Swim instructor Rawle Eversley said this year’s National Elderly Swim Programme has been a massive success so far.
The National Sports Council, in partnership with the National Conservation Commission, hopes that this programme can be a step towards encouraging Barbadians of all ages to learn how to swim and also become more active and subsequently healthier for it.
Speaking to Nation Online on Wednesday Eversley said: “The aim was to get the elderly population in Barbados active to help alleviate NCDs and things like that. Due to COVID-19, people were stuck in their homes not doing a lot. “We have around 285 swimmers and due to the overwhelming response, we had to add two instructors to the originally planned ten to make sure the classes could be divided evenly.”
He added that the classes were organised on the basis of swimming ability and experience so that students would get lessons appropriate to their skillset.
The programme started on July 18 and continues through September 24 at Brownes Beach. Classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to noon on weekends. (JC)