STA Joins Swimwell to Mark Official Opening of New Purpose-Built Pool
STA was delighted to join Swimwell on Saturday 13 June to celebrate the official opening of its new purpose-built swimming pool in Stafford.
The £1 million-plus facility at Kingsmead Retail Park marks a major milestone for the independent swim school, which has been helping children develop confidence and essential water safety skills for more than a decade. The new 20m x 8m pool will enable Swimwell to expand its provision significantly, increasing capacity from around 600 swimmers to approximately 2,000.
At the Open Day, Swimwell welcomed swimmers, families and invited guests to celebrate this significant milestone, with Olympic medallist and Commonwealth champion James Guy, one of Britain’s most decorated swimmers, joining the celebrations as guest of honour.
Representing STA at the event was Commercial Director Zoe Cooper, who was joined by STAnley the Seal and STA Water Safety Squad member Seb Reeve. Eleven-year-old Seb, who is the current National Under-12 Artistic Swimming Champion and a member of the England Youth Artistic Swimming Squad, delivered a special artistic swimming performance as part of the celebrations. Zoe with Seb’s assistance also delivered an artistic swimming session for 20 swimmers, providing them with an opportunity to try the sport.
Zoe said: “Swimwell has built an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality swimming lessons and creating positive experiences for children and families, so it was wonderful to join Julie and her team to celebrate this significant achievement.
This new facility is a reflection of the passion, commitment and vision that Julie and the Swimwell team have shown over many years. It represents a major investment in the future of swimming in Staffordshire and will enable even more families to benefit from the high standards of teaching and support that Swimwell is known for.
We are proud to work alongside Swimwell as both an STA Approved Training Centre and Swim Star Swim School, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow.”
Julie Hand, Founder and Director of Swimwell, said: “This is a proud moment for everyone connected with Swimwell. The vision has always been to create a dedicated environment where children can learn to swim, build confidence and enjoy being in the water, and it is incredibly rewarding to see that vision become a reality.
The new facility allows us to welcome many more families while maintaining the high standards of teaching and supportive environment that Swimwell is known for. We are grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey and are excited about the opportunities this new chapter will bring for swimmers, teachers and the local community.”
At the official opening ceremony, visitors also enjoyed a range of activities throughout the day, including free taster sessions, opportunities to meet James Guy, family activities and the chance to explore the new facility.
Designed specifically for swimming lessons, the new facility features warm 31°C water and purpose-built teaching spaces that will enable Swimwell to significantly expand its provision, helping many more children and families across Staffordshire access high-quality swimming lessons close to home.
Alongside this, Swimwell delivers swimming lessons through STA’s internationally recognised learn to swim programme and is committed to supporting the future of swimming through its role as an STA Approved Training Centre, providing opportunities for individuals to gain professional swimming teaching qualifications and develop rewarding careers within aquatics.
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