Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are delighted to announce the installation of the Pool Pod in Newry Leisure Centre.
Chairperson Cllr Mark Murnin said, ‘We are delighted to have been chosen by Disability Sport NI for a Pool Pod. The pool pod platform provides a quick and simple means of swimming pool access to enable us to provide the opportunity of inclusive swimming for all abilities. It is user friendly and will encourage user independence. This will provide new opportunities for a wider range of citizens within the district and encourage everyone to Be Active and become involved in sport to improve their health and well-being.’
Poolpods are platform lifts that are transforming access to swimming pools for people with disabilities and restricted mobility.
Kevin O’Neill from Disability Sport NI welcomes the funding,
“The facilities that have received the pool pods have shown a great commitment to improving access and providing their staff with disability inclusion training. This project is part of the wider Active Living: No Limits 2016 – 2021 Action Plan, a plan to improve health and wellbeing for people with a disability in Northern Ireland through participation in sport and active recreation ”
Sport Northern Ireland Chief Executive Antoinette McKeown, who also attended the launch, added “I’m delighted to be at the launch of this great facility that is giving people with disabilities more opportunities to participate in sport. Facilities like this play a vital role in making it more accessible for people to get active and demonstrates how, through the implementation of the Active Living: No Limits action plan, collaborative working is addressing barriers to an active lifestyle for local people.”
The Poolpod was funded through the Department for Communities and Sport Northern Ireland and delivered by Disability Sport NI in partnership with the council.