carers are part of it.
- If you need help getting into the water, the centre lists a PoolPod pool lift, a Changing Places room, an accessible toilet and Blue Badge parking on its accessibility page.
- You may pay less. The same page points to a concessionary Leisure Activity Passport with discounts on activities, subject to eligibility.
- Ask first if you are unsure. The council encourages anyone who has found swimming hard to access to speak to the centre team. Lichfield Leisure Centre is on 01543 228229.
Sources
- Lichfield District Council, “Lichfield Leisure Centre achieves national accreditation for accessible swimming”, 25 September 2026 for the award, what it recognised, the quotes from Councillor Andrew Smith and Ben Moore, and the photograph.
- Active Lichfield District, Lichfield Leisure Centre swimming pool timetable, read on 28 September 2026, for every session time, the 15-minute admission rule, the address and the phone number.
- Active Lichfield District, Lichfield Leisure Centre accessibility information for the PoolPod, Changing Places room, parking and the Leisure Activity Passport.
- Swim England, “How Water Wellbeing is transforming communities across the country”, 18 December 2024 for the 201 accredited sites and the 20,000 hours.
Have your say