CHILDREN with disabilities can enjoy summer swimming sessions, thanks to a £5,000 community grant.

Dorset disability charity Diverse Abilities Plus received the cash from the Dorset Community Foundation to support its short break service Coping with Chaos.

The money will be used to fund supported swimming sessions during the school holidays for families with a disabled child living in the Wareham area.

Some families currently have to travel more than 20 miles to access specialised activities, like swimming, which are suitable for their disabled child or young person.

Ros Blishen, trusts and foundations officer at Diverse Abilities Plus, said: “Swimming is a great activity for children with disabilities and is an essential part of their development programme. Mobility can be improved because they are able to perform activities in the pool that they are unable to perform on dry land.

“It can also improve muscle strength, balance and co-ordination, plus make their muscles more alive. It’s both relaxing and stimulating, but most of all fun.”

The sessions will offer one-to-one support from trained sessional workers for the disabled child and give them freedom and independence, and the ability to do things in water that they can’t on dry land, while also having fun with their siblings and parents.

One parent who will be able to attend the swimming sessions, said: “We can’t normally go swimming, so it is lovely we get to go as a family now thanks to this grant. Going out is very stressful but, with this help, I get to relax and enjoy time out with my children.”

The sessions will be available from the start of the summer holidays. Call 01202 855105 for further information or to book a session.

For more information on Diverse Abilities Plus call 01202 718266.