Freedom Leisure initiatives helping to inspire the next generation

Young people in Kent are being given an insight into what it takes to reach the very pinnacle of sport, courtesy of an initiative spearheaded by one of the country’s leading community trust operators.

Freedom Leisure’s ‘Strength of Mind’ programme gives secondary school pupils the opportunity to hear at first hand from Olympians and Paralympians about how they plotted their path to success.

Former Team GB swimmer Michael Gunning, Olympic bronze medallist diver Anthony Harding and Paralympic swimmer Callie-Ann Warrington were just a selection of a host of big names who have given up their time to inspire the next generation of sporting hopefuls.

They were joined by, among others, long jumper Ryan Raghoo, Paralympic gold medal-winning wheelchair rugby ace Kylie Grimes and Victoria Ohuruogu, who won bronze at Paris 2024 as part of Team GB’s 4x400m relay team. The event also saw personalised video messages from Sir Mo Farah and Lioness Beth Mead.

The day-long workshops took part at Freedom’s Stour Centre in Ashford with the youngsters encouraged to pick the brains of the star guests.

Freedom Leisure’s national aquatics business manager, Hannah Smith, said: “We’ve had two ‘Strength of Mind’ sessions with over 300 secondary school pupils attending across the two days.

“We wanted to give them an insight into what it takes to become a top athlete and who better to use than people who have reached the top of their chosen sports?

“The athletes were brilliant; they willingly gave up their time to talk about resilience and the importance of mental health and the pupils were really engaged and seemed to really enjoy themselves.

“We had a waiting list for the second workshop and we’re hoping that we may be able to put on further sessions in the future.”

Fabulous initiative

Freedom Leisure, who operate more than 120 leisure, cultural and entertainment venues across England and Wales, are also offering free swimming lessons for a year to 96 schoolchildren.

The initiative will see young people who would not ordinarily have access to swimming lessons receive expert tuition.

Hannah added: “As part of our mission to ‘Improve Lives Through Leisure’, we are keen to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to learn to swim.

“We approached four schools based near the Stour Centre and two from Kennington, having done something similar in Great Yarmouth last year.

“We asked the schools to build the swimming lessons into their curriculum time and commit to either walking or driving the children to the centre.

“In return, we are not only giving free lessons but also supplying the children with swimming costumes, bags and goggles, everything they need to enjoy the water.

“We’re really proud of the initiative as we feel it is helping to break down barriers and bring the joy of being able to enjoy being safe in water to youngsters who may not have had the opportunity without our help.”

Swim England’s head of business engagement Alex Hains said: “It’s wonderful to see Freedom Leisure reaching out to their community in Ashford in a number of ways.

“I’m sure those young people who attended the ‘Strength in Mind’ sessions will have been inspired by the guest speakers and the fact that 96 children are to receive swim lessons that could save their life or that of someone else is a fabulous initiative that is to be applauded.”