CYP Now - #Chances4Children: Disadvantaged children swim for free thanks to scheme

Dozens of disadvantaged children and young people from across London were able to swim for free at an outdoor pool during the summer thanks to a scheme provided by the City of London Corporation.

Young people from the Dost Centre for Young Refugees and Migrants visited the lido twice during the summer. Picture: City of London Corporation

The corporation gave free or discounted access to local play schemes, youth projects and schools during July and August at Parliament Hill Fields Lido, on Hampstead Heath, to give children a chance to exercise during the summer holidays.

This included 24 young people from the Dost Centre for Young Refugees and Migrants, based in East London, who visited the lido twice during the summer, assisted by carers.

The Dost Centre works with young, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, aged 13-19 years - many of whom are learning to swim and are afraid of water due to past trauma, says the charity.

Marian Spiers, youth work programme manager at Dost Centre, said: “Being able to come to the Lido and swim in a beautiful place and just really feel relaxed, and have fun, is great for the people we support.

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