The group have built on a pilot that was supported by the WEA to tacke race inequlaity and break down barriers to services. That funding has now ended but we wanted to carry on so set up our own group run by volunteers with support from St Mary Redcliffe Secondary School (SMRT).

We have now set up our own committee and are currently looking for funding to support our aims. We aim to run female sessions for women and children, swimming beginners and those with a little more confidence as well as running intensive swimming lessons weeks in the school holidays using the SMRT pool. The majority in the group are Somali women but it is open to any women in the area. We think that this will help to build positve relationships and build up links between different cultures.

We have learnt how to research services, present our ideas confidently, campaign for more access and most importantly we have learnt how to swim and not be afraid of the water. Some of us have started going to Easton Lesuire Centre to use the facilities there to because we feel more confident and want to carry on what we have learnt.

We are proud and happy of the work we have acheived so far but want to do more. We have created a short digital story talking about the pilot project, have created a bank of photos and learnt how to use a powerpoint to stand up and make our voices heard.

Some of us want to try and learn to become lifeguards so that we can encourage more women to take up swimming. We aim to support the more confident swimmers to build up to the training and learn about what will be involved.

We love our modesty suits and want to buy more so that any women who feels they need to learn in a female only enviroment will have the chance to do so. Swimming makes us feel great - lighter, fitter, happier and with more energy. Our children and families are proud of us and this makes us happy too. 

Our project is based in one part of the city but we want to let other people know what we have acheived so far and what we want to go on and do. We have spoken at a number of presenations and have been invited to do this at a national conference in October for the WEA. So watch this space...