A SWIMMING scheme has awarded £274,525 to four leisure centres in a bid to get people in the pool.

Hambleton District Council is taking part in the Swim Local pilot scheme from which Northallerton, Thirsk, Stokesley and Bedale leisure centres have been awarded a cash injection.

Twelve local authorities across the country are benefitting from National Lottery money through Sport England to promote and increase swimming participation.

In Hambleton, four swim activators have been appointed to raise awareness and get more people into the water.

They are looking at why people don’t use the centres and will conduct a non-user survey.

Councillor Bridget Fortune, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, said: “Swimming is an exercise open to virtually everyone and is one of the most effective all round health and fitness workouts.

“But participation rates have declined over the last few years. The Swim Local pilot hopes to rectify this by improving the customer experience and increase the take up.”

The survey is available at www.hambleton.gov.uk/survey/swim